We hope this is a helpful resource for you and those you work with. Feel free to share with colleagues, and reach out if you have any questions.

Cheers,
LeeAnn

* Laurie Guyon is the Coordinator for Model Schools at Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES and Capital Region Director for NYSCATE. She was a member of the authoring committee for NYSED’s computer science and digital fluency standards. Laurie presents workshops and webinars throughout New York State to support the rollout. You can access her online courses on the NYSCATE website. Contact Laurie.

Have you ever taught a hearing-impaired senior how to use a new app? Have you tried it over Zoom? Suffice it to say, it can be a challenge. My brother and I knew "operation hearing aid app training" would go a lot smoother if I was there to assist with Zoom and to show my mom, in person, what John was talking about on the other side of the screen. So we set it up so that Mom and I Zoomed together from my house to John in his.
​
​Side note: It went really well, and I highly recommend this approach if you find yourself in a similar situation.

Something Just Isn't Right
Since last week's virtual training, something has been nagging at me. Part of it comes from wondering what my mom (or others like her) would do if she didn't have someone to sit and teach her how to use this new technology. But it's more than that. I have been unable to rest easy after realizing that an assistive device such as high power hearing aids rely on app technology, when by in large, the users of said device are elderly people who don't own smart phones.

Of the 37million adults with hearing loss:

• 91% are 50 and older
• those 80 and older have the greatest hearing loss

My mom (89) has been hard of hearing for several years and is currently on her third set of progressively stronger aids.

To put this in perspective, try making a mental list of the 80-something year olds that you know.

• How many are hard of hearing and use (or should be using) hearing aids?
• Of those, how many: 1) own a smart phone, 2) are adept at using it, and 3) have it handy at all times?

​
I'm willing to guess the number of people left on your list is pretty small which illustrates the problem that has been nagging me. The largest demographic targeted for this technology is generally unequipped to use the app that controls it, rendering the hearing aids far less effective. And when hearing aids don't help people hear better, they stop wearing them.

My mom is actually pretty competent with technology for a gal her age -- She owns a tablet, a Kindle, and an iPhone, all of which she uses regularly. She Zooms into family gatherings; she Ubers over to my house for dinner on weeknights; she even uses emojis in her text messages (though sometimes awkwardly). This might lead you to believe, "Great, so she will be able to use this app with relative ease!" Prior to the hearing aid training session, I thought so too. However, I failed to consider the severe arthritis in her hands which makes it difficult to tap and swipe, the macular degeneration that impairs her ability to read screens, and of course, hearing loss which makes helping her (especially from a distance) pretty challenging. All of these issues are common among people my mom's age -- people who commonly need hearing aids.

Older Generation Getting Left Behind
About a month ago, I happened upon a Twitter post that really spoke to me. The poster told a compelling story about his dad (84) who illegally parked in a lot that only took payment by credit card or app. Having neither, he parked without paying so he could attend a friend's memorial service.

As my mom's primary support person since 2016, this post resonated deeply in my soul. I've felt this son's same frustration more times than I can count, as I've borne witness to how difficult life can be for older people living in a world that wasn't designed for them.

While the purpose of technology innovation has always been to improve the human experience, and indeed, our lives have been made better by countless technologies, it's also true that sometimes (perhaps more often than we'd like to admit), technology improves life for some people, but not all people. And often, those who are left behind are our parents, grandparents, and loved ones that came before us.

Here are a few other examples of "forced technology use" that negatively impact seniors:

• Healthcare information accessible only through an online portal
• Banking operations increasing online services while closing physical branches (this causes my mom and her friends much anxiety!)
• COVID testing that requires appointments to be made online
• QR code-only menus

My intention is not to disparage the use of QR codes, online portals, or other everyday digital solutions that work beautifully for most of us. Rather, this is my plea to "see" an often unseen segment of our population, and to advocate for levels of accessibility that include, rather than exclude them.

Technology Ethics
Simply put, technology ethics means applying ethical thinking to the development and use of technology. For example, when we wrestle with questions such as how to control the spread of disinformation or the morality of targeting ads to children, we are applying ethical thinking in a digital context.

