Step #1 Dialogue

Setting: A classroom in Tarpon Springs, FL at East Lake High School.

Characters:  Ms. Cathy (Teacher), Josh (Student/Narrator), Sammy (student), Katie (Student)

Ms. Cathy: “Turn to page 178 in your text and begin reading through page 190, making sure to take notes in the margin”

Josh: raises his hand, “Ms. Cathy?” she nods, “My battery is dead, I can’t open my book, do you have another tablet or a charger I could use?”

Josh: “We don’t use paper textbooks in our school district anymore. We are a technology friendly school in which we bring tablets to school that have our books loaded onto them.”

Ms. Cathy: “I don’t, you should have come to class prepared.”

Josh: “do you think that I could go and download it to my computer and use that today?”

Ms. Cathy: “If you think you can get onto a network then by all means go for it. I don’t think we have a network setup here.”

Josh: “96% of all schools have internet access to outside computers off the school network Ms. Cathy, I know the password, I have been on the Wifi multiple times prior.” (Gray)

Ms. Cathy: “Just do what you need to do and get to work.”

Josh: “Ms. Cathy goes about her work for 10 minutes before making her rounds to see if we are on task”

Ms. Cathy: “Sammy?

Sammy: “Yes ma’am?” He shuffles in his seat to hide his tablet from the view of Ms. Cathy

Ms. Cathy: “Are you doing the assigned task or are you doing something you shouldn’t be?”

Sammy: “I finished reading and taking notes.”

Ms. Cathy: “Then why aren’t your notes saved in Dropbox? I can see you playing Ruzzle with your Facebook friends Sammy, I’m not completely oblivious to what you kids are doing.”

Sammy: “ I..i… im sorry, it’s hard to focus with the notifications popping up on my screen. I just beat Katie!”

Katie: “Hey! Don’t bring me into this! I am actually done and have submitted my notes to Dropbox!” shooting a look of displeasure and hatred towards Sammy.

Ms. Cathy: “Yes I know Katie, I know you’re done and on Facebook too. I can see your online symbol in the chat bar on my computer.” she turns to the class and says “Listen up class! This may be the first week of school but you all need to realize that you can’t shrug the work off to the side and abuse the privilege of having access to the internet at school. I know that at least 50% of you have a social media account and if I catch any of you on your accounts you will be receiving a “0” for that assignment.” (McIntyre)

The class fill with muffled noise and groans from the students.

Ms. Cathy: “can someone please explain to me why it is so imperative to check Facebook and Instagram every couple of minutes? Is what is on Facebook going to help you succeed in your life or is going to keep you in the loop of everyone’s drama?”

Josh: “Well Ms. Cathy, it keeps us connected to everyone and allows us to see what is going on with people in different places in real time. We are able to be an interconnected society.”

Ms. Cathy: “Being connected with each other doesn’t mean immediate benefits. If Facebook is more important than passing this class, then by all means stay online. If you don’t graduate how do you expect to be able to afford a new tablet or anything for that matter?” (Pedro)

Josh: “…. i…uh….” He looks down into his tablet and continues reading the material.

Ms. Cathy: “When I was in school we didn’t have tablets and we had to actually read books.”

Sammy: “You gradated in the 80’s, they didn’t even have the internet back then….”

Ms. Cathy: “ I graduated in 94’ Sammy, and we did have the internet. We were very fortunate at my school. Only 30% of schools had internet access as compared to the 99% of schools today.” (Lawrence)

Josh: I have a question Ms. Cathy

Ms. Cathy: “Yes?”

Josh: “ In the text book the author talks about government programs and how the government wants to implement new technologies in order to allow for a more substantial intellectual growth between kindergarten and senior year, but it doesn’t say what technology or how they are going to help. Do you have any idea on as to how they are going to implement this new stuff?” (Council of Academic Advisers)

Ms. Cathy: “Well… that tablet you are using, we were able to buy at a reduced coast due to grants from the government. Most technology we receive is due in part to the government. It is very rare for a school to pay full retail price for a piece of equipment.”

Josh: “I thought individual companies were the ones that decided the price of a product?”

Ms. Cathy: “Yes the companies do mandate the price but the government offers tax credits and other incentives for companies to reduce their costs for education purposes. Additionally the government gives grants to schools for the purpose of technology. They are all about updating schools and making sure the students in America have everything they need in order to be best set up for success. “

Josh: “Ooohhh, I understand now. I guess the government does want to help schools.”

Ms. Cathy: “Well class, how many of you were able to complete today’s assignment?”

8 of the 22 kids in the class raise their hand

Ms. Cathy: “Do the assignment at home and submit it by midnight on Edmodo. Those of you that were able to finish within the allotted time submit it now and you will receive an additional 5 points for staying on task”

Sammy: “Ms. Cathy! That’s not fair, you talked to me the whole time and I couldn’t get my work done!!”

Ms. Cathy: “if you were staying on task would I have had to talked to you? No. It is your responsibility to do what is assigned. You are lucky that I will accept the assignment past class. “

Bell rings

Ms. Cathy: “Have a good day class, see you tomorrow!”