How far is too far?

I respect and appreciate the changing nature of society and what it means to be young today.  I know that we are all surrounded by not only violence but controversial topics and media - more so than ever before.  But at what point do we say enough is enough?  At what point do we say this isn't appropriate?

I think I've reached that point with the news of an upcoming video game called School Shooter: North American Tour 2012 - a project by Checkerboarded Studios.

I learned about this game via a press release shared in my school district by our superintendent.  This video game apparently allows players to choose their weapon and then "You are free to do whatever you want (So long as it involves shooting people in a school)."

I'm not a gamer.  I don't "get" most of the games out there but I can understand why others are into them, in fact I believe they hold potential for dynamic learning.  What I can't understand, is how violence against children could ever be considered fun, even in a virtual environment.

I encourage everyone to do whatever they can to speak out against video games that encourage, glamourize or depict violence in our schools.

Violence in schools is a PROBLEM, not a game.

Digital Citizenship Poster Project

The Grand Island schools have a long-running, successful PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) program aptly named the Viking Values (in honor of our mascot the Viking).  

As an enrichment project in one of our elementary schools, 4 third grade students and 4 fifth grade students worked with me to create Digital Citizenship posters.  The posters provide examples of how students can portray the Grand Island PBIS Character Traits as Digital Citizens.

The project started with the students examining the character traits and brainstorming ideas of how they are represented in the digital environment.  Digital cameras were used to capture the students “performing” what should or should not be done.  We used Microsoft Word and Jing, learning how to work with tool bars, text boxes and other formatting features. 

An example has been included here and all posters have been hung in the school’s computer lab as discussion starters and/or reinforcement of expected behaviors when using technology.