So psychologist have found something I thought about for years. Social media websites like Facebook may be harming students ability to socialize. To see that their may be evidence that could connect social networking to narcissistic behavior, alcohol dependence and other psychiatric disorders is pretty scary. Now normally I don't pay attention to most studies done by "the professionals", because if they wanted to find something wrong with something they could. Like cell phones causes cancer. Or how babies shouldn't drink formula because it will stunt their growth. I've even heard that we should only eat organic fruits and vegetables because of the pesticides in them. However, this study done by psychologist Larry Rosen has some thought interesting things to consider. I especially agree with his assessment that he makes about how teenagers and young adults are not mature enough to process information they receive over the internet. They often get confused and are much more vulnerable to internet predators. Another important point Dr. Rosen makes in this article is that some kids may feel pressured to send lewd pictures of themselves to their friends which could lead to them eventually having their picture posted all over the internet. This could lead to depression and social anxiety. Other teens may be afraid to deny a friend request because the rejection may lead to them being harassed at school or cyberbullied. These are some very legitimate findings and I do feel that it is the responsibility of parents to educate their children on the effects of being on the internet and social networking.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
What's Facebook's Effect on Kids?
Original Article: http://www.technologyreview.com/web/38258/?ref=rss
So psychologist have found something I thought about for years. Social media websites like Facebook may be harming students ability to socialize. To see that their may be evidence that could connect social networking to narcissistic behavior, alcohol dependence and other psychiatric disorders is pretty scary. Now normally I don't pay attention to most studies done by "the professionals", because if they wanted to find something wrong with something they could. Like cell phones causes cancer. Or how babies shouldn't drink formula because it will stunt their growth. I've even heard that we should only eat organic fruits and vegetables because of the pesticides in them. However, this study done by psychologist Larry Rosen has some thought interesting things to consider. I especially agree with his assessment that he makes about how teenagers and young adults are not mature enough to process information they receive over the internet. They often get confused and are much more vulnerable to internet predators. Another important point Dr. Rosen makes in this article is that some kids may feel pressured to send lewd pictures of themselves to their friends which could lead to them eventually having their picture posted all over the internet. This could lead to depression and social anxiety. Other teens may be afraid to deny a friend request because the rejection may lead to them being harassed at school or cyberbullied. These are some very legitimate findings and I do feel that it is the responsibility of parents to educate their children on the effects of being on the internet and social networking.
So psychologist have found something I thought about for years. Social media websites like Facebook may be harming students ability to socialize. To see that their may be evidence that could connect social networking to narcissistic behavior, alcohol dependence and other psychiatric disorders is pretty scary. Now normally I don't pay attention to most studies done by "the professionals", because if they wanted to find something wrong with something they could. Like cell phones causes cancer. Or how babies shouldn't drink formula because it will stunt their growth. I've even heard that we should only eat organic fruits and vegetables because of the pesticides in them. However, this study done by psychologist Larry Rosen has some thought interesting things to consider. I especially agree with his assessment that he makes about how teenagers and young adults are not mature enough to process information they receive over the internet. They often get confused and are much more vulnerable to internet predators. Another important point Dr. Rosen makes in this article is that some kids may feel pressured to send lewd pictures of themselves to their friends which could lead to them eventually having their picture posted all over the internet. This could lead to depression and social anxiety. Other teens may be afraid to deny a friend request because the rejection may lead to them being harassed at school or cyberbullied. These are some very legitimate findings and I do feel that it is the responsibility of parents to educate their children on the effects of being on the internet and social networking.
Closing the Loop in Education Technology
Original Article: http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/08/09/closing-the-loop-in-education-technology.aspx
When I read this article I was a bit surprised to find out to just how few dollars are being spent on technology in schools, only 1.6 of the overall spending in education. That's really not an investment at all. I'd say technology is looked at as more of an afterthought to those people in charge of making crucial decisions about education. It's an extra curriculum activity at my school. The education profession has to start looking at what is going on in the world today. The way technology is driving the economy here in the 21st Century somehow is ignored in our schools. They rather continue to talk about test scores. Notice how much attention is spent on test scores but our education system in this country continues to fall behind other countries in them. It's my hope that we start to make educational technology more of a priority, just lake mathematics, language arts, and reading is to a school. Maybe if we decide to invest in the things that matter, the things that are relevant today, like educational technology, our schools can see an increase in student achievement.