Tech ethics is not just a responsibility of technology companies. Law makers, educators, parents/caretakers, and every day technology users like you and me must also wrestle with values-based questions about technology use. Importantly, technology designers and developers have a unique obligation to understand the ethical questions that apply to their products with respect to the back end (coding), front end (user interface), and potential systemic implications of use.

Wheeling back around to the hearing aid situation... 
Looking through a tech ethics lens, I may think of new questions about how to improve accessibility for seniors, such as: 

• Could the developer offer a small and very simple remote control for those who do not own a smart phone?
• For individuals with visual impairment, could the app be redesigned with a more intuitive interface, larger print, and recognizable buttons?
• What additional training would help audiologist offices better service senior customers using the product?
• What services currently exist to support seniors, especially in the absence of family members close by?

Teaching Tech Ethics
The recent surge of STEM, computer science education, and instructional approaches such as design thinking and computational thinking indicates a shift in the educational landscape. More than ever, we aspire to empower students as designers, creators, and technology innovators. Fortunately, this provides the perfect backdrop in which to integrate tech ethics, starting with designing with empathy.

As our students design apps, creatively code, and "make"(er space), we can teach them to intentionally design with users in mind. We can also encourage critical thinking about societal implications and the ways in which innovation could help or hurt various segments of the population. When we help students tap into ethical considerations around technology and innovation, we plant seeds for them to envision their own role in contributing to a better, more equitable world.

​I'll end with a quote from my friend and business partner, Dr. Kristen Mattson, from her book, Ethics in a Digital World:

A lot can be said about the growth of social media. Some people discourage the use of it, while others believe it to be a revolutionary agent that we can benefit from when used correctly. However, there’s no denying that we live in an age of digital citizenship, which opens the door for boundless learning, creation, and communication. Language, in particular, can very much be influenced by the birth of various trends in social media. Here are the most prominent ways in which social media has changed the English language, especially in recent years.

Develops Internet Slang
Language changes simply because the needs of its speakers change. With the rise of social media, people also require new words to communicate in a way that’s more suited to modern times. So with the arrival of various social media sites, abbreviations like LOL, TTYL, and OMG were also created. And while some people argue that not talking in complete sentences can decrease one’s IQ, several studies actually show that people who are fond of internet slang and abbreviations score just as well on spelling tests, formal essays, and other measures of literacy. Through internet slang, we are all able to further understand each other and communicate better.

Encourages Creativity
The many social platforms available to us today actually encourage the creative use of the English language. For one, each platform has its own niche and a user base that relies on the platform’s unique features. Recently, news organizations began adding status messages when sharing news articles on Facebook, making them more interpersonal. Twitter also began the whole hashtag trend, which pushed a lot of organizations to be more witty and clever with creating campaigns. Moreover, writers are encouraged to be more succinct and persuasive because of Twitter’s creative constraints of 280 characters.

Creates New Job Opportunities
Digital journalism is essentially a contemporary form of journalism where content is distributed through various social media channels, as opposed to traditional print and broadcast. And although online news and content has existed since the 90’s, digital journalism has created so many job opportunities in recent years; from researchers, editors, fact-checkers, and many others. In fact, digital journalists on social media have now become indispensable as the fast dissemination of news has become integral in today’s society. This dissemination combined with social media’s accessibility calls for a more careful use of the English language for timely yet in-depth reporting.

Widens Educational Reach
Social media allows us to communicate with a much larger number of people on a global scale. That said, it’s also undeniable that it allows users to learn so much from each other. TikTok, for example, empowers teachers of all kinds by giving teachers a way to meet students in their zone. User “Iamthatenglishteacher”, for instance, began posting short-form grammar lessons to help her middle-school students recognize and learn from common mistakes. Now, her 1.5 million followers from all over the world are collectively learning through her.

