Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Maria Eugenia Egea on November 4, 2014 at 11:16am

Thanks Krista and I think that we have to overcome fear and enter our teens’ virtual world if we want to catch their attention. And of course, as you suggested it is our responsibility to lead them in the use of the new technologies that’s why I think that a seminar on digital citizenship  would be a great idea !

Krista Grace Jessacher said:

Wonderful topic. My experience is that young people love technology. They enjoy the connectivity and access to information that technology offers.

A seminar for the students on digital citizenship may be a good idea, as well. If they are given the skills for digital citizenship, then maybe that will help diffuse some of the disputes.

Krista

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Permalink Reply by Maria Eugenia Egea on November 4, 2014 at 11:18am

Shaun Tan , sorry

Maria Eugenia Egea said:

Hi Leah, Actually my students have created a Facebook page called Iguales pero diferentes, you can take a look at it, if you like. Basically activities are aimed to prevent violent situations at school, reinforce self-esteem and debate on bullying. They have uploaded pictures, phrases, songs and stories that are used as "triggers" for further discussions. of course I have also recommended some readings as the novel by Jay Asher " Thirteen reasons why" and a short film based on "The lost thing" by Shan Tan 

Leah Wing said:

One of the most exciting aspects of creating peer mediation programs in schools, in my experience, has been to hear from students themselves about ideas for structuring programs in the most meaningful and useful ways.  I wonder what ideas teens and other young people have in your schools about how to harness technology to resolve disputes?  Perhaps you have already done this and have heard great ideas from them.

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Permalink Reply by Maria Eugenia Egea on November 4, 2014 at 11:46am

  Hi every one I leave you the short film "The Lost thing" by Shaun Tan,I have used with my students, and they uploaded it to their facebook community. Enjoy it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE9riFDpZWk

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Permalink Reply by Colleen on November 4, 2014 at 10:40pm

A concern about violence in schools is a valid concern and it is admirable that you are taking action.  "To connect equality" sounds like an interesting program providing students with access to further their learning by using technology. I want to note the obvious- the prevalence of technology in society.  It is everywhere and almost everyone is using it.  If we can show young adults positive social media outlets instead of letting them solely focus on snap-chat, instagram, twitter, etc. it could have a positive effect and change the way social media is viewed.  Sometimes I think social media has a negative connotation to many people, yet it has the ability to benefit society in significant ways.  One example of social media benefitting society is the ALS challenge.  Videos of people pouring ice cold water over their heads went viral and spread like wildfire.  Although I am unsure of the exact amount of money the ALS challenge raised, I know at one time it was over 100 million dollars.  Many people had not even heard of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis prior to videos appearing on their social media sites, but it raised awareness.  I think social media is the perfect outlet to raise awareness among young people.  Social media is accessible on computers, phones, ipads, and many more devices.  Not to mention...more and more places are offering free-wifi.  In my opinion, technology has the capability to prevent school disputes.  It can provide an outlet to communicate with others, a sense of connectivity and act almost as a support group where young adults can voice their opinions. Young people may feel more comfortable speaking out in an online forum as opposed to in person therefore creating a more open discussion.  On the flip side, there are cons to online forums such as when words are taken out of context.  I think the fact that students already have a netbook is a good start to this endeavor.  Each student has access and would probably enjoy one more positive social media outlet to turn to. If it can be marketed to appeal to the students, that would encourage participation at the onset.

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Permalink Reply by Danyse Lopez on November 5, 2014 at 10:33am

Sandra,

So as I understand it, Equal Connect does not currently have a function that allows families, teachers and students to access a system that helps them prevent or solve problems generated at school, but is a feature that might be incorporated in the future, correct?

It sounds like a great idea. Not only would it facilitate discussion regarding conflict and brainstorming on how to solve it, it would be an easy way for all the involved parties to communicate with one another, either through discussion boards, private message or email.
 Sandra M. Untrojb said:

Equal  Connect is a system that allows students and teachers s of the schools of public administration in the country, having a computer to use every day

It is  designed so that  it can be taken  home by all students and teachers in middle schools management state of Argentina. One of its main objectives is to incorporate and engage families to be active in the learning process of the students involved. 

I think that just as on the desktop of  the network  by pressing a single button there are displayed some contents as books or videos, it could include a button that with just one click lead to students, families and teachers to a site that connects to a system that helps them prevent  or solve problems generated at School . So I really think is possible to use this system of Equal Connect to solve and prevent conflicts at school. Regards.

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Permalink Reply by Brāv on November 5, 2014 at 10:45am

Thanks for the link. Can you provide the contact email addresses of those involved with Equal Connect?

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Permalink Reply by Maria Eugenia Egea on November 5, 2014 at 11:48am

Thanks everybody for the comments. It is important though to pick up our subject matter: Raising awareness on bullying and reinforcing our students’ self-esteem.

