By Graci Gillming, Technology Training Coordinator

Even if your school district doesn’t allow the use of cell phones in school, it is important that educators have a continual discussion with students about the safe use of mobile technology. It’s a matter of citizenship in the digital world in which we now live. And when it’s about protecting lives, educators get involved.

A recent study by The Transport Research Laboratory found that motorists who use their mobile phone to send text messages while on the road dramatically increase the likelihood of a collision. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/news/article4776063.ece

Drivers between the ages of 15 and 24 were tested. Their reaction times deteriorated by 35%, much worse than those who drank alcohol at the legal limit, who were 12 % slower, or those who had smoked marijuana, who were 21% slower.

Even more alarming, the study showed that drivers who sent or read text messages while driving were more likely to drift out of their lane, with steering control 91% poorer than that of drivers devoting their full concentration to the road.

Another study done by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute also reported that people who send text messages while driving are 23 times more likely to be in an accident or near-crash event than non-distracted drivers. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10296992-94.html

Using cameras installed in cars, they followed drivers’ eyes as they did various things, including talking on a cell phone, adjusting the radio, and texting. In crashes or near crashes, texting took a driver’s focus away from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds—enough time to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph.

The Institute recommends that any task that takes a driver’s eyes off the road should be avoided and suggests that all cell phone activity should be banned for newly licensed teenage drivers.

AAA Foundation research (http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/2009TSCIndexFS.pdf) shows that approximately 1 in 5 U.S. drivers—of all ages, not just teenagers— admit to texting while driving at least once in the last 30 days.

The New York Times has an online simulation game at http://sn.im/texting-simulation which shows the effects of distractions while driving. Students are all about games, so this would be a good exercise to see how well they do.

Here are some videos that may catch their attention more than reading or talking about the ramifications of texting while driving.

NBC News commentary about texting while driving which includes segments from a British PSA (Public Service Announcement) that shows the reality of what could happen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOTbAbKoL28

Be advised that the following links to the short and long version of the aforementioned British PSA should be shown with caution. They are very graphic but realistic. Teenagers who have watched the video said they knew the dangers of texting while driving but still did it. After watching the PSA, the same teens said they would think twice about texting if driving. Both are on YouTube, so you may have to get the filters lifted in order to watch them while at school or visit with your LAN manager about how you can download the videos.

British PSA video short version (under 5 minutes) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLdF9hVxjno

British PSA video long version (just over 10 minutes) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDOmwjgKBcI&feature=related

The Utah Dept of Transportation video (15 minutes) shows the lives affected by a 19-year-old’s decision to text and drive on an open road - http://www.aaafoundation.org/home/. Click on the video part way down on the left side and click on button in tool bar to go full screen. This video is less graphic but very effective.

We all have a tendency to think this won't happen to us. (This feeling of invincibility is even stronger in teenagers.) But we all know that it can happen, and the chances of it occurring are increasing. Texting while driving can kill.

Thnk b4 u txt bhind the weel.

 

 

 

 

by Graci Gillming, Technology Training Coordinator

Announcing the Internet Safety & Digital Citizenship Contest for 2010. Not only is Internet Safety still a priority with the increase in social networking by teens, but we also want to promote the safe and appropriate use of all technologies as well as one's own behavior while using the Internet or mobile technologies. The guidelines and entry form for this year's contest are available elsewhere in this Connector. ESU 10 Internet Safety Contest Guideline 10-D.pdf

You can find more information about the 2010 Contest as well as other Internet Safety and Digital Citizenship resources at http://nis.esu10.org/ggillmin/InternetSafety.

This time of year, we are feeling good about things and in somewhat of a routine in our classrooms. 
However, winter sports seasons and the crazy days of winter holidays are upon us pushing us to be creative and resourceful educators!  Here are some sites that might make the next couple of months a little easier for you!  Just remember if you find something you like share it with a colleague!

Pete’s Power Point Station (http://www.pppst.com/ ) - This site holds a wealth of Power Point Presentations for all grades and all subjects.  On initial inspection, it looks very much like it is for the younger students but dig in!  It is a fantastic place to find anything from holiday materials to senior high physics.  This is a teacher favorite from some of our recent workshops!

Slideshare (http://slideshare.net) - This is another site containing some great slideshow presentations such as Power Points.  Presentations can be uploaded to this site and shared with others.  You can find a large variety of presentations here so run through each slide before handing it out to students.  Another great feature, you can get the embed code for each slide show and drop that in your web page so students would have access from there rather than going to the SlideShare site!

General Education Internet Resources Lists (http://tr.im/teacherresources) - These are some really nice lists of general educational links for teachers.  Keep scrolling down because the list seems endless!    It begins with a list of great educational You Tube videos and runs the gambit from cell phone tools and web 2.0 tools, to SMART Boards and everything in between!  Check it out!  There is something for  everyone there!

Shmoop (http://www.shmoop.com/teachers/) - Shmoop is a unique but intriguing web resource for those that teach literature, poetry, bestsellers, US History, civics, biographies, or music.  PC Magazine has said it is “the Best of the Internet.” And it was an official honoree of the Webby Awards this
year.  It gives the look and feel of an encyclopedia with all the bells and whistles of the web media.  You can find anything from the War of 1812 to the meaning of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer.” Check it out and see if it isn’t the right site for your curriculum! 

Thinkfinity (http://thinkfinity.org) - You may remember when Marco Polo was the first great web tool (it was probably right after they told you what the Internet was and you were scratching your head. Now we scratch STILL in astonishment!) Marco Polo is now called Thinkfinity and it is an even more amazing teacher resource.  If it has been awhile since you have visited it, you MUST check it out!  Thinkfinity contains lesson plans, interactive sites, activities, and links for teacher but also includes materials for students and parents as well.  This is much like a search engine for all things education. On the main page, search for any topic you might be teaching and you will find links to many different resources. 
Narrow your search by selecting grade levels or even the type of lesson you are hoping to find.  Thinkfinity has partnered with some trusted names in education to create this resource.  You will find just the right material for your class!

2009-10 "CHATS" with the Curriculum and Assessment Team (Pat Roschewski, John Moon, and Jan Hoegh) from the Nebraska Department of Education will be at ESU 10 for an interactive half-day session, running from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on December 15, 2009 to share new information, and give participants the opportunity for clarification of assessment issues and the chance to have questions answered.

Topics of discussion will include:

• Standards Revisions - Where Are We?
• State and National Test - What Do We Know?
• Building Balanced Assessment Systems - How Do We Do This?

Teams are encouraged to attend.

For additional workshop information and to register, go to https://odie.esu10.org

On December 15, 2009, the Assessment and Special Education Offices of the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) will collaborate to provide training on the Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) Alternate Reading Assessment administration, reporting, security and accommodations.  Test design and development will be explained along with the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) regulations that address this test format.  Anyone who administers an alternate assessment will benefit from this training.  This session will be offered from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. and is being held in conjunction with the Assessment Office's "CHAT" held in the morning.  Register for this session at https://odie.esu10.org.