Reinvents Existing Words
The re-appropriation of existing words is also a common phenomenon we’ve seen in recent years. Words such as “wig” and “legit” were pretty much given complete makeovers, with wig now a term used to describe a reaction to any amazing or shocking event, and legit now being used to describe any noun or event that is of particularly excellent quality. This reinvention is also a cultural process that first starts within small groups, and because of today’s connectivity, any buzzword soon spreads like wildfire. But it’s also what keeps English the rich, developing language it is today.

And with that, teachers may feel pressured by how fast-paced everything is on social media. But don’t underestimate your own capacity to keep learning — we’ll always be students of life, after all.
 
 
 
Article written by Ruth Johns
Exclusively for edvolve

Watching the documentary, I felt ashamed of my lack of empathy for my fellow human back in the early 2000s, as I devoured the media gossip just like everyone else -- without consciousness. The show also illuminated my acute lack of media literacy and understanding of how media shapes the world. I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

​A Case for Media Literacy
Media literacy, in a nutshell, involves understanding and assessing the messages (and the impact of those messages) sent via various media formats. Media literacy requires an understanding of language, bias, emotion, and context; an individual with strong media literacy also examines his/her own tendencies in media consumption. Media literacy also involves thoughtful media creation.

Because technology and social media have amplified the spread of media and “fake news” (i.e., misinformation) it’s easy to think of media literacy as a “digital-age” problem. The truth is, while it may be more visible now, the need for media literacy is not new, and media literacy skills apply to print media as well as digital media.

Now… getting back to Britney Spears.

If I had stronger media literacy skills back in the day, I would have noticed how interviewers were speaking differently to her, and asking different questions than they were to male pop stars. I would have noticed the bias built into her interviews and their contribution to unequal gender treatment.

• “Do you have a boyfriend?” (She was asked this question as a 10-year old after belting out a fantastic performance by anyone’s standards. Is there not a more appropriate question to ask a young lady?)
• “What did YOU do to break his heart?” (See the bias in this statement? Inferring the breakup was her fault.)
• “Everybody is talking about your breasts” (I’ve never heard anyone tell a male star that people are talking about his penis.)
• “If I had an opportunity to shoot Britney Spears, I would” and “What would I do if I had a daughter… seeing these images?” (These statements accuse her of something abnormal and abhorrent.)

If I had stronger media literacy skills back in the day, I would have been far more cognizant of how MY/OUR media consumption habits drove what was published. That a popular icon’s downward spiral turned into the headline of the week -- and because they sold magazines, those sensationalized headlines and shocking photos taken out of context (2000s version of “clickbait”) drove the paparazzi to extreme and dangerous measures that some may argue further contributed to Britney’s decline.

If I had stronger media literacy skills back in the day, I would have realized that much of what I was reading was pure garbage. That when a “source close to Britney” (rather than a named source) tells all, it’s likely to have been made up. And that when a sentence in an article ends with a question mark, it is also likely to be untrue. I would have more consciously realized that the tabloids were simply serving up what we were purchasing.

​Digital Citizenship
When we help our students to think critically about media and its messages, we help them gain important skills they need to navigate both print AND digital media. We help them interpret, analyze, and make decisions about how they will interact with that media, as well as empower them to consider how they can contribute to a given cause.

After watching the Britney Spears documentary, I can see how (after removing the words “online” or “digital”) each of the following digital citizenship indicators were violated by me and my fellow pop-gossip reading peers of the early 2000s:

• 2. Protect one’s own and others’ privacy and identity online; be mindful of online data collection practices
• 3. Recognize and avoid fraudulent or misleading online content (i.e., "misinformation" and "disinformation")
• 6. Be mindful of the viral nature and permanence of online content
• 7. Verify the accuracy of information before using or sharing online
• 9. Recognize various online dynamics (e.g., shaming culture, homophily, social posturing) and intentionally determine engagement aligned to one’s personal values
• 10. Practice discernment - access content that is helpful, healthy, and useful; avoid content that is not

While I wrote this post as a reflection of my own digital citizenship and media literacy awareness, I also hope that it illustrates the ever-present and ongoing need to teach media literacy as a critical part of the curriculum. How might we elevate these skills by embedding them into existing curriculum? I’d love to hear your thoughts and extend the conversation to strengthen media literacy education.

