Pros and Cons of Social Networking

 

  

3.) Read through this article. Look at your social networking website. Do you see anything inappropriate that you wouldn’t want future employers to view? For example: Wall posts, pictures, groups, bumper stickers, blogs, personal information? Did your findings surprise you? Not only things you wouldn’t want future employers to view, but also any information in general that might resurface down the road and reflect negatively on you. (Keep the former governor’s “mistress” in mind, and how information from her MySpace account was made public.)  

What connections in the article did you find that can be applied to your own social networking sites. What other sites can you find that discuss this controversy over social networking websites?

 

4.) What are the disadvantages of social networking websites? Take a peek at this website. (Click on the “skip whis welcome screen at the upper right hand corner of the site”) Drawing on some of the discussions we had with Dr. Alex Reid on Monday night about how difficult life would be without forms of social networking, do you agree with the arguments stated in the article Why or why not?  

 

5.) Although the past blogs we have posted have touched on some of social networkings downfalls, what are the advantages of social networking? Check out this article to help formulate your answer. What are your thoughts about online portfolios?

 

-Autumn

Introduction to Social Networking

Social Networking websites are online communities of people who share interests or want to explore other peoples' interests. These "social utilities" typically consist of personal profiles, groups, etc. Users can upload pictures and acquire “friends” within the social network. Most social networks allow users to choose varying levels of privacy or security. 

 
1.) For those of you who are not familiar with the various forms of social networking tools, did that video help you at all? If you do not have an account with a social networking device, create one (Don’t worry, you can delete it when this blog moderation is over.) Those of you with accounts, create one in a new network area. Some examples from Dr. Reid today: Twitter, meetup.com, pownce. Respond with pros and cons of the sites you explore. Social networking vets, compare/ contrast the differences and or similarities of two different social networking tools.

 

 

2.) On several occasions, I’ve seen angry students in the library waiting for a computer that is being occupied by a chronic facebook/myspace checker. How many times do you check your own social networking application in one day? Can you relate to the theme in this video? Does the frequent use of social networking sites concern you?

 

-Autumn

Administration and internet safety

Many schools locally as well as across the nation block many different websites for student usage.  The administrators think these blocks are necessary to keep students from looking at material that is inappropriate.

IS the only way to keep students safe on the internet by blocking different sites that you/administrations deem harmful for students? What other ways do you think we can keep students safe?

INternet Safety and Social Networking

Sorry that it’s a little late guys I had some difficulties!

 

With sites such as facebook and myspace being very popular trends, do you think it is our job as teachers to teach students the right ways in which they should be interacting online?  This video deals with the dangers of online predators.  Here is a clip from “To Catch A Predator”

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_kADup_wZw&feature=related

 

After watching this video how prevalent do you think knowledge of internet safety is to students?  With the issue of Americans always being watched do you feel safer knowing there are people “patrolling” the web to keep it safe or do you feel privacy is being violated?

 

 

II. Exploring Internet Safety

There is so much to be learned about internet safety in such a small amount of time.  Your job is to find a video, website or other resource to share with the rest of the class dealing with internet safety. Why did you choose this source? What can teachers learn about internet safety from this source? As a future teachers how will you enforce internet safety in your classroom? With sites such as facebook and myspace being very popular trends, do you think it is our job as teachers to teach students the right ways in which they should be interacting online?

 

I. Internet Safety

Internet safety is a growing issue in classrooms today. With the increase in the use of technology teachers need to be sure to instruct their students on how to be safe when using these resources. There are numerous dangerous for young people on the internet and students need to be aware of these dangers and how to avoid them.Many schools locally as well as across the nation block many different websites for student usage. The administrators think these blocks are necessary to keep students from looking at material that is inappropriate.
IS the only way to keep students safe on the internet by blocking different sites that you/administrations deem harmful for students? What other ways do you think we can keep students safe?

Digital Divide, Broadband Divide &Grant Writing Finale

Digital Divide, Broadband Divide &Grant Writing Finale

Hopefully throughout this blog everyone has gained insight into the digital and broadband divide that will eventually impact our classrooms and our ability to provide our curriculum in engaging and exciting ways. This blog has also provided some resources for you to tap into someday when you find you do not have the adequate tools needed in your classroom. It is also my hope that along with the insight, we have gained an awareness of the limitations that some students suffer and as a result become proactive in helping to erase the disparities in technological access that affects these students each day. I feel it is part of our responsibility as teachers to ensure our students are recieving an equitable education. Whose responsibility do you feel it is? I found an interesting video that demonstrates how school districts in Palm Beach FL took on the responsibility of the digital divide and turned it into an awesome program for their students. Check it out:

 http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=1a201c0dd171621d565b

A Possible Solution

 

Grant Writing:

One way to help alleviate the digital divide is through grant writing. Many people do not know a lot about grant writing and personally at first I found the whole idea daunting. However I know the great things that can come as a result of a grant. So, I interviewed the “grant writer” at the school I work at. Referred to as the “grant writer” by other teachers, Julie Hammer is also the Elementary Librarian. Julie suggested two places for teachers to go to get grants for technology in their classrooms: The Catskill Regional Teacher Center and The Broome Tioga BOCES Technology Research Committee (TRC) .

Julie has had great success with both places and described the grants as “easy to obtain and very teacher orientated”. She also told me that despite what I have been told, grants are NOT hard to write, ANYONE can write them, you just have to play by their rules and meet all criteria. Speaking with other teachers, I was told that it is a shame more of them did not utilize grants more often to get more technology in their classrooms .

Through the TRC, Julie was able to acquire digital cameras and an IMAC computer among several technological devices to further enhance classrooms and student experiences.

Please go to Broome Tioga BOCES TRC and check out the grants that are available now. Choose one grant that you could envision using in a classroom and share.

 

Technology Research Committee

Part II: Broadband Divide

 

In addition to the digital divide, currently there is another divide impacting mainly rural school districts and enabling them from fully and easily accessing the world wide web comparatively to other districts–this is the broadband divide. An article that highlights this problem is

“The Broadband Divide: Rural Access Lags Far Behind Cities”. 

 http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/10/lloyd_testimony.html/print.html

After reading through the article, please read through a recent letter from a local rural school superintendent to state legislators asking for help to this problem: (The name of the school district has been changed to XXX and some other names have been deleted at the request of the superintendent)

  letter

 After reading through the documents, what do you think should be done to alleviate this gap?  

 

 

 

 

 

Part II: Digital Divide, Broadband Divide & Grant Writing

     

 “Disparities in Digital Opportunities for Young Children and Young Adults: At A Glance”

Now that we have a clear sense of what the digital divide is and have all read / skimmed through this article:

 

http–cjtc.ucsc.edu-docs-digital.pdf  

 

 

 

What stands out to you as a major concern and how may it impact your future classroom?