Curing Your Student E-Mail Headaches

Presented by:

Tam Rutenber

Topics of Discussion

Our Students Student Email Realities School Liability Issues Standards and Compliancy Teacher/Student Dynamics Benefits of Online Communication Projects/Curriculum Ideas Communication Beyond Email

Understanding our Students

Self Motivated– The students that teachers dream about having. They do

all the work you assign, and more. (9%) Going Through the Motions

– The students that, although in their hearts they feel that what is being taught has little relevance, they are farsighted enough to realize that their future may very well depend on their grades. (68%)

Tune Us Out– They are convinced that school is totally devoid of interest and

totally irrelevant to their life. School is much less interesting than the myriad devices they carry in their pockets. (23%)

Student Email Realities

According to the National NetDay Survey of

over 210,000 K-12 students in 2004:

29% of K-3 students have email accounts 79% of 7-12th grade students have email accounts 70% have at least one IM account Of those, over 73% say Email/IM is essential to their

day to day lives

Student Email Realities

Gaggle’s Vision is that students get an email account in elementary school, and that account will follow them until graduation.

A student’s email account is going to be as important to their educational records as their student ID number.

School Liability Issues - PreGaggle

Inability to identify problems before they occur

Lack of monitoring Access to students from outsiders is too

easy The three “W’s”

– Who are they emailing?– What is being emailed?– Why are they emailing?

School Liability Solutions

Inability to identify problems before they occur– Blocked Word Lists / Weighted Words– Cyber Bully Blocker– APS System

Lack of monitoring– Teachers can review messages at any time

Access to students from outsiders is too easy– Restrict to Class, School, District, or World Wide– Address Blocking

Standards and Compliancy

CIPA (The Children’s Internet Protection Act )– School must “adopt a policy addressing the safety and

security of minors using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct online communication.”

– “Must have technology measures in place to protect against visual depictions that are obscene or pornographic.”

State Standards for email in NC, TX, MD, AZ, MO, VA, and many more.

ISTE’s NETS – 3rd Grade

Teacher/Student Dynamics

Breaking down the barriers of communication and the walls that dictate where and when learning takes place

Utilizing email both inside and outside of class

Benefits of Email Communication

Social Aspects– All issues of race, appearance, dress, and physical

limitations melt away.– What becomes important is not who you are, but what

you have to say. Literacy Skills Safety Issues Going Virtual (Paperless?)

– Eliminate the paper chase and save time and printer cartridges.

Project and Curriculum Ideas

Literacy tool– Reading, Writing, Typing– Teaches students to convey thoughts in writing– Helps link schoolwork to real life

Adult Mentors– Adopt a Grandparent– Big Brother/Sister

Student Mentors Peer Review Character Impersonations Student Key Pals

Make the Safe Choice

The same teacher that allows students to use Gmail or HotMail at school, is planning these fieldtrips….

…and thinks this student is safe by wearing a helmet.

Other Gaggle Features

Asynchronous– Blogs – online “diaries”– Message Boards – group area for discussions.

Synchronous– Chat Rooms – live written discussions

How to get started with Gaggle

Contact Tam Rutenber and/or your school’s Gaggle administrator.

Discuss with school administrator your school’s guidelines and how you’d like to use Gaggle.

Work with school administrator to create student accounts and apprise students/parents of their responsibilities.

Practice with students before implementing projects. Go for it!

Thank You!