Issues+and+Evaluation

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Issues with having an online identity:
 There are many issues with having an online identity, and even more arise when discussing students having an online identity. Some of the more important ones are: safety, privacy, uses in the curriculum, advertisements, the need to sign up an account and the use of communication.  Students need to be able to learn and access all types of programs and tools even those on the internet, however, we as teachers (and parents) need to know and ensure they are safe. Cyber bullying is a major concern as students have more freedom online and the issue of students communicating with people outside school. If using these tools, teachers need to monitor the students' use and ensure all students understand the expectations of the teacher/s and school. Click here for an example of how having an online presence can go wrong (Cyber Bullying).  Most Web 2.0 tools require the user to sign up, some require a specific email to be used (which involves setting up an email account). This can be an issue for schools. Another problem is that DECS schools have a limited access to the internet and some of these tools cannot be accessed in a DECS school (for instance You Tube).

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Evaluation of the five Web 2.0 tools ** : **
I found this assignment very useful as i got play and use a variety of tools, and by investigating the advantages and disadvantages I am able to shape my future teaching using technology on this. My favourtites and what i believe to be the most useful were Wikispaces, Delicious and Google Groups.They are excellent for students as they guide and promote questioning and investigating, which are vital skills for students. Wikispaces  is excellent for class activities and classes or groups can have their own wiki (this makes following progress and marking easier as its all in the one place). Teachers can post information, helpful hints and announcements to their students through a wiki. They are also excellent for school promotion. However, i believe a wiki is best used for collaborative tasks, as students can access their group/class wiki and add their work at any time and from any (internet accessing) computer. Wiki's are not only excellent in a school setting, but also a great tool for those working in a professional setting (e.g. the office). Delcious  is a highly useful tool for students as they can find sort and store their information. if they need to follow up on something or re-use information, it is all there in the one place. They can also share websites and information between each other, which can help other students (especially those struggling with ICT concepts and some students with learning disabilities). Google Groups  allows students to discuss issue with each other through the internet. Teachers can monitor the students use, and even place questions for their students to answer. However, Youtube i believe, although very useful for finding 'how to' video's, would be the least useful of the five tools. It contains highly inappropriate content, it is not available in most schools and anyone can add video's so they cannot always be viewed as reliable. The biggest issue i believe is access to computers and the internet. The world we live in, is not always fair and equal, thus some people miss out. This is no different when it comes to access to ICT and the internet. Some students may struggle with tasks using these tools if they are limited by access. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">All these tools help students to learn ICT, research and collaborative skills, which are all highly important skills for students and best learned in the early stages of schooling. Most of these tools are appropriate for primary schools, although they may be too complex for young students.

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