TECHNOLOGY ISSUES IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL

1. TECHNOLOGY ISSUES IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL By Caitlyn, Whitney, & Corrin

2. Introduction • Technology in the classroom has many benefits • Technology use in the classroom creates many issues • Student Misuse • Social Networking Sites • Sexting • Cyberbullying • Student Discipline

3. LITERATURE REVIEW Discipline Policies Cyberbullying Sexting

4. DISCIPLINE POLICIES • Where is the line drawn for disciplining students for misuse of technology? • 1st Amendment Rights • Incidents occurring outside of the school environment and school day hours • Who is responsible for discipline? • The school? • Parents?

5. DISCIPLINE POLICIES--QUOTATION Willard, 2011, p. 76 • Schools have the authority to respond to student speech, whether on or off campus, when the speech “has caused, or reasonably could cause, a substantial disruption at school or interference with the rights of students to be secure.”

6. CYBERBULLYING • Traditional Bullying v. Cyberbullying • Major Differences • Where it takes place • How it is monitored (SNS, cell phones, pictures, email, IMs, chat rooms, etc) • Can remain anonymous (difficult to track) • Peaks in 6th Grade • Point when self-esteem is developing, causing emotional issues

7. CYBERBULLYING--QUOTATION Siegle, 2010, p. 15 • Physical power no longer determines who is the bully and who is the victim; anyone “can simply log on, create a new identity, and bully away… Instead of whispers behinds teens’ backs, the insults are posted for everyone to read.”

8. SEXTING • Definition: sending or forwarding pictures or videos via mobile devices or social networking sites • 1 in 5 teens are sexting. • Many physical, emotional, and psychological stresses on our youth • Risk Factors • Female • Use of chat rooms/chatting with people met over internet • Those who share personal info online • Those who talk about sex over internet • Physical or sexual abuse history

9. SEXTING--QUOTATION Siegle, 2010, p. 14 • …the Internet truly is “limitless access to information, peers, and even strangers around the globe” and is becoming accessible twenty-four hours a day on mobile devices.

10. ARGUMENTS & REASONING • Be cautious when monitoring student use • Students may feel their privacy is being violated • Address cyberbullying/sexting issues in schools’ bullying programs • Schools should notify parents of internet misuse • Admin needs to be careful of laws & student rights • Policies should be addressed & clarified

11. ARGUMENTS & REASONING (CONTINUED) • Solutions • Appropriate internet behavior/usage • Educating, Modeling, Expectations • Internet Usage Contracts • Post near computers/internet areas • Parent & Community Involvement

12. ARGUMENTS & REASONING -QUOTATION Siegle, 2010, p. 14 • “Although schools have made concerted efforts to curb Internet abuse by developing acceptable use policies and installing filtering software for websites,” (Siegle, 2010, p. 14), these efforts are no longer enough.

13. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS • Embrace technology in the classroom, but with caution • Efforts by SNS, nonprofit organizations, and school districts ARE making a difference! • Awareness should continue to be raised! • Students can seek help/knowledge/modeling from: • Parents • School Counselors • Teachers • Administration

14. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS--QUOTATION Mitchell, 2010. • Students need to be reminded that their choices online will impact their higher education and career opportunities.

15. Abuse of Technology Video

16. REFERENCES • Berk, L. (2009). Child Development (8th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. • Booth, M. Z. (2011). This they believe: Young adolescents reveal their needs in school. Middle School Journal, January 2011, 16-23. • Brown, J. D., Keller, S., & Stern, S. (2009). Sex, sexuality, sexting, and sexed: Adolescents and the Media. The Prevention Researcher, 16 (4), 12-16. • Chubb, N. H., & Fertman, C. I. (1997). Adolescent self-esteem and locus of control: A longitudinal study of gender and age differences. Adolescence, Spring 1997, 32 (125). • Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2009). Cyberbullying research summary: A brief review of relevant legal and policy issues. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.cyberbullying.us/cyberbullying_legal_issues.pdf • Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2010). Bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide. Archives of Suicide Research, 14 (3), 206-221. • Mitchell, K. (2010). Remaining safe and avoiding dangers online: A social media Q&A with Kimberly Mitchell. The Prevention Researcher,17, 7-9. • O’Donovan, E. (2010). Sexting and student discipline: Administrators need to understand this activity and develop appropriate policies. District Administration, March, 60-64. • Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2009a). Cyberbullying fact sheet: A brief review of relevant legal and policy issues. Cyberbullying Research Center. • Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2009b). Cyberbullying research summary: Trends in adolescent online social networking. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.cyberbullying.us/myspace_youth_research_over_time.pdf • Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2010). Cyberbullying and self-esteem. Journal of School Health, 80 (12), 614-621. • Peterson, J. S., & Ray, K. E. (2006). Bullying and the gifted: Victims, perpetrators, prevalence, and effects. Gifted Child Quarterly, 50 (2), 148-168. • Project Tomorrow (2011). The Three New E’s of Education: Enabled, Engaged, Empowered. • Speak Up 2010 National Findings. Project Tomorrow. • Siegle, D. (2010). Cyberbullying and sexting: Technology abuses of the 21st century. Gifted Child Today, 32 (2), 14-16, 65. • Wade, A., and Beran, T. (2011). Cyberbullying: The new era of bullying. Canadian Journal of Psychology, 26 (1), 44-61. • Willard, N. (2011). School response to cyberbullying and sexting: The legal challenges. Brigham Young University Education & Law Journal, (1), 75-125.