Ask The Experts

Larry Magid, Steve Jones And Cynthia Hunter Answer Your Questions

(CBS) 
Cynthia P. Hunter

As a high school English teacher, I am constantly struggling to keep my students on task and attentive to the lesson at hand. In the last few years, it has become even more difficult with the increased popularity of iPods and cell phones that play music and videos. Even though I limit their using them in the classroom (no making or taking calls during class, but I allow them to listen to music when they are working on their own), it's pretty impossible to completely eliminate them, so many times I am working with the "divide attention student." Am I doing my students a disservice by not being more insistent on keeping their i-Pods and cell phones turned off and out of the classroom?
— Jeff Huffman

School policy should identify rules that prohibit the use of electronic devices during the school day. Every teacher and school personnel must enforce the rule. Although listening to music can often enhance a student's productivity, allowing the use of iPods/CD's during the school day sends a mixed message.

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As a school librarian, I see many issues involved with Internet use at schools. How do we teach teens to use the Internet safely and effectively? Teens often use the Internet for research without checking the source of the information. The World Wide Web has no gatekeeper, no reputable publisher. It requires critical evaluation of each site, which many teens don't have the patience or the skills to do. Are we raising a generation of children who will be misinformed by the internet? Yes, we need to teach our children to be critical evaluators of information. Information must be supported with reputable, current and valid research. A topic in research analysis should accompany every English class.
— A Library Media Specialist in Falls Church, Va.

The Internet is a vast arena of information. Every high school student must be taught how to evaluate credible sources of information. Student research assignments should require proper citations of information from an approved professional data base provided by the school or local university/college. Many school media centers subscribe to professional databases that provide current and credible research and information. Noodle Tools is an online resource that teaches students how to effectively use online information.

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Why can't the school systems have more programs such as one in Ms. Hunter's school? How do they obtain the funding? How can other schools use her program as a model to customize programs? We don't need to measure how successful her program will be — we need to begin implementing forward thinking such as hers and start integrating it into the school systems' philosophies nationwide.
— Raddish87

Staffing and funding to support technology programs is very limited. Oftentimes, dedicated teachers overextend themselves with little support from the school system. The local business community, parents and higher education institutions must become involved to provide real-world insight, work experience and role models. When a student can apply learning in the classroom to the real world, he or she can make informed decisions about their future.

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How can we get more girls interested in technology? The gap appears to be widening between boys' and girls' mastery of technology.
— AEC

Help girls identify non-traditional careers in technology. Identify salary and lifestyle benefits. Career Awareness workshops and Interest Inventories surveys are helpful. Identify careers that match student interest. Technology is simply creative problem-solving that can be applied to any industry.

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How can schools effectively monitor teen use of technology? Are Internet filters the answer?
— Washington, D.C.

Filters are necessary in schools until students become adept at evaluating and using information responsibly. Filters are a helpful deterrent against unhealthy distractions on the Internet. However, parental guidance is essential to developing a morally conscience community.