The idea of using technology as a means for “spreading the word” is mainly to encourage our students to use technologies in a more meaningful way. Otherwise, they tend to spend most of their time playing computer games.  "To connect equality” is not a requisite just an option.

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Permalink Reply by Sandra M. Untrojb on November 5, 2014 at 6:19pm

Hi Danyse,

As I told you before I am particpating from Argentina and you are right, it is only an idea that I wanted to share with the Forum

The platform is not used  now as a system that helps  to prevent or solve problems generated at school, I do not even know if it is posible or in case it is decided to use it for preventing and solving problems, they woul probably have to adapt the notebooks in some way. 

Regards

Danyse Lopez said:

Sandra,

So as I understand it, Equal Connect does not currently have a function that allows families, teachers and students to access a system that helps them prevent or solve problems generated at school, but is a feature that might be incorporated in the future, correct?

It sounds like a great idea. Not only would it facilitate discussion regarding conflict and brainstorming on how to solve it, it would be an easy way for all the involved parties to communicate with one another, either through discussion boards, private message or email.
 Sandra M. Untrojb said:

Equal  Connect is a system that allows students and teachers s of the schools of public administration in the country, having a computer to use every day

It is  designed so that  it can be taken  home by all students and teachers in middle schools management state of Argentina. One of its main objectives is to incorporate and engage families to be active in the learning process of the students involved. 

I think that just as on the desktop of  the network  by pressing a single button there are displayed some contents as books or videos, it could include a button that with just one click lead to students, families and teachers to a site that connects to a system that helps them prevent  or solve problems generated at School . So I really think is possible to use this system of Equal Connect to solve and prevent conflicts at school. Regards.

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Permalink Reply by Sandra M. Untrojb on November 5, 2014 at 6:21pm

Hi, 

I think you can access to the screen "Contacto" in this page

WWW.portales.educacion.gov.ar/conectarigualdad/

Regards, 

Brāv said:

Thanks for the link. Can you provide the contact email addresses of those involved with Equal Connect?

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Permalink Reply by Ben Ziegler on November 6, 2014 at 12:23pm

Krista Grace Jessacher said:

Wonderful topic. My experience is that young people love technology. They enjoy the connectivity and access to information that technology offers.

A seminar for the students on digital citizenship may be a good idea, as well. If they are given the skills for digital citizenship, then maybe that will help diffuse some of the disputes.

Krista

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Permalink Reply by Ben Ziegler on November 6, 2014 at 12:23pm

Krista... I, too, like the concept/term of 'digital citizenship'.  Thanks for that! Teaching citizenship skills to young people is important, yet specifying 'digital' gives the topic, citizenship, focus, and makes it easier for young people to relate to. 

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Permalink Reply by Mitchell Brazell on November 6, 2014 at 1:17pm

I think that with the ever growing use of technology and social networking reaching in to this medium and using it for conflict engagement is a crucial step. I certainly think that such a process in possible, and crucial. Yet, setting up a system for disputes in a school, no matter the medium, requires a series of important questions that can help shape that system. Below are some questions and comments for consideration in such an endeavor.

 

1. How do you get students, parents, and administrators to participate is such a system? Simply having one isn’t sufficient to ensure its use. One possibility might be to facilitate a discussion that includes many members from each group and ask what they might be looking for in an online dispute system, what features are necessary, how can one make it usable, and how can one encourage its use. If they are a part of the development process it might build buy-in from them and promote the use of the system.
2. What sort of conflicts might be addressed through this system? Can all forms of conflict that arise be addressed this way, or are certain ones only to be addressed in person? If so, which ones? Getting a clear picture of what type of conflicts can and should be addressed in this medium will help in its development.
3. How does this system integrate with other online social networks that are used by the students? If this system is completely separate from large online social networks, which it seems like it is, how can disputes be brought in to the dispute system? If a dispute arises on twitter, how can someone find out? How will it be addressed (through twitter, or a developed dispute system)?
4. How are disputes identified and brought up? Is it simply a forum where students, parents and administrators and raise issues that can be addressed by multiple people? Or, is there a more formalized process where disputes are “fielded” by a sort of ombudsperson?
5. Lastly, who participates in the resolution process and how are those people trained? If in student disputes it is the students who help in the process, will it be a sort of online peer mediation? If parents have disputes will it be mediated by an administrator, or someone else. What does the process for training look like? Will the training be online or in person?

 

These are a lot of detailed questions, many of which can be addressed in a facilitated discussion with members of the various groups in the development process. I think that after considering such a process and getting some idea of what it could look like, it is crucial to involve the students, parents, administrators, and teachers in its development. Not only will they better understand what will work for them and provide invaluable ideas, but they might be more likely to use it.

Mitchell

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