WHAT WORKS IN EDUCATION The George Lucas Educational Foundation

Digital Youth Portrait: Virginia

Living in a small town in rural Georgia doesn't keep this 14-year-old from connecting with the global village. More to this story.

By Amy Erin Borovoy (aka VideoAmy)
5/27/09
Living in a small town in rural Georgia doesn't keep this 14-year-old from connecting with the global village. More to this story.
Download | Credits | Release Date: 5/27/2009

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Video Credits

Produced and Directed by

  • Carl Bidleman

Coordinating Producer

  • Lauren Rosenfeld

Editor

  • Christa Collins

Camera Crew

  • Patrick Gregory
  • Dale Gray
  • Matt Johnson
  • Carl Bidleman

Production Support

  • Amy Erin Borovoy

Production Assistant

  • Doug Keely

Original Music

  • Ed Bogas

Senior Video Editor

  • Karen Sutherland

Executive Producer

  • Ken Ellis
  • © 2009
  • The George Lucas Educational Foundation
  • All rights reserved.

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Glossary

Wiki: A collection of Web pages designed to enable anyone with access to contribute or modify content.

Digital citizenship: A concept that helps teachers, school technology leaders, and parents understand what students should know to use technology appropriately.

Woogi World: A virtual world that teaches elementary school children how to safely and effectively use the Internet.

Sources: Wikipedia.org, DigitalCitizenship.net, WoogiWorld.com


Discussion Questions

1. Is Virginia typical of kids in your community? Why, or why not?

2. What are specific examples of how Virginia gets what she describes as "fun, entertainment, and ease" out of technology? Is there value in that, or is she just wasting her time with idle distractions?

3. How important was the role of her teacher, Vicki Davis, in her development? Who among the adults in your school or community play a similar role with kids?

4. Many adults fear that kids are negatively impacted by spending too much time on computers. What lessons can we learn from Virginia's struggle with what she calls "life balance"?

5. What do you think about Virginia's role as a "teacher"? How can you support kids in your community to become experts who teach others?



Comments (2)

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Diana Kisselburg
Posted on 7/20/2009 11:11am

Virginia's World

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I am a long-time fan of Edutopia. Virginia's experience has made a strong impact on me and how I can approach technology integration with my students and teachers. Vicki Davis is outstanding in the broad scope she uses to reach her students and adults. Her Digital Citizen project required students to reflect on their role in the digital age as responsible users. Cell phones belonging to staff must be turned to vibrate or off. Students must keep theirs put away or they will be taken up. I think it's wonderful that a teacher allows students to use their phones as calculators if they don't have one.

Diana Kisselburg
Posted on 7/20/2009 11:09am

Librarian

Was this helpful?
0

I am a long-time fan of Edutopia. Virginia's experience has made a strong impact on me and how I can approach technology integration with my students and teachers. Vicki Davis is outstanding in the broad scope she uses to reach her students and adults. Her Digital Citizen project required students to reflect on their role in the digital age as responsible users. Cell phones belonging to staff must be turned to vibrate or off. Students must keep theirs put away or they will be taken up. I think it's wonderful that a teacher allows students to use their phones as calculators if they don't have one.