Wikipedia: Tool or Fool?

I am not anti-Wikipedia although I do not think it should be a primary resource for research. I think it is a great tool for “basic” knowledge or understanding and can be a good starting point for exploration of any topic. I personally do not use Wikipedia for ANY academic based research. I much prefer specialized sites or texts while looking into a subject. I love reading academic journals and understanding a subject from a variety of viewpoints and authors. Usually when I start research (lets say, for an English class), I will look up information on Jstor which is an online scholarly article database. From there, I will look at the bibliographies of various texts and research from there.
As a teacher, I will certainly allow my students to use Wikipedia to gather knowledge. I think the process is critical and they are still using a resource to gather information. Of course, depending on the subject or “value” of assignment, I will require them to use a variety of texts and make sure the information is credible and reliable. I will explain to them how and why Wikipedia is not the most credible way to gather information and expect them to find information using other medias as well including online texts, books, scholarly journals, etc.
The article, Wikipedia: Ban it or Boost it? by Doug Johnson presents a comprehensive examination of this online resource from a “realistic” perspective. As long as we, as teachers, teach our students how to examine credibility and get information from several resources, I do not think there is any harm in using Wikipedia.
My classroom policy would be that students could use wikipedia as long as they used another resource in addition. I would encourage them to get a multi-dimensional perspective on an issue before accepting it as “truth” and would also require that they submit a bibliography/reference page with any research.
I think proper research skills are often neglected in the school setting and many students never really learn how to do thorough research until they enter college (and some do not even develop then)! I would strive to make my students GREAT information seekers! They will be able to gain a well-rounded perspective from a variety of texts and use research to ASSIST them in developing their own ideas and understanding.

Cell Phones in the Classroom

I do not like the idea of using cell phones in the classroom for a number of reasons. First, I think students will be more “distracted” than “engaged”. How are teachers going to monitor what the kids are actually doing on their cell phones? What is going to stop them from texting their friends? Although students already use cell phones in class, I think this would just open a flood gate for further distractions and, as a future teacher, I would want to eliminate as many unnecessary distractions as necessary. Another reason I do not like the idea of using cell phones in classrooms is due to the fact that many students do not have cell phones and would not have the same access to information as the other students. I think it would just widen the gap between the “haves” and the “have nots”. I think privileged society assumes that EVERYONE has a cell phone; however, I know several people that do not use cell phones--for either personal philosophical reasons or financial limitations. Another personal objection I have towards using cell phones in the classrooms is that I want my students to be aware of all kinds of information tools. Most kids already know how to use computers and cell phones--they use them for almost everything--from email, to texting to research and more. Cell phones may be familiar but students will know how to use them regardless of if they are in schools or not. I think it would be more beneficial to teach our students how to research using all kinds of tools---computers, academic journals, encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc. If they want to use their cell phones to do different things then so be it, I just do not think they would be more beneficial than hindering in the classroom setting.
As far as the readings, I definitely think Josh Allen presented a much stronger argument against cell phones in schools than Liz Kolb did for her pro-cell phone argument. The best point presented in his claim was that of the financial obligations of the school. I agree that the schools should provide the cell phones for students IF they did decide to incorporate them into the curriculum. Allen strengthened this claim, stating that “laptops are much more versatile yet uniform than cell phones. Any monies schools spent on cell phones and plans would be much better severed with any number of other technologies” (p. 9). Laptops are an obvious tool for students---a tool that trumps any cell phone. My opinion did not change; however, it was strengthened by reading the articles.
In my future classroom, my expectations regarding cell phones will be as follows: cell phones should not be used during class time unless given permission. I will not tolerate students texting while I am teaching or while other students are speaking because I think it is disrespectful---bottom line. I do not like when people text while in company of others and will explain my reasons to my students. If they do want to use their cell phones to “help” them on their assignments, I will allow them to do so if it seems applicable and necessary. As for consequences, I will treat it like any other classroom expectation. I will monitor behavior by walking around and if I notice that students are texting or using cell phones without permission, I will ask them to put them away. If they continue to disobey, I will have a consequence. I am not sure what this consequence would be---it would depend on school policy. But it could be something as simple as having them write an apology or staying after class. If they continue to not follow rules, I could collect phones at the beginning of class and give them back at the end (I had a teacher that did that in HS and it was very effective).
In conclusion, cell phones are cool. They allow you to talk to people in a variety of medias and access information in myriad ways--awesome. Nevertheless, I do not want to use cell phones in my class. Period. I do not see any positive benefits and think it would just be cumbersome and annoying. Granted, I may be a little bias. My cell phone is a phone. That is it. I talk and text but that is the extent. I do not email. I do not download games or music. I would rather interact with others and the world around me in a more authentic and personal manner and would hope others would too.

CyberBulling

There is always bad where there is good. Always darkness with light. As with anything in our lives, technology can be used FOR us and AGAINST us. Cyber bullying is one more aspect of student life that is different than it was in the past. Because I am a “Digital Native” cyber bullying is no new concept to me. I still have emails that were sent to me saved from middle school that would qualify as cyber bullying by today’s standards. Cyber bullying is described as “the use of internet technology to inflict emotional harm through repeated and deliberate harassment, threats, and intimidation. […] The technology used for cyber bulling typically includes email, cell phones, chat rooms, blogs, social networking sites, and instant messages” (Taylor, p. 60). Based on my own experiences, the most popular forms of cyber bullying are via social networking sites, emails, instant message (IM) and text messages. Because communicating through technology is so easy, and often very “impersonal” some students use it as their main form of communication--especially if they have something distasteful to say.
Students tend to believe that they are somehow “protected” through this media and in many ways they are. Schools are limited to what they can and cannot do in response to cyber bullying. One reason for this is that the majority of cyber bulyling occurs after school hours and off campus---which tends to be out of a school’s jurisdiction. Schools cannot restrict what students say to one another outside of school even if it is distasteful or offensive. Students have free speech rights as do the rest of Americans. In Taylor’s article, she writes that “there must be some compelling educational objective that justifies restricting the speech, or the speech must be a threat to school safety or to campus environment conducive to learning” (p. 62). This makes it very hard, if not impossible, for teachers to interfere with student cyber bullying. As a coach, I have had to deal with cyber bullying before. At our first football game of the season, one of my cheerleaders was being harassed by an ex-boyfriend’s new and jealous girlfriend via text messages. Of course, the cheerleaders do not have their phones on them while they are cheering but, as you could imagine, they run to them every quarter or half-time break to catch up on their texts. I noticed that one of my captains was starting to cry as she went back to her position on the track. She was visibly upset so I called her over and asked her what was wrong. She told me that a girl in the crowd had been sending her texts throughout the game that were extremely offensive, inappropriate and threatening. We talked to the game security and told him what had been going on. He looked at the texts and decided to talk to the other girl and explain to her that what she was doing was harassment and that she had to leave the premise for the remainder of the night.
Sadly, bullying is part of life---it was here before technology and it will remain. I think it is unfortunate that anyone should have to endure these kinds of attacks and, as a teacher, I will strive to ensure my students’ dignity, safety and well-being. I feel as though any kind of bullying or harassment must be taken seriously and not overlooked. As we have learned from far too many cases, bulyling often leads to more serious offenses such as physical violence. I think the best way to prevent bullying of any kind is to teach awareness and strive to make our students empathetic and caring individuals. Inform students of the effects of bullying and the consequences that can follow. By setting a good example, teaching kindness, and having zero-tolerance for bullying behavior, I think teachers can at least decrease if not erase bullying from their classrooms and schools.