Week+5

In our previous class a number of students left early to attend a workshop on Cyberbullying. In this workshop we discusssed the many different ways that bullying has changed due to the increase of technology and especially the increased access that students have to it. Students are using their cellphones through texting or video taping, they are using social networks and instant messaging systems as a means to bully others. With this increased form of bullying, the Ontario Ministry of Education has released a new bullying Mandate, which can be read here [|Safe Schools] This mandate requires that teachers submit written resports to all forms of bullying that they witness and it states that: -school staff who work directly with students will respond to all cases of disrespectful and inappropriate student behaviour, as long as it is safe to do so. Examples of this include racist, sexual, sexist or homophobic comments, slurs and jokes and graffiti as well as activities that could lead to suspension and expulsion -a school board employee who learns of a serious incident must tell their principal. School staff will make sure that the victim receives the support they need, such as counselling or referral to child and youth services.
 * __ Reading __**:

I am not entirely sure how I feel about this new mandate. I realize the realities of bullying and expecially the increase in cyberbullying, but it seems like a lot of paperwork which will hinder anything actually getting done. I guess we just have to wait and see what happens.

__** So this week we looked at the [|SMARTboard]. I was pretty excited to learn about the SMARTboard because there has been great discussion of its use in the classroom in this faculty and in the schools I have been too. However, it seems that to really learn how to use it you actually just have to take the time and explore it on your own.
 * __ Software and How to Use it:

-In my History class we had a similar tutorial, but this time we focused on Google Earth and how you can use that as a tool in teaching history. One of the really cool things I learned was that when looking at a map you can circle a space on the map using your finger and that space will jump on the screen and will zoom in on that specific spot. What I learned today: __**
 * __

-I learned a bit more about the new Ministry mandate on bullying. -became aware of a website called [|turnitin.com] where teachers, for a fee, can submit work that they suspect to be plagirised and get it checked through this system. It seems like a more efficient way of checking for plagiarism than sifting through documents yourself. -became more familiar, but by no means a master of the SMARTboard.