ISTE 2008 Standards
1.Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

I have found that abot every psychologist believes that a child will learn what he/she want to learn. Under guidance I would let my students make most of the choices about their curriculum. As long as certain criteria are included the students will have the freedom to choose subject, style, expectations, rubric, etc. The student would be involved in each of the dicisions about the lesson. The Internet would be central to each lesson and the students would have to delegate assignments to each other to accomplish their tasks. At certain points and at the end of each lesson the students would have to enter a reflection on their personal blog.

Something that I would like to learn to become a better educator is sign language. I tried years ago at OSU to take sign language instead of a foreign language. They at that time wouldn't let me because it wasn't considered a foreign language. I have found out lately that sign language is acceptable now as a foreign language. Since I am heading in Special Education, sign language would be a better tool for me instead of French. I may have students that are disabled in speech or hearing and sign language would be a great asset.

Education Strategy

I have found my Wiki an interesting tool and have thought about using it in my classroom as a remedial strategy. Students that have finished work, need to practice, or have earned computer time can visit the class Wiki. Different pages could be set up for different curriculums and one page could even be a games page. Each page would have approved links to outside sources relevant to the curriculum. There could be message boards and extra credit prompts.

Responses to Instruction Design Assignment

Once I figured out how to use print screen I had no problem. It took me hours and once I learned how I felt kind of slow. Putting together a set of instructions on how to perform a function with a new program was fun and interesting. The feedback I recieved at class helped me see some weaknesses and gave me a couple of terrific suggestions. Both of which I did. One was to add the shortcut icon at the beginning of the tutorial and the other was to add another step to the instructions. Doing something is easier than telling someone else how to do it.

Can one person make a difference?

I'm an optimist and believe that one person can make a difference. With all the ways that we can communicate around the world a person can influence and make a difference somewhere else. By just blogging farming stuff in Oklahoma could start a relationship with a farmer from China and through their mutual friendship learn from each other. Different people have different ways and who is to say which is better. It's not so much which is better but that there are two techniques now. To change the world you would need alot of influence, time and energy. You would need to sell your idea to the world. It is easier today to reach and teach people than at any other time in history because of the Inernt.

Biggest Problems using Tech with Kids?

Even with supervision a child might see porn. Pornography and predation by perverts and con artists are why children need supervision when Internetting.

Below are several website about safety issues and children of all ages. You'll even find a contract that will list the specific rules about who, what, how, and when to use the Internet.

1.
easy computer tips: practical computer advice
This page is full of links about child safety and the Internet.

Http://www.easycomputertips.com/article-howtokeepkidssafeontheweb.html

2.
10 Commandments for Kids Online
This is a contract. That is all this website is. It lists 10 rules about the computer and the Internet and provides spaces for the child and the parent to sign.

http://komando.com/kids/commandments.aspx

3.
safekids.co.uk
This website is extensive. There are links to about anything you need to knnw about children and safety. You can find information about child seat installation, pets, child abduction, Internet, health, development, allergies, a huge library of videos and much, much more. I'm not kidding, there is some information here.

http://www.safekids.co.uk/ChildrenInternetParentalAdvice.html

So many tools so little time

About the question, "So many tools that do the same thing....I found myself asking.....do we have too many things going on at once....are there problems with overlap... are we dividing our effort?" Probably so, but if you don't have diversification and overlap you'll end up with stagnation. This "too many things going on at once" is just each guy trying to make a better product and becoming rich and successful. There is the problem of having enough time to learn new programs. Usually most of us learn to use a program and tend to stick with it.