School Counselors and Technology

The use of advanced technology has clearly affected counseling services provided to students by school counselors, as well as how counselors communicate with and support students. The American School Counseling Association (ASCA) has emphasized the importance of school counselors' use of technology and their collaboration with families and educators. It is important for school counselors to understand how technology influences schools so that they can provide the most appropriate and effective counseling services to students. This chapter explores what school counselors need to know to understand the importance of advanced technologies in school settings, as well as how school counselors can utilize diverse technologies, online resources, activities, and computer-based systems in their work with students. This chapter will help educators and counselors develop the knowledge and skills needed to competently address technology-related issues in schools.

Assistive Technology and Best Practices

The purpose of this chapter is to provide knowledge for classroom teachers on the assistive technology tools that are available for students with learning disabilities. A secondary focus is to identify the best practices commonly used by classroom teachers when teaching students with disabilities. Various technology tools and best practices are discussed. A survey was distributed to elementary and secondary classroom teachers seeking input on the assistive technology tools and best practices used in the classroom. Further discussion of the assistive technology tools and best practices provide content for the practicing teacher to enhance his/her teaching skills when teaching students with learning disabilities.

Blended Social Skills Intervention for Students Identified as Emotionally and Behaviorally Disturbed

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a nine-week blended learning social skills intervention for high school students identified as being at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders. Exploring how social skills interventions improve students' social and emotional deficits aids in the development of an engaging curriculum. This quantitative study utilized a pretest-posttest method. High school students identified as being at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders and their special educators were invited to complete the researcher-designed social skills intervention with a corresponding pre- and post-test. There were no statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-test scores for the students or the special educator. The SEARS' social-emotional domains were all found to be statistically significant predictors of the students' total composite score. Gender was found to be a significant predictor of the student's total composite score. Implications of the study include strategies for developing interventions at the high school level.

Ensuring Student Wellbeing and Learning via Effective Classroom Assessments

Teacher candidates reflect upon their most favorite and their least favorite classroom assessment experiences in K-12 and higher education. Through qualitative research methods, their vivid images, compelling influences, and enduring implications are analyzed to reveal clear indicators of teacher presence, practice, and professionalism. Evident in the immediate importance for advancing their understanding and application of their awareness, communication, and self-efficacy, teachers benefit greatly by connecting effective classroom assessments to ensure student well-being and learning for every student.

Professional Development for Classroom Teachers

The professional development of teachers in instructional technology is of paramount importance. This chapter provides an overview of the topic, beginning with adult learning as a foundation. Teachers are adults, and any type of professional development, whether related to technology or not, should meet the needs of adult learners. The chapter subsequently provides a review of professional learning communities (PLCs), which may provide a venue for impactful, sustainable technology professional development. Next, teacher-led technology professional development and peer coaching are addressed, followed by a discussion of the use of the community, corporate, and university partnerships that may enhance professional development through symbiotic relationships. The chapter concludes with a discussion of virtual professional development, which may serve a dual purpose of enhancing professional development sustainability as well as modeling technology use for instructional purposes.

Technology to Enhance Learning for All Students

Technology is at the forefront of today's workforce. Comparatively, K-12 schools are incorporating technology into K-12 classrooms and instructional teaching methods and strategies. Research has indicted that students who come from low socioeconomic backgrounds may not only have similar access to technology as those from more affluent backgrounds, but students from low socioeconomic backgrounds also use technology for reasons that are different and commonly not academic reasons. This chapter will provide background information on current issues related to the use of technology among students of insight into issues and challenges related to integrating technology into K-12 classrooms, the role of funding in economically poorer school districts, and key instructional strategies for using technology and new and emerging technology in the K-12 classroom. This chapter will conclude with providing recommendations for ensuring access and success for all students.

From Video Surveillance to Video Narratives

This chapter examines the experience of young black males with video surveillance as a technology of oppression and video narratives as a technology of liberation. Foucault's work on power relations and Baudrillard's works on media simulation are used as a framework of analysis to examine (1) the “truths” that characterize the sphere of discourse that favors the use of security surveillance technology to control school violence; (2) the ways such regimes of power act to shape the consciousness and identity of poor, urban, young black male students; and (3) the ways the technology, as an expression of a panopticon technique, acts to shape the phenomenological experience of place for students. In addition, media and the portrayal of Black males are explored through classical Western literature.

Educators and Wellbeing

In a growing world of technology, stress and burnout increase. The surge of depression and anxiety among the young generations with their smart devices and the new reality of social media is a clear sign for the need to restore ancient practices of contemplative exercises and meditation. The authors of this chapter assert the pivotal role of educators as role models in the process of fending stress and affirming wellbeing by introducing and fostering these practices in educational institutions. A mixed method research confirms findings in the literature regarding the importance for both teachers and students to learn to regulate and control their emotions in the classroom and develop effective coping strategies to alleviate the high degree of burnout among teachers.

Curation of Your Online Persona Through Self-Care and Responsible Citizenship

With each blog post, tweet, and online project, internet users are building their online reputation whether they want to or not. In the absence of professional branding, users' online presence contributes vastly to what brands them. Through critical digital pedagogy, teachers and students question all technology practices (e.g., self, school, society). This chapter addresses the safety, security, and perception of their online data through self-determined prevention, weeding, and branding based on their short- and long-term goals. Methods, resources, and a lesson plan are provided as guidance to support students' wellbeing pertaining to the online dimensions of their academic and personal lives. Strategies discussed include online identity system checks to review current digital footprint and data vulnerabilities, contemplation of technology usage in terms of self-care and responsible citizenship, and curation and development of their online persona. These participatory practices address two of the ISTE Standards for Students regarding digital citizenship.

The Challenges of Digital Citizenship

While the world wide web created opportunities for marginalized groups to have a real voice, it also created a venue for scammers, and for malicious, deliberate intent, such as hacking, criminal behavior, sexting, and cyberbullying. It becomes a question of how should we act when we are online, and what should be taught to the next generation of users? Parents often feel overwhelmed with the challenges and risks that digital culture presents to children. They want their children to take advantage of all technology has to offer; however, they also want them to stay safe and act responsibly. Parents can make sure their children are both safe and responsible by educating them about how to appropriately use technology. There is a need to openly discuss responsible use of technology. Digital citizenship is a concept providing guidelines for appropriate digital behavior. It can be an effective tool in addressing cyberbullying, sexting, security, and safety in the online environment.