Participate

As I reflect on completing participate, I feel it has been very informative.  I plan to adhere to the standards for Quality Online Teaching published  by the International association for Online Learning. 

How has the Participate module prepared you to meet each standard listed above?

Participate has helped me to plan and design. It has given me a chance to complete different learning activities which I can in turn use in an online classroom.  I learned about digital learning communities and how they work.  The Netiquette is helpful in teaching the "dos"and "don'ts" of internet usage.  All these tools help me to achieve standard C.  
Standard E states:  the online teacher models, guides, and encourages legal, ethical, and safe behavior related to technology use. Participate helped me to explore and learn about this standard with Digital Rights and Responsibilities.  Intellectual property is still property and should not be used without permission.  I was learned about AUPs and was able to formulate a plan to help students understand this.  Students need to be taught that just because they can access information, it does not belong to them.  I came up with a plan which including teaching students and then having them to sign a written agreement showing understanding and willingness to comply. I was able to produce a digital slide show to show students about internet safety. This can be used in the digital classroom and then stored for a reference.   Standard states: 
the online teacher interacts in a professional, effective manner with colleagues, parents, and other members of the community to support students’ success. Participate has helped prepare me for this standard by having me to build a blog and use different types of tools to communicate.  I learned to make a digital poster and share it with others.  I also learned to communicate with a calendar. Netiquette is also used when communicating with all in the digital learning community.  The poster shows what the "dos and don'ts" of communicating on the internet.  It has taught me how to convey tone and communicate clearly. When teaching online, the information must be clear so that all involved know exactly what to do.  As I was working on Participate, it seemed challenging, but I appreciate all that I have  accomplished after reading the standards for quality online teaching. 


What strategies will you take away from the Participate module and apply to your teaching? 

I will take away the strategy of teaching safety and security.  I feel that students can never be taught enough about how to keep themselves out of harms way.  I will stress that once they write or post it is permanent and for the public.  I will also teach with tools such as digital posters and web quest. I will also share the different sites which I was able to learn about during the different walk-abouts on the web and when completing the module such as OnGuardOnline, Cyberbullying Research and A Thin Line.  These are sites which I can share with my online students.  When students do research, it tends to stay with them because they make the discovery.  I will be able to teach them about finding and using reputable digital resources. I will apply the strategies  about digital citizenship, literacy, and civility which I was able to demonstrate during the participate module.  


What lessons were most beneficial for you?

The lessons most beneficial to me were Digital Rights and Responsibilities and Digital Health.  I was able to appreciate that even in a digital community we all have rights and responsibilities which will make things runs smoothly.  We have to give credit where credit is due and this helps to protect the intellectual property of ourselves and others.  Digital health allows teachers and students to maintain a good well being.  One must have balance, even in the digital world. Planning is important in maintaining digital health.  If we have a plan to walk, sit up straight, silence our phones, or even have lunch with friends we will follow through.  I was able to place my plans on a calendar to review and to serve as a reminder.  I will teach my students to be proactive when it comes to digital heath by scheduling, implementing, and documenting the plan.  This will ensure good mental and physical heath as well.  

Participate 4- Digital Health

Digital health is an important type of health.  I plan to do less work on my laptop while sitting in bed.  I will benefit greatly by working at the table or desk.   Recognizing the importance of digital health when using technology is key to well being. When one understands the benefits of balance in life he is able to comply and make needed changes.  Students and teachers can make plans for good health.  Having a written schedule is a good way to keep track of technology use.  Also using a journal to document accomplishments can boost good health.  I modified my technology habits by following the plan I created.  I computer work at the desk. I made time for friends and recreation.  I was also conscience of how I sat at my desk.  Having a digital calendar was extremely helpful in this matter.
The most proactive mans of ensuring the most balanced blend of technology and well-being is having plan and following that plan.  One must schedule, implement, and document the steps that will lead to good mental and physical heath.  Knowing who important digital health is cancan be motivating for one to follow the plan and maintain good digital health.
Students and teachers can make sure they get the most from technology while safeguarding good health by implementing the following.  Have digital reminders.  One can set alarms that tell them when it's time to take a break or exercise.  Placing clearly worded plans in on a digital calendar is another way to adhere to the plan.  Most  digital calendars will show reminders of things to be done a day before the date and also give reminders when it is almost time to compere a task.  This can be helpful for students and teachers.          
 Below is a screen shot of my digital calendar containing scheduled appointments .

April 3, Sit up Straight
April 11, Dine with a friend
April 21 Zumba with friends
April 24 Take a 30 minute walk

Participate 4- Digital Safety and Security

Ensuring digital safety and security is important when working in a digital learning community.  We have to keep in mind and teach that the information we post is permeant. We have to teach students that when they visit different sites on the web, they leave a digital footprint.  It is also a good idea to keep parents involved and aware of what sites students are required to visit.  Below is a power point presentation on safety and security to remind students of what to do. On the forefront we can teach students about the potential danger of talking with strangers online, and protecting personal information.  We can present examples of good use and bad use and have open discussions about each.  The power point can be used as an engagement tool start the discussion on digital safety and security.  This can be implemented in a learning environment for students to view and then write out answers to a discussion. It can also be used as a reference for students to refer back to when needed.  

