Chapter 6: Computer and Network Security

I enjoy reading about virus. I do remember some viruses. Several times during school, our technology person would warn us about an attachment in our e-mail. We experience a computer crash at our home.
My grandson used our computer and visited several internet sites that could have cause our crash. They had to reprogram our computer. I do not open any e-mail from a person I don't know. I delete every e-mail without reading them.

I believe there should be tougher penalities to those who e-mail viruses.
Some people from the book paid a fine and probation. Some of them continue to create viruses. Some of these people have tampered with freight trains and Amtrak schedules. Companies have lost time and money to reprogram their systems. I read that a person spend only eight months in jail and probation. There are people who will say "Go arrest murderers." If we do not act now with tougher penalities, these people could be become murderers. Prevention is the key.

Chapter 5: Privacy

There is a great problem in our society. Public information and personal information are very close to intersecting each other. Some credit companies send privacy statements on their policy. These companies are probably the only ones we know that respect our privacy. I wonder what those companies that we don't receive any comments on privacy do with our data.

These companies should give us a choice whether we want our information to pass to others. We also want to know to where our information is going. There should be laws to protect us in these areas.

In the book it says our personal information can become public by involuntary disclosure. I am going to be more careful in filling out forms.
I might consider not to enter contest or check out the form more carefully. I usually don't enter contest because there is always a promotion to sell a product.

Article 6: Assisitve Technology Benefits All Students: An interview with Assistive Technology Developer Steve Timmer

Steve Timmer created several assistive software because he saw a need in the education area. He also had a need to develop a device that would help him with his eyesight.

I'm impress with some of the technology he developed. I have seen a software for Accelerater Reader. Some of my students have use it. The software reads the questions and answers to their library book. This program saves the teacher time to spend with another student.

Some of the programs I might suggest for parents to use with their children. The Universal Reader and the Text to Audio are good candidates.

Article 5: Ensuring Student Privacy on the Internet

This article makes me think about how secure are our students information in our school. Our techician takes care of our computers. When I have computer problems, he usually takes care of it somewhere else. I just hope that our technicians are the only ones who have access to our computers. I am sure there are more people checking our acttivities in the computer.

Some of the teachers use the e-mail to contact parents about their children's progress and behaviors. I usually phone parents or send notes home. This year I thought I would try to use e-mails, but now I don't feel comfortable after reading the article.

Our school uses a special software for students' personal information.
We change our passwords quite often. Now I know why. It 's to protect
our students and parents.

I am more aware about the safety use of the internet and to have permission from the parents before I let my students post their names or their work in the computer.

Article 4:Laptops Change Curriculum--Students

The article discusses the possibility of each students having a laptop computer. Some of the benefits include excitement for learning, researching, writing, and doing projects. Cooperation between students increases in the classroom.
Parents participate in computer camps, and teachers receive training.
In some districts a yearly insurance fee is charge to the parents. The students are allow to take the laptop home. Other districts parents have to pay $50-$60 a month. Donors and the regional commission help to pay computers. Some parents will not be able to pay a fee.
How to integrate the computer with the lesson is a great concern for teachers. Students will need to learn to be profiicient in typing. Another concern is that students might forget to bring the laptops back to school.
If the parents pay money each month, do the students keep the laptops at the end of the school year? How much time do the students spend on the computer? Will it affect the other core subjects? We should consider these questions before we begin this program.

Article 3: The School of the Future

Their plan is to have community-style centers operating seven days a week and for twenty-four hours a day. Each teacher and student will have a laptop. They will see and hear each other through the computer. Students choose the times for learning. Assessment is done through portfolio, creative performance, and real-life approaches.

If a student likes to learn and is motivated, he could excel in this program. I am concern about those students who are not motivated on their own or they do not have parents' support. Right now educators are working hard to help students be at grade level for No Child Left Behind.
I know a teenager who had home schooling through the internet. The parent thought he was doing well. A year later he enrolled in regular school. He lost a whole year of school. He repeated the tenth grade.
The internet school did not work for him.

Article 2: Here Comes the E-Rate (eGads!)

The Federal Communication Commissions is providing assistance for every school to have connections in the internet. This will include telephonen service, internet services, internal connections, network hardware, and wiring. Discounts will be given according to their school lunch program. It will first come-first serve.

It sounds good, doesn't it? Some schools do not have enough money in the budget to buy computers for every two students. Schools will have to provide computers, fax machines, and telephones. What sacrifice or program should we cut in the budget? A year ago we ran out of copy paper before school ended. I am happy for those schools that could afford to buy these item with their budget money.

Article1: Technology in Schools: Some Say It Doesn't Compute

In the article several people do not agree if computers are helping students improve their academic achievements. They also believe lack of computers in the classroom will hinder their learning. I understand some of their concerns. I have only five computers in my classroom. The classroom computers work very slow in connecting the internet. Students will also become sedentary by the constant use of computers.

We do need to teach students to use the computer correctly and proficient. Computers are becoming part of our lives in the workforce. It makes sense to teach students about computers. We shouldn't rely solely in computers. Compouters should be use as a supplement to teaching. We should spend time implementing activities in higher level thinking that will help students make better choices.