Ms. Davega

Digital Literacy Media literacy in the 21st century is essential to understanding the world around us. Media constructs our culture which affects our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. In my personal life, I have made the choice to not have a TikTok account. This choice, although small, has impacted my ability to discuss cultural norms and trends with my friends. Oftentimes, my friends will reference a video trend or viral video that I have no knowledge about. To me, this impact is insignificant since I actively use other social media platforms. However, if someone had no social media platforms their cultural knowledge of social media literacy would be lacking. The word "lacking" implies that it is wrong to not have social media accounts. I do not think someone "lacking" digital social literacy is a bad thing, unless they themselves feel they are missing vital information. As humans it is entirely normal to be lacking in certain areas, and thriving in others. Where ...

The  Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is the law that requires school districts to educate students about appropriate online behavior (Common Sense) . The law leaves it up to districts for how they carry out this education. In my opinion this is a flaw of the law. In my own district we have zero direct instruction on online safety in regards to bullying awareness and responses. We do not have a technology or computer elective class. Homeroom teachers have access to a class set of Chromebooks and it is their discretion to teach students how to use the devices appropriately. I would love for my school to hire a technology teacher that students go to as part of their specials rotation. Another option is for the school to purchase a curriculum teachers could follow to best teach the necessary content areas for each grade. However, I think realistically it would save time and be easier to just integrate the content into our core subject areas.  COPPA is a federal la...

Where it began When I first created my social media accounts I was in middle school and high school. My parents followed my social media accounts (as a rule) and therefore, I was very cautious as to what I posted online. I was overly anxious as to what was put on the internet due to my strict upbringing. I remember un-tagging myself from posts and pictures on Facebook and Instagram in order to not get in trouble. Although I resented this parenting style at the time, I am thankful that nothing outrageous is online from my younger days on social media. Now as a teacher and veteran social media user, I am still aware of what I am posting online but I do recognize I am an independent adult. This week in order to better understand my digital tattoos I looked into the privacy setting on all of my social media accounts. Privacy Settings Upon logging into my Instagram account, I see my account is private, which it has been since I created it in high school. Upon digging into the settings fur...

Acceptable Use Policy This week I explored Acero's acceptable use policy (AUP) for technology in order to better understand what students should do or shouldn't do in regards to their technology use.   An AUP is an agreement between the student and the district designed to keep students safe online. This agreement allows them to explore the digital world as part of their education, instead of accessing inappropriate or harmful sites ( Kajeet ). I found Acero's acceptable use policy in our 2022-2023 school year student handbook. This acceptable use policy is tailored for students.                                                                             (Image Source) Findings The policy lists 14 prohibited us...

This week I explored algorithms. I have referenced frustration or judgment related to social media algorithms frequently but I honestly had very little knowledge as to what it really was and how they are created. Image Source The Pew Research Center simplified this concept to me by comparing it to a recipe. Algorithms are instructions for solving a problem or completing a task like a recipe. Without algorithms we would have none of functions we love in video games, search engines, GPS, online dating, email, and more. These facts alone caused me to think more positively about this function. Pew Research Center asked 1,302 technology experts, scholars, corporate practitioners and government leaders the following question. Will the net overall effect of algorithms be positive for individuals and society or negative for individuals and society? They found that  38% predicted that the positive impacts of algorithms will outweigh negatives , while 37% said negatives will outweigh positi...

Exploring a New PLN One of the biggest educational trends right now is the concept of the "Science of Reading." At my school, teachers are dissecting our schools reading instruction and making necessary changes. We are in the process of purchasing new phonics curriculum to add to our reading curriculum. In order to help our administration make an informed decision for what to purchase, I joined an educational Facebook group called "Science of Reading-What I Should Have Learned in College". By joining a professional learning community I am broadening my social and professional circle. Organizational psychologist Tanya Menon discusses the need for broadening your network in her Ted Talk . In a school setting it can be easy to only communicate with teachers in your grade band or even just at your school. Professional learning communities on Facebook, Twitter , or even following educators on Instagram will provide you with new ideas, opportunities, and places of supp...