Journal 6

Don't Feed the Trolls

Work-Richardson, Karen (2008, May). Don't feed the trolls. Learning & Leading With Technology, [35(7)], [12-15]

I agree with this article completely. It is our job as teachers to teach civil discourse to students regarding on-line and face-to-face interaction. Simply stating the rules for behavior isn't enough. If we want the students to really understand and respect civil discourse, we must engage the students in the learning process. Using blogs to teach civil discourse is an excellent idea. Students are able to review and reflect on specific segments of conversation chosen by either the teacher or themselves. Role playing is also a great way to teach and model civil discourse. Teaching reflection and self constraint while using collaborative technology not only benefits the students in the present, by creating a safe and supportive conversation place, but also benefits them in the future, by creating a solid foundation for a democratic society. I liked the notion being taught by the on-line interactive learning environment, Moose Crossing: “If you think you shouldn't do it, then you probably shouldn't.” That's a great rule of thumb for all ages. I also liked the idea, “think first, then post.” It's so important to teach students that people don't always agree and that disagreeing is a good and normal part of life, it's what being an individual is all about. The key to remember is, when we do disagree with others- we should do so civilly.

Question 1

Do teachers view teaching on-line civil discourse as a burden?

No, I believe teachers are willing to demonstrate and model proper on-line behavior with a positive attitude. Teachers have already dedicated themselves to the enrichment of their students, and on-line behavior is just as real & important as face-to-face interaction.

Question 2

Should teaching on-line civil discourse be integrated into school curriculum?

Yes, what a great idea. Collaborative technology is here to stay. If students are not taught correct behavior and thinking patterns from the beginning, we are actually setting them up to become “trolls” in the future.