15. Five Essentials to Create Connected Students

The article, "Five Essentials to Create Connected Students" was written by an educator, Vicki Davis. She begins this article by describing how the students reacted the day the new update for the Apple products was released. Every student worked around their lunch schedules to make sure they were around WiFi to download the latest update. Davis observes that while most students are connected, there are also who are not. Some students are more worried if they will have a food when they get home rather paying a cell phone bill. But Davis states that being connected isn't just for socializing; it's a life skill. In this connected world, there are invisibly disconnected kids, disconnected from the knowledge they need to be successful, Davis states. She also feels as an educator they should care about the way institutions discourage connections through social media. Some say that connecting is a civil right, but she also thinks that they need to know the essentials skills for connecting. Here are the the five essentials Davis believes students should know.

The five essentials to know for the well connected student-
1. A connected author
Students must be able to write and communicate in online spaces in contextually appropriate ways.

2. A connected publisher
Students should have efolios and personal websites full of great academic work.

3. A connected conversationalist
Students need a voice and to know how to interject and extend a conversation.

4. A strategic disconnector
We must help this generation have the discipline to put down their phones strategically to have a well -rounded life: while driving, dinning, and studying.

5. A curious, lifelong pursuer of ingenious solutions.
We educators must shift this generation from being the consumers to being the creators.

 My opinion on this article is not very strong of agreeing or disagreeing. I feel torn between the fact that not every child will have phones or access to technology. However, I also ask myself is this fair to the students that can afford the technology to hold them back? I do agree on the fact that if you allow the students to have technology there are basic essentials they need to know. I wholeheartedly agree with the one one about the strategic disconnector. Students should know when to set aside the phone to have a well rounded life. This can also go for adults too!