Internet+Access+Discussion+Summaries

= NETS*T for Internet Access Discussion Summaries =

** 5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership **
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers: .....a. participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning .....b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others .....c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning .....d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community

= Internet Access Discussion Summaries =

.....I was really looking forward to this discussion topic because it is a really good one which should have sparked a lot of interesting conversations. Unfortunately, only one other person chose to do that part of this assignment, so this "discussion summary" will be a little short. .....A common thread between our online reading, Val's post, and my own post seems to be that "Big Brother" is a common analogy. This interpretation stems from the fact that teachers are constantly being monitored to make sure we are "behaving". Teachers are not treated as professionals, but rather are given the same restrictions as our students. The people who are responsible for educating our youth are not the ones who control what access is permitted. We waste a lot of valuable time playing the game of "what is blocked today?" It is not a fun game when you are trying to teach students to be respectful, responsible technology users. .....In a nutshell, teachers are responsible for promoting technology use responsibly, yet they are not given access to the tools they need at their own discretion. We need to be trusted as adults and professionals.