Cinderella once told her fairy godmother in Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella" that was "impossible" for her to go to the ball after her stepmother had forbade it. They sing a lovely song together and finally end with "It's possible!"
This song rings so true of technology today. Many years ago, people thought to have every computer in the world connected was impossible. Today, not only is it possible, it is a complete reality. How neat is it that I am able to chat with my friend in China via Skype while cooking dinner? The internet has taken multi-tasking to a whole new level.
With these great possibilities also comes responsibility. Time and time again I have read news stories about students using social media to bully others, sometimes to the point of a child taking his or her own life. The lines between the internet and the real world are beginning to blur. Bullies have followed children home from school and as educators, it is important for us to teach responsibility.
Nothing is ever lost online and this vast world is only going to continue to expand. We shouldn't shy away from using this powerful tool but we should learn all that we can in order to keep our students up to date and safe.