Participate 4- Digital Rights and Responsibilities

In the ever growing world of technology digital rights and responsibilities must be protected.  When students use a Digital Learning Community (DLC),  this can be done by having  Acceptable Use Policies ( AUPs) that can protect intellectual property.  This is needed in a DLC because their is always so much information available.  Even instructors are sometimes tempted to " beg, barrow, or steal" without permission.   However, it is our duty and responsibility to respect DLCs.  We must lead by example.  My plan for supporting and protecting DLCs is to explain clearly the expectations.  As a nurse, I teach empathy to students as well as the golden rule.  I will ask questions to make them think.  How would you feel if someone used your work with out permission?  What would you want done about it? After the questions, I plan to show the students the resources for AUPs, Copyright, and Fair Use.  They will have the information needed to act responsibly. Lastly, I plan to have them agree to the plan by way of a user agreement.  It takes cooperation from all involved in the DLC to ensure that the citizens have access as well as protection of Digital Rights.  I feel that frequent reminders in form of videos, or interactive lessons can help achieve this because people need reminders and digital rights and responsibilities must be maintained and protected.

1. How can a DLC ensure that citizens within the community have access to an environment where an AUP protects members as well as the community itself, where individuals uphold laws, and a cooperative/collective venture provides robust, safe, and ethical resources and opportunities for learning?

A DLC can ensure that citizens within the community have access to an environment where an AUP protects members as well as the community itself, where individuals uphold laws, and there is a collective venture for learning by being proactive.  The training and education about these laws must be done and agreed on before hand.  This can be in the form of a mini lesson with a quiz and then followed by a written agreement.  This would show how much the student understands and give a chance for remediation if needed to make sure that the learning environment is protected.  

2. What is the best way to establish and maintain a flourishing DLC where citizens understand, observe, and are inclined to willingly support and ultimately benefit from Digital Rights and Responsibilities?

The best way to establish and maintain a flourishing DLC where citizens understand, observe and are inclined to willingly support and benefit from Digital Rights and Responsibilities is to formulate a plan and share it with the citizens.  This plan should be housed in the community for easy reference when assignments are given.  Having a link to the AUP is a another good way to encourage citizens to observe the Digital Rights and Responsibilities. When this is available it can help the digital citizens to see how important it is to observe and follow.  Educators should set a good example by observing the Digital Rights and Responsibilities as well.

Below is my plan for supporting and protecting a Digital Learning  Community Through Digital Rights and Responsibilities.

S1. Explain expectations clearly

S2. Encourage empathy by asking questions

S3. Show students the resources for AUPs, Copyright, and Fair Use

S3. Have all users agree and sign agreement

Digital Rights and

Participate 3- Digital Resources and Netiquette

Netiquette is another term for network etiquette.  This is a poster on netiquette.

Participate 3- Accessing Digital leaning Communities

Students who use digital learning may have different barriers to leaning due to internet access. My level of access to the digital resources great because of the area in which I live.

What type of barriers might impede students' opportunities to access digital learning?
The different type of barriers that impede the students opportunities to access digital leaning are low bandwidth, disabilities, income disparity. Students usually don't have jobs which pay enough to run a household.  The student must have access to an electronic device in order to participate.  Along with this, they will need some form of high speed internet service which can provide them with the speed and capability to download from and search the internet.   Some students live in areas where internet access is not available.  Other students may have parents or caregivers who cannot afford high speed internet connection. If a student has a disability, this causes even more of a barrier because they may need specialized equipment as well. All these are things that are generally out of the child's control.

What might we do to eliminate such barriers?
To help eliminate some of the barriers people with knowledge and resources must get involved.  This includes getting the word out about different services that which offer free high speed internet to low income families.  A lot of times, people have no idea what is awaiting them if they apply for help.  Also, showing low income families the important of internet services.  Schools also should have programs for students to receive a laptop or other electronic device if they do not have one.  This is the only way one can participate in digital leaning.  They must have a device.   Students with disabilities should be assessed to see what specialized equipment they would need and then that equipment should not only be provided, but the student and parent should be shown how to use it. Public libraries and many restaurants have free wifi which students may be able to use if they have their own computers. This can be helpful as a back up plan if power is lost.

Participate 2- Collecting Reputable Digital Resources

When collecting digital resources for students the resources must be reliable. Students should be taught to look for reputable domains such as. mil (US military), .gov( government), .edu ( education), and .org ( may be a non-profit organization).  As I did my walk about I was able to come up with some helpful digital resources for students. I explored Zonniverse, Classroom 2.0, Khan Academy, Edutopia, and Discovery Education.  Each of these resources can contribute to making online teaching more engaging, efficient, and effective.  Here is a link to the list of bookmarked resources complied during my exploration.

  https://del.icio.us/nurseq/Dig.%20Resource

The three most useful tools or resources resulting fro the web walkabout are Zonniverse, Khan Academy, and Classroom 2.0.  Zonniverse gives online students an opportunity to research many fields of science and have interactive and engaging activities.  Khan Academy contains videos tutorials for math, science, test prep, computing, arts & humanities, as well as economics & finance.
Classroom 2.0 is a free community supported network.  One must sign up and become member and then they can join in the discussions.  This will be helpful for students new to digital learning.
Students can be taught to safely collect tools and resources which can maximize their leaning by about reputable domains. Students should also be taught about the database used by Google and Mozilla to block harmful pages known as StopBadware.  They should be taught about the Web of Trust ( WOT) which is a crowd-sourced online database that offers reputation ratings for domain names.
When giving assignments, teachers should place guidelines on which sources students should use. For example have students use resources with reputable domains such as .mil( military), .gov ( government), .edu ( education) , and .org ( non-profit organization). Teachers should also have students to use the WOT to check to reputation ratings for the domains they will be using.  Having these policies and procedures in place may help students to maximize their learning.