Is anyone concerned about the health risks associated with the use of technology in our schools?

Last night after blogging, I decided to read my classmates blogs. The title of Marie’s blog, Addressing Important Parent Concerns, was surprising. I had never really considered addressing that issue; however, my eyes were a little strained. I put off reading her blog and went to bed. As a follow up, I thought about researching concerns of parents with the use of technology and the effects that technology use is having on students. I wasn’t surprised at the findings because, like I said, I was suffering from a couple of the effects myself. I wasn't paying close attention to the signs of discomfort becasue I was interested, engaged and participating in my technology education. I was doing exactly what we want our students to do. But with every pro there is always a con, lurking in the background. I don’t feel that these cons out weigh the benefits of using technology in the classrooms, but they should not be ignored either. Fortunately, these obstacles can be addressed and overcome.
Schools can ensure the effective use of educational technology in the classroom by addressing all these factors: placement of computers for equitable access, the amount of usage time to decrease the effects that the amount of use will have on the student users, and how we use the many tools of technology. I am not sure that schools can do too much with the size and design of the tools. What I mean is, most of these tools are very small. For example, the handhelds are so small that they can fit into the pocket of my jean shorts. Oh yeah, and the cell phones, I lose my cell phone every day and I have to call myself just to find it. And the smaller the laptop the more appealing it is to us. I am sure that the Geek Squad is trying to ensure that the tools are practical and easier to manage. Look at Tony Vincent and Karen Fasimpaur, the tools that they traveled with to the MAHETC conference could have been packed into my purse!
In the last month, I have been spending hours and hours on the computer. My time on the computer has been due to having to complete assignments, researching and practicing all the methods of what I have learned about the new tools of the Read/Write Web. Because of the amount of time that I have been spending on the computer, I can feel the difference in my body. My eyes are tired, my neck feels tense and I'm a little cranky, so my family is saying.
In the article, “How to sit at your computer”, Martin Ferretti states, “Sitting at the computer for extended periods of time could cause health problems if you don’t keep the proper posture, especially backaches and the dreaded carpal tunnel syndrome.”
As I read the article, I thought to myself, if I am suffering from some of these things, surely students have to be at somewhat greater risk. They are using these tools more than I am. I have been ignoring the signs. What will students do? The critical issue here is: Although incorporating technology into curriculums has a vast amount of benefits, there is some health risks involved with the use of technology. How should these health risks be addressed? Who will address them and when?
Another article that caught my eye-get it-is “How Computers Affect Eyesight”, by Tracy Perez. http://www.parents.com/parents/story.jsp?psrc=storyrl&catref=chd37&storyid=/templatedata/child/story/data/computers.xml
My interest was sparked mainly because I had experience some eye strain and found it difficult to insert my contacts lenses, after using the computer the previous evening.
Perez reports, “The incidence of myopia (nearsightedness) among children is increasing at an epidemic rate because of the popularity of computer games and hand-held toys, says Cary Herzberg, a pediatric optometrist in Aurora, IL. This kind of nearsightedness is a symptom of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), says Dr. Herzberg. CVS occurs as a result of prolonged staring at computer images (or pixels), which are more difficult for the eye to focus on than letters on a printed page. "Our visual systems were never designed to handle this type of close work, so we're asking our eyes to do some very demanding things when we stare at a computer screen for hours a day," Dr. Herzberg says. "This kind of work takes its toll on adults, so imagine what it does to young children whose eyes aren't fully developed yet."
I have to admit, I am seeing that more of my students are wearing classes. My daughter had to see specialist becasue she kept complaining about headaches and her pediatrician could not determine the cause. We finally had her eyes examined and yes, now she wears glasses. I never thought to associate the computer with her need for glasses.
Yet in another article (oh yeah) they are out there, the author reminds us that children use the computers in a different way than we do as adults. Even though they are going to experience the same types of symptoms, their ability to be cognoscente of what is happening to their body is low. They are more likely to ignore the symptoms until it is too late.
http://tifaq.org/kids/parents.html
Well, now I am really concerned because I want to know what can I do as a parent and an educator. So I went blogging! Yes, there were blogs out there in reference to this critical issue, I came across a great blog at http://www.technewsworld.com/story/52677.html. The title of that blog, “Kids and Tech: How Much Is Too Much?” the author gives great advice “to practice what you preach.” So if I want my daughter and my students to be aware of the risks, I need to know what the risks are and learn what to do to decrease the effects of the risks.
If this issue is to be resolved, we must address this critical issue? Here again, teachers need to know how to train students to recognize when too much is too much. We need to learn what the appropriate way is for students to sit, view and use the technology. In “GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS INTERESTED IN REDUCING THE RISKS OF COMPUTER-RELATED REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY IN CHILDREN” at http://www.rsihelp.com/children.shtml the author suggest several ways to eliminate some of these risks. The suggestions include:
*teach students good posture
*Use the keys instead of a mouse
*avoid laptops when possible
For more suggestions visit http://www.tipmonkies.com/2005/05/14/how-to-sit-at-your-computer/ How to sit at your computer. I think I will start off my school year with teaching my students these precautions. I will try to model the correct way to sit and type on the tech tools.

