WK2 Reading

Social Networking or Social Suicide: The impact of social networking on virtual DNA

I have been researching various ways of incorporating technology into the learning environment the right way, and in researching these methods and strategies, one also has to look at how their end-users already function in an online society or network.

In reading the article on whether social networking is that, networking or if it is social suicide, one must take into account how their students, or audience views the manner in which they use the internet and to what capacity.

The article described our online “lives” as having a vDNA, or virtual DNA that serves as a blueprint to your virtual life, i.e. hobbies, social interests, life experiences and various other traits or personalities that you post about yourself online.

One instance I truly agree with is the fact that in today’s world of online networking and “friending” someone, this “friend” may not even be someone you know very well, care about or even trust. We have begun to use the word, friend, more loosely and in somewhat of a cavalier manner.

We use sites like Facebook, MySpace, Match.com, LinkedIn, and many other sites to communicate, find friends, dates, and jobs. In using these sites, we share many personal information, or our vDNA, to friends as well as to strangers. This information is accessible in the virtual public domain and has the potential to be analyzed and used for multiple purposes. And, if the vDNA overlaps into conflicting networks, it can jeopardize relationships.

So, when thinking about using a social network site to integrate technology into your lesson or classroom, take a look at these tips to make sure you do it safe.

L – Learn the details of the social networking site. 

I – Interact online – but assume that everything is public. 

N – Netiquette the virtual version of good manners and how to be a good digital citizen. Train students that the online community has no borders, requires no passport, and everyone is created “virtually” equal.

K – Know when to disconnect from social networking. Know when it’s time to drop by in person. Log off the net and allow real face time with the real people in your lives.

I Can Back Off My Blogging, Turn Down My Tweeting, And Even Wrap Up My Wiki, But I Can’t Wane My Wordling... by Michael Gorman

Ok, so back to Wordle. Who hasn’t heard of Wordle yet? Well, in this article the author states that he still comes across many teachers who have yet to stumble upon Wordle and it’s great potential.

There are several links to ways you can use Wordle and various examples of how it has been used to display Presidential speeches, create quizzes and even classroom lessons.

My question now is, when has a new technology run it’s course? In my school alone, I see so many uses of Wordle. You would think this was the new sliced bread. It, in my opinion, has seem to lose it’s brilliance as a tool to attract or entice. 

Don’t get me wrong, I think it is a great and creative way in which to express ideas or display old and new ideas in a new innovative manner, but as with anything great, how much is too much. I think we can all agree upon the fact that we all hate sitting through PowerPoint presentations. Will Wordle become the new PowerPoint of getting ideas and information across to our audiences, and if so, when we will tire of this?

One to One Netbook Pilot Program

Niles Township High Schools of District 219 in Skokie, Illinois have instituted an Anywhere/Anytime Learning Plan with a 1:1 netbook pilot program, deploying 400 netbooks to students this year. Another 150 netbooks have gone to administrators and staff to learn about and integrate web 2.0 tools into instruction. 

I have read of other districts across the country also doing something similar. A few years back, a small district in South Texas handed out new Apple laptops to each of their senior class.

In the early part of this decade, Duke University gave new iPods to their incoming Freshmen class. Abilene Christian University followed suit a few years later by handing out new iTouch’s.

I think depending upon how one regulates and disseminates information to these students, allowing them access to these personal devices could create a new learning platform that produces an overall equality and even platform as to which the students all learn. Books, documents, forms, images and a variety of other resources could be pushed across multiple platforms to all students at one time. It can also ease the burden of carrying all those textbooks and having to deal with lost papers.

Bridging the Gap and Connecting Classrooms

A teacher in Florida sits in a hotel room with his computer and internet connection while his students in Maryland settle into their class. Although the teacher is some 800 miles away, the students are used to seeing their teacher through online video everyday. However, today their teacher is in another state, not just down the street at another school.

Many districts do teach upper level course via video conferencing or over programs like Skype. This allows districts to teach several students across a district at one time if they might have fewer kids enrolled or even less teachers available. My district uses distance learning for those in advanced classes that are well beyond what they can get at their current grade level.

Distance learning does have it’s drawbacks, but what about the perks? Advanced learning, new interactions with classrooms across town, across the state or even out of the country. What about virtual field trips? Or the ability to actually learn foreign languages from native people in those countries.

One idea that I think would be a great way to bring classrooms alive in social studies or history class is to take your classes to one of the many re-enactments of civil war battles held across the country via Skype or any other distant leaning technologies.