RTFM and all that
As much as I am a strict enforcer of rules relating to censorship and not connecting to the internet for directly school related purposes, I have begun to wonder if we are doing a disservice to our kids by not letting them use their handheld devices sometimes.
I have been thinking, as a teacher of students who are bad at etiquette and social norms, about our policy on using internet-enabled handheld devices. Outside of school, if someone gets into an argument about facts, the argument pauses for a moment as someone reaches for their Droid or iPhone or Palm to find out. If you are talking to someone, and you don't know what they mean, in some crowds, it is rude to ask, rather than googling it yourself. How many times are we told to RTFM if we ask how to do something?
I'm not sure what the solution is. I certainly see the logic in not allowing the use of personal handheld devices in school, but maybe a class on etiquette, where appropriate use is taught? I'm not even sure whether I'm the best person to teach this class, and would want a lot of support if it came to me, because I've never been very good at politeness and applying social norms. I know what I personally find annoying, but I am often surprised by the pet peeves of others
I have been thinking, as a teacher of students who are bad at etiquette and social norms, about our policy on using internet-enabled handheld devices. Outside of school, if someone gets into an argument about facts, the argument pauses for a moment as someone reaches for their Droid or iPhone or Palm to find out. If you are talking to someone, and you don't know what they mean, in some crowds, it is rude to ask, rather than googling it yourself. How many times are we told to RTFM if we ask how to do something?
I'm not sure what the solution is. I certainly see the logic in not allowing the use of personal handheld devices in school, but maybe a class on etiquette, where appropriate use is taught? I'm not even sure whether I'm the best person to teach this class, and would want a lot of support if it came to me, because I've never been very good at politeness and applying social norms. I know what I personally find annoying, but I am often surprised by the pet peeves of others