I also want to extend my very best to Britney Spears and her ongoing challenges.


Cheers,
LeeAnn

And if what you really need is just a few tips, check these out. 

Now, more than ever, we are all using technology to work, learn, entertain ourselves, and connect with others! This increased use of technology gives teachers, students, and family members a lot to think about!

Learners of all ages may be wondering:

• How much screen time is right?
• Am I advancing or hurting relationships through social media?
• What is proper etiquette for the new tools I'm using?

​That's why this just may be the perfect time to consider hosting a family night specifically focusing on tech and social media use!

​Here are three reasons to host dig cit family event!

​1. Help families get on the same page about tech & social media use
Parents may feel uncomfortable about the amount of time their kids are connected, and have questions about who they're interacting with and how. Kids can feel frustrated when they feel they're using technology responsibly, and technology rules & limits seem unnecessary. A digital citizenship family event can be a powerful way to promote dialogue and build more understanding among family members as they explore and discuss their digital experiences and values.

2. Strengthen school & home partnership
The benefits to building a strong community are countless! When parents feel connected to their child's school, teachers, and administrators... when they are engaged in school activities they find meaningful and supportive, they are better equipped to support learning. And since so much learning is happening at home (with and through technology), strong school-home partnerships become even more important! Hosting a dig cit family event gives you the opportunity to forge positive relationships with your community.

3. Foster a CULTURE of digital citizenship
Many schools recognize the importance of digital citizenship. Some may have a speaker come in to talk about responsible tech use; some may even include digital citizenship lessons as part of classroom learning. But if the goal is to help students grow as positive and empowered digital citizens, we want to find ways to embed it into the culture. When you give students and their families an opportunity to think critically about their digital lives, you help instill a culture of digital citizenship.

How can I get started?
In partnership with my friend and digital citizenship colleague, Dr. Kristen Mattson, I have developed a simple, yet powerful concept that promotes reflection, dialogue, and sharing among family members, focusing on aspects of digital life. We present this family night concept in this FREE guide.

What is The Social Dilemma?
​The Social Dilemma is a Netflix docu-drama (documentary with an embedded fictional dramatization) about the explosion of social media throughout the past decade and the ensuing damage to us (its users) and society as a whole. It features several Silicon Valley early innovators who send warnings that might just make you want to chuck your phone right out the window. ​

This film takes us "behind the curtain" so to speak of the tech companies who bring us platforms such as Google, Facebook, and Pinterest. Commentary from the innovators, engineers, and masterminds behind the platforms heightens the believability that: 1) social media is mind-f'ing us, 2) we are all addicts (or well on our way), and 3) society is doomed.

I won't spoil it for you by giving away the reasons for #1-3 above because there's too many nuggets to adequately share in a blog post. I encourage you watch it and see for yourself. It will likely open your eyes (or serve as an important reminder) that tech companies' motivation is not altruistic; it's financial -- and that they are designing this stuff to keep us coming back for more no matter the consequences.

Reactions
The reaction that I've seen from my personal social media connections about the film has been fear, anger, and the urge to purge all technology.

It seems to be having an impact.

But not everyone thinks the noise this film is creating is spot on.

Casey Newton of the Verge wrote What 'The Social Dilemma' misunderstands about social networks which suggests that the film is shortsighted in pointing the finger with such one-directional clarity at the tech companies for society's ills. Not because he thinks the big social network companies hold no responsibility, but rather that they're not solely responsible and that overemphasizing their role oversimplifies a complex issue. He's not wrong.

My Take
Most of us spend more time than we'd like to admit mindlessly scrolling our social media feeds and watching entertaining but not highly purposeful videos on YouTube. We instinctively understand that this is not healthy, and that tech companies are having their way with us, but most of us don't really understand exactly how we're being played... or why.. or in what way, like, specifically. And frankly, I think most of us are okay not knowing. We don't want to know how the sausage is made. Just serve us up more dog videos, please.

