"Participate 4.1.3 Digital Health" Quest

• What is the most proactive means of ensuring the most balanced blend of technology and well-being? What can students and teachers do to make sure they get the most from technology while simultaneously safeguarding good health?
• Set boundaries and create habits that promote time outdoors and time away from technology.
• Schedule specific times for checking messages so that this task does not permeate the entire day.
• Use personal contact to keep in touch with friends and family rather than relying on social media.
• Organize tech-free times, such as during dinner and evening hours when such activity can cause insomnia.
• What are the results of modifying some of your technology habits? Describe your scheduled commitments for increased digital health and wellness.
• The only time I really use the computer or internet is to work for GAVS, where I teach the AP French course. I typically work between 17 and 25 hours per week. Because I have a 4 year old daughter who attends pre-school only 3 mornings per week, I already have a limited amount of time that I can work. I used to take a run either before or at the end of my work time but since spraining my ankle this summer, I have not resumed a steady dedication to that practice. I have implemented Sworkit, which is an app that provides various types of 5 minute work outs. Those are nice to do every so often while I am working to provide time for stretching and brief strength training. Once my ankle is in full recovery, I will add that exercise back into my day 3 times per week.
• I use the iPad or my iPhone to respond to email. I generally am available whenever a message arrives and will respond immediately as long as I do not need access to the LMS. I prefer to handle email this way because it doesn't seem to take as much of my time when I respond by phone as opposed to when I sit at the computer. I also prefer to avoid having many emails at once to which I need to write responses because that cuts into my time for grading and leaving feedback. I do not find that this practice interferes often with my life. 
• I also use the iPad or my iPhone for personal activities. I would estimate that I might spend 1 hour per week using these devices for entertainment/social media/ research on arts & crafts. In addition, I use the internet and computer to plan the lessons for the 4 year old Sunday School class I teach, which takes up about 45 minutes each week.
• Therefore, my main focus has not been on limiting my time using devices but rather on my physical ergonomics. I find that I do feel better when I pay attention to my posture and when I take frequent breaks, even if that is just to get up and go downstairs to transfer laundry from the wash to the dryer.
• My Digital Calendar containing schedule appointments designed to improve digital health: I actually chose not to use a digital calendar for this exercise. It seemed to me to defeat the purpose and only add more technology where I don't feel I need it. I preferred to set a timer to go off every 30 minutes and to either do some light exercise for 5 minutes or to do a chore in the house that needed to be accomplished. I was able to maintain this practice for the week and plan to continue once classes resume after the holidays. Making sure to spend time outdoors is important to me as well and so I will focus my time on strengthening my ankle so that I can benefit more from my time away from the computer. 

"Participate 4.1.2 Digital Safety and Security" Quest

Link to the Prezi in case the embed is not working: http://prezi.com/l8axqywzbb-r/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share



 My Social Bookmarking Tool for Digital Safety and Security

" Participate 4.1.1 Digital Rights and Responsibilities" Quest

Here is my plan for supporting and protecting a Digital Learning Community through Digital Rights and Responsibilities:

1.How can a DLC ensure that citizens within the community have access to an environment where an AUP protects members as well as the community itself, where individuals uphold laws, and a cooperative/collective venture provides robust, safe, and ethical resources and opportunities for learning? The DLC must promote the education of its digital citizens about DLC use so that they value an environment as described in the above prompt. Knowledge is power in terms of understanding and appreciating the importance of a safe on-line environment.

2.What is the best way to establish and maintain a flourishing DLC where citizens understand, observe, and are inclined to willingly support and ultimately benefit from Digital Rights and Responsibilities? The citizens and teachers must be active participants in on-going learning about ethical behavior in virtual environments. It is the DLC's responsibility to provide those opportunities for learning. Such experiences would include seminars on Copyright, Fair Use and Creative Commons.

3. Issue an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP).

The AUP for my imaginary DLC would be created by a team of educators, administrators, and students. This committee would meet each spring to evaluate the relevancy of the AUP for the ever changing virtual environment. The AUP would be distributed through the student handbook and would have a separate tear-out page for students and parents to sign as proof of their understanding of the policy. I've created an example of an AUP that such a committee would be likely to formulate based on suggestions at http://www.webwise.ie/teachers/sample-acceptable-use-policies-2/. My imaginary DLC in particular is a virtual school run at the state level that serves public school systems. Here it is: