Tech Rodeo takes on cyberbullying
SCCA a winning team
At the first Tech Rodeo sponsored by Tulare County of Education at Porterville Military Academy on Saturday, nine teams, of 2-3 students each, prepared “presentations on the spot using three randomly selected application tools to answer questions about cyberbullying,” explained Paula Terrill, Student Event Coordinator.
Student teams came from the three counties of Tulare, Kings and Stanislaus.
After a period of creating their presentations students give and receive feedback from other teams.
Besides the student teams gathered working together in the cafeteria at PMA, there were parents, teachers, and Tech Rodeo personnel, and personnel from TCOE.
Katherine Goyette, TCOE Event Consultant for the Student Technology Showdown helped oversee the presentations, and explained all the applications were selected randomly, and students had to use what they had. She also said it was an inaugural event, and asked students after they’ve given their presentations, if they’d do it again, and everyone said, “yes” even though connectivity issues with TV’S caused delays.
“I think this is great. I teach high school English in Modesto, at James C. Enochs school,” said Scott Nunes, who drove three hours to attend the tech rodeo, “and I’d like to do this on a high school level, and have it replace Saturday activities. I think this will give the students real-world skills that they can use now, instead of waiting for college.
“This is a great conference that will only continue to grow and attract educators from all over the state.”
One of the parents attending explained, “the kids are creating a slideshow on demand, using google maps, google sheets, and another application to discuss cyberbullying and what can be done about it.
“When they are finished with their
presentations, they give them to the judges.”
“This tech rodeo is giving the students skills they can use in high school and college, and helping them grow with technology,” said Stacy Longoria,
“It is also giving them the confidence, and teaching them to use their own ideas. As well as collaborate with other students, including the technology they’ve been learning, using it as building blocks to further their education.”
The teams used charts, graphs, and maps, plus statements to give presentations on cyberbullying to Goyette, and judges who were in the room. Students took turns reading about the risks and dangers of cyberbullying, and used maps to show, in some cases where and when it was happening, and sited their sources.
Teams mostly spoke about how it could be prevented, and that authorities, parents, and even friends should be made aware, so they could help.
Cyberbullying can happen across all social media.
If they had time, the teams also spoke or showed in the slide shows about the legal consequences of cyberbullying, which one team pointed out there are criminal consequences in 14 states.
One of the last teams to give its presentation, included the Cybersmile Foundation to help people combat cyberbullying.
Some of the teams had to give their presentations without the TV’S due to connectivity problems.
Mary Higgins, parent of Wren Higgins, from Summit Charter Collegiate Academy, said, “I see that this has been a great opportunity for my daughter and her classmates to showcase all the technology knowledge that they are learning in their classroom. I think it’s great that the competition is not about how much you know, but about how well you can use technology to find information and utilize it.”
When all the teams were gathered in the gym at PMA, and a huge crowd of parents, teachers, and administrators looked on, Goyette, announced the winning teams, and said, “I want to thank every single team, parents and everyone for their support.”
The winning team in the high school division was Summit Charter Collegiate Academy. Team members were Elias Ramirez, Cristian Ceballos, Vanessa Echeveste and Katharine Higgins. Ramirez and Ceballos also received the Resourceful Digital Citizen Award.
“The rodeo was a whole lot of fun, but I was nervous,” said Katharine Higgins, as she was congratulated for being on a winning team, SCCA, by Sharon Turner of TCOE.
“This is really a great learning environment for teachers and students. They can take the information back to their classrooms and share the experience with peers and students,” said Turner.