The problem with not knowing is that we are engaging with digital content in ways that actually shape who we are and what we think -- without us realizing it. It's only when we decide we want to know more, including how the technology works, what drives its design, and how its functionality can manipulate our behaviors and thoughts, that we can equip ourselves to make more intentional decisions to reduce its power. 

For me, watching this film is about just that -- understanding more so that I can be more intentional about my technology use. It's about recognizing what happens with MY data and YOUR data while I'm perusing my feed and clicking on intriguing links; it's about being mindful that my perception of what's real is influenced by the content that social media algorithms serve me. It's about lifting the veil on how the sausage is made -- the good, the bad, and the unexpected.

It's easy to watch this film and get sucked in to a fear mentality about technology and the path we seem to be heading down. It's also easy to feel overwhelmed with the problems that are presented in the film, and lack of solutions. Personally, I don't (and won't) buy in to the "society is doomed" narrative. There's a lot of good that has, and will continue to be done in the world with the help of social media and technology. I do, however, believe that it's up to us to be in the know so we can own our role in shaping the digital landscape and help create policies that work in our favor rather than the tech companies'. I prefer to think of the film, NOT as a doomsday warning about technology, but rather an important lesson about our ever increasing digital connectedness. A lesson that prepares me to lead and participate in more conversations that can help us shape a better digital future. 

Digital Citizenship
​When we help our students see their role as citizens of the digital world, we help them to take ownership of the community we are all constantly creating. My friend and fellow digital citizenship enthusiast, Kristen Mattson describes digital citizenship as the intersection of technology and humanity. The Social Dilemma sits squarely at that crossing. Quality digital citizenship education asks students to explore real-life questions about technology ethics.

Educators who work with students of appropriate age (this film is rated PG-13) can leverage the content in this film to spark students' curiosity about the impact of technology on individuals and society (which happens to be indicator #15 for digital citizenship on Edvolve's framework). For example, students can investigate, research, and defend a position on a question such as: Whose responsibility is it to keep us (and our data) safe? The company's? The government's? Our parents'? Ours?

I've create a one-page "film brief" to help teachers and parents use The Social Dilemma as a starting point for meaningful conversations with students that includes a summary of the film, key ideas, and 6 questions that don't have easy (or "right") answers.

My hope is that this film can encourage both adults and young adults to become curious and willing to learn how the sausage is made -- to become empowered to take greater control of technology, instead of allowing it to control us.

Please use and share this resource with colleagues who work with age-appropriate students.

Cheers,
LeeAnn

P.S. Netflix does not grant Educational Screening for the documentary, at least at the time this post was written. In short, this means that viewing the film "in-class" through a teacher's personal Netflix account is not allowed.

cameras on during class sessions. ​If you're not familiar with some of the privacy and equity issues associated with such a requirement, check out this infographic by Dr. Torrey Trust from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Empowering Students to Decide
I see the ability to turn cameras on (and off) as a perfect opportunity to help students become more in touch with their learning preferences and needs, and to take more ownership of their learning environment.

According to the ISTE Standards for Students, students are empowered learners when they customize their learning environment  in both physical and online settings by making choices that support their learning process and make learning more accessible (ISTE Standard 1b).

Since there are benefits to students turning their cameras on, as well as remaining off camera, why don't we forgo a "one size fits all" requirement and instead, let students decide? We can guide students to consider the benefits and choose what feels best each day and in each moment.
​
​Can students make good decisions? Might doing so inspire more student ownership over remote learning?

Yes. They can, and it does. This is what empowered learning is all about!

How can I provide guidance?
I've created a resource to help teachers begin this conversation with students. I hope it helps both teachers and students identify reasons they may want to be on camera, and the reasons they may not, so they are better equipped to customize their learning environment.

​Please use and share this resource with colleagues.

As we continue refining our remote learning practices, new questions will continue to arise each day about how to manage the digital learning environment. Whether to have students on camera is one, and there will be a thousand more. Let's continue to talk, to discuss, to debate, and learn from one another so that we may identify/create best practices together. Thank you, teachers, for all you're doing now and always.


Cheers,
LeeAnn