Cybercitz

Technology is emerging all around us. New mediums are available on the Internet such as Avatar, blogging, discussion forums and chat groups, instant messaging, and podcasts. These mediums can be used to broaden your horizons by communicating with others who have similar interests as well as explore different personas. Students tend to be more up-to-date on these new technologies than their parents, so it is important to maintain open lines of communication in order for everyone to understand and trust cyber related interactions.

History/Social Science USII.8, CE.3, CE.8, CE.10, CE.11, CE.12

Students exploring the impact of new technologies on our culture should examine safety issues related to the Internet and other electronic communication devices.

• Compare and contrast different writing styles
• Demonstrate techniques for blogging in a real life setting

1. Create a class blog for the students to post on.  Pick any subject that you are currently studying (English, Science, Social Studies, Mathematics, Foreign Language, etc) and have the students respond regularly to prompts.  Send the blog link to parents and other classes so that your students have an audience for their writing and families feel informed about what the class is learning.  See the Related Links and Resources for more information on starting a class blog.

2. In small groups, have your students create a movie using a program like iMovie to illustrate how technology is shaping information and communication today. The movie should include all key words and some current issues related to technology today.  Begin this activity with a detailed explanation of how to use the movie program you've selected, and be sure to reserve some time in the computer lab for students to work with their groups.  An alternative is to have students create a movie on the content they are studying in Engligh, Math, Science, Social Studies or a Foreign Language.  Have a movie premier to show off everyone's hard work.  See Related Links and Resources for more information on creating digital movies.  

Page 10-11 in Educator’s Edition
Youth site: New Technology

Article:“That’s online writing not boring school writing”: Writing with blogs and the Talkback Project
Article: A Space for “Writing without Writing”
Free Blogs for Teachers
Information and Ideas about how to use a classroom blog
Video clip on the benefits of student blogging
Boling, E., Castek, J., Zawilinski, L., Barton, K., & Nierlich, T. (2008). Collaborative literacy: Blogs and internet projects. Reading Teacher, 61(6), 504.
Ferdig, R. E., & Trammell, K. D. (2004). Content delivery in the "blogosphere". T.H.E.Journal, 31(7)