Mission Geek Teacher

Watch out ,Pam, Belgica, Monica, Marie, Jeanell, Tara, and Miss Karns, I am on a technology mission. I promise I won’t be” carrying a special agent badge and dress in black pants, white shirts, a black clip-on tie and white socks with polished black shoes”. Nor will I be arriving at my school in a black-and white Volkswagen Beetle. (Although, they are cute.) And I won't be applying for a job with Best Buy. (Tapscott 2006) My mission is to become a “Geek Teacher!”

I can remember back at least 10 years ago when it was not cool to be a geek. But today Geeks use wikis, handhelds, blogs, cell phones and iPods to collaborate new ideas with others. They brainstorm, manage projects, swap service tips and socialize with their peers. Why can’t I do these things as a teacher? Can I bring the tools to my students so that they can survive in the new flat world and possibly become a Geek themselves? Do you think my mission is meaningful? Will I survive the mission? I don't know but my mission has begun.

My mission began this past Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at the Mid-Atlantic Handheld & Emerging Technology Conference. The conference was held at Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD. The collaborating sponsors probably organized the conference by utilizing wikis, blogs and cell phones. The sponsors of the conference, Salisbury University, Wicomico School District and Seaford School District, of Delaware, seem to be leading this community in technology.

I have been to several conferences before, but I really had mixed feelings about attending this one. I did not know what to expect. Were there going to be a bunch of “Geek Teachers”, administrators and others attending that would not be sympathetic to those of us who know very little about technology? Was the conference going to be over my head? Would I learn anything useful that I would be able to apply to my personal and professional life?

Tony Vincent shared a vast amount of innovated and exciting technology tools and stats. Having someone like him open a technology conference was brilliant. Saying that I was amazed, just would not do the opening session any justice. And this “young man” started out as a teacher? Wow! I felt my brain reshaping itself as he presented. (Karen Fasimpaur, “My Virtual Distributed Brain: Thriving on the Chaos of Information Overload”)

My quest for becoming a Geek Teacher was quickly being fueled and I no longer felt as though the mission was impossible. Net Gens were born between the years of 1982 and 2002. I began teaching in the year 1992, so I missed a few of these students, but the majority of them are just coming through. And they need a Geek Teacher!

I looked around and saw so many attendees using their palms to take notes. But there were a few of us trying to keep up with paper and pencil. The presenters all kept reiterating that you have to practice the skills to be good at them. If it was not apparent before it truly is now. I did not enjoy sitting there with paper and pencil, with a palm hidden in my purse. Oh yeah, let me tell you about it. I have the pleasure of being an employee of Seaford School District. http://www.seaford.k12.de.us/ All teachers were given a palm to use for Dibeling our students and tracking their progress. But there is so much more that I could and will be doing.

Ok Tara, my interest was sparked to see what I could have been doing! I too went to http://www.nwhandheld.org/research.html and K12 Handhelds. Both sites were loaded with activities and lessons to do with elementary students. I have no excuse for not doing these activities with my students, other than- “ I did not know how to properly use the tool.” And I did not take the time to practice or investigate the tool.


The issue here is: How can a teacher become a Geek Teacher?

Resolution: If you are fortunate to work for a district that provides you with the equipment to work with Net Gen students, it is your responsibility to use the equipment. I think every presenter stated” You learn by doing, so do!” I could have been allowing my students to use palms to write research papers, practice handwriting, listen to historic speeches, and practice math skills downloaded for free from the Internet! FREE!
Students and teachers are integrating the use of palms in every subject. They are using then to download information to others via the computer, reading books and highlighting information. This leads me to my mission. My mission is to introduce my students to blogging and to use the palms that are available in my school. One idea that I came across when I went to http://www.nings.com/ was to use the palm along with the elmo and project a story. By doing this, I can interact with the entire class as we point out the main idea and details that support the main idea. I have already downloaded my excel grade book to my palm. More is yet to come.
In Tara’s blog, “Palms in the classroom”, she quotes some very interesting pointers from “Competing Visions of Handheld Computer Use in the Classroom”, by Wesley A. Fryer.
By storing information from the handhelds, into computers:

• the teacher can assess individual skills.
• Instruction will be teacher centered (directed) but students will be more actively involved when using palms.
• Information can be stored in docs and not lost.
• The learning environment is more authentic.
  

To quote Karen Fasimpaur, “Textbook learning is neither engaging nor up-to-date.”
Maybe I will decorate my classroom this year with black and white checkered Volkswagen Beetles and have mini computer name tags on the students’ desk. I think it is time to run my classroom like Best Buy. Do I accept the mission? Sure I do, I do not want to washed away like sand in tidal wave storm nor do I want to fall off of this newly flat world. My mission is NOT IMPOSSIBLE.