Monday, March 29, 2010

Teaching Online Safety in the K-12 and College Settings

Cyber bullying, sexting, and overall online safety are such a large issues in the K-12 and college environments. Unfortunately, it seems that both environments are failing to educate their students on the simple subject of cyber safety.

When I mention cyber safety, I am merely addressing the following issues: sexting, job searching and social networking websites (positive and negative), cyber bulling, identify theft (in the college student community), and other pertinent issues.

Here are a few websites focused on cyber safety/media literacy and the K-12/higher education environments.

This is the BEST website that I have EVER seen on the topic. This government website features interactive games, quizzes, and videos.



OnGuard Online Websites (geared towards adults)
http://www.onguardonline.gov/default.aspx

Here is are entire curriculum guides and suggestions to online safety:

Cyber Smart Curriculum
http://www.cybersmartcurriculum.org/


The Texas Education Agency also compiled a list of websites and resources pertaining to online safety.
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/imet/intersafe/educators/EDcurriculum.html

Last, but not least - here are some articles based on online safety and K-12/higher education:


Cyberbullying Research Center
http://www.cyberbullying.us/


Cyberbullying Goes to College
http://www.bu.edu/bostonia/spring09/bully/


Study: Too Few Schools Teaching Cyber Safety
http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/index.php/2010/02/27/study-too-few-schools-teaching-cyber-safety/

Millennial Professor
Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

APA 6th Edition Video - A Great Resource for Students, Faculty, and Staff

This semester, I incorporated the new edition (6th) of the American Psychological Association (APA) manual in my upper-level courses and it has been an interesting process. I learned a lot and the students have learned a lot about the manual as well.

However, I would like to incorporate the APA manual in my online classes as well. It is easier for me to teach the APA citation style in a face-to-face format, but I am seeking engaging resources to make this process easier for the online students.

Here is a great video for professors who are teaching an online class that might require supplemental materials for a lesson on APA citations - https://www.sworps.utk.edu/training/APA_6_0/player.html.

Enjoy!

Millennial Professor
Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Monday, March 22, 2010

8-18 Year Olds...The Last Segment of Millennials...

As many of you know, I am a millennial who is interested in issues concerning my generation. Recently, my co-author and I submitted an article based on millennials to a distance learning journal. I understand the different segments that exist in my generation, but I did not know that others were interested in the differences among millennials. The editors of the journals encouraged us to separate the larger definition of millennials into several different categories.

As a result, I sought articles focused on the differences among millennials. This was not an easy process, but I did find a few articles that fit my search. Here is one of the articles - Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds.


This website also features additional items, including a webcast, podcast, etc.

Millennial Professor
Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

The Top Public Libraries on Twitter!

Recently, the NFI Research firm released a list of the top public libraries on twitter. Surprisingly, there are several Texas libraries on the list! In fact, the second library with the most followers i the Houston Public Library with 4,000+ followers.

Here is the link to the list - "Top Public Libraries on Twitter"


Enjoy!

Millennial Professor
Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.