When I read this article I was a bit surprised to find out to just how few dollars are being spent on technology in schools, only 1.6 of the overall spending in education. That's really not an investment at all. I'd say technology is looked at as more of an afterthought to those people in charge of making crucial decisions about education. It's an extra curriculum activity at my school. The education profession has to start looking at what is going on in the world today. The way technology is driving the economy here in the 21st Century somehow is ignored in our schools. They rather continue to talk about test scores. Notice how much attention is spent on test scores but our education system in this country continues to fall behind other countries in them. It's my hope that we start to make educational technology more of a priority, just lake mathematics, language arts, and reading is to a school. Maybe if we decide to invest in the things that matter, the things that are relevant today, like educational technology, our schools can see an increase in student achievement.
Monday, August 8, 2011
U.S. Teachers Protest Social Media Crackdown
Original Article: http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2011/08/05/446137usteachersonfacebook_ap.html
This new law that forbids teachers from having "exclusive access" online with current or former students who are still minors I think is a good thing, therefore I am not in favor of these teacher who protest this law. As teachers we have to remain professional and that means leaving private matters to the parents of your students. Now I know that most teachers who befriend their students on facebook have nothing but good intentions however, their are some teachers who violate the trust of their students.
I, for one don't need to befriend my students and if I do it should be public for everyone to see. When you hear about 87 teachers getting caught sending inappropriate messages to students and even charged with committing sexual misconduct it makes the whole teaching profession as a whole look bad. Call me old fashion but I still believe that some things should remain private.
This new law that forbids teachers from having "exclusive access" online with current or former students who are still minors I think is a good thing, therefore I am not in favor of these teacher who protest this law. As teachers we have to remain professional and that means leaving private matters to the parents of your students. Now I know that most teachers who befriend their students on facebook have nothing but good intentions however, their are some teachers who violate the trust of their students.
I, for one don't need to befriend my students and if I do it should be public for everyone to see. When you hear about 87 teachers getting caught sending inappropriate messages to students and even charged with committing sexual misconduct it makes the whole teaching profession as a whole look bad. Call me old fashion but I still believe that some things should remain private.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Nothing Beats DVR
Original Article: http://articles.cnn.com/2011-08-01/tech/dvr.timewarp.gallaga_1_dvr-royal-wedding-kate-middleton?_s=PM:TECH
The one thing I miss the most when I'm visiting my relatives over the holidays is my DVR. I can't imagine watching television without using the DVR system. Watching live TV is so yesterday. I can't stand it. Especially when you have your favorite shows on network television and you have to sit through the commercials. I've been watching DVR television for about 9 years and when I first got it I was working a graveyard shift, so I would use it to record all my favorite television shows, movies and sports games and would watch them later on my day off. I'm also able to rewind certain educational programs on television and use them as resources in the classroom.
There is one drawback to watching recorded DVR programming though, and it involves sporting events. You have to try to ignore all communication from other people, the internet or feeds from your cell phone because they might tell you who won the game before you had a chance to watch it yourself. I will never forget the time I recorded my team playing and decided to go to the store and get some snacks and watch the game later that afternoon. When I got to the store the first guy I saw told me that results of the game and that my team had lost. I was crushed. Didn't even get the snacks. I wanted to tell guy; Don't talk to me, I don't even know you! I quickly realized that I was wearing an Atlanta Falcons hat and the guy was a Aints fan. Needless to say that I now get the snacks before I watch the game.
The one thing I miss the most when I'm visiting my relatives over the holidays is my DVR. I can't imagine watching television without using the DVR system. Watching live TV is so yesterday. I can't stand it. Especially when you have your favorite shows on network television and you have to sit through the commercials. I've been watching DVR television for about 9 years and when I first got it I was working a graveyard shift, so I would use it to record all my favorite television shows, movies and sports games and would watch them later on my day off. I'm also able to rewind certain educational programs on television and use them as resources in the classroom.
There is one drawback to watching recorded DVR programming though, and it involves sporting events. You have to try to ignore all communication from other people, the internet or feeds from your cell phone because they might tell you who won the game before you had a chance to watch it yourself. I will never forget the time I recorded my team playing and decided to go to the store and get some snacks and watch the game later that afternoon. When I got to the store the first guy I saw told me that results of the game and that my team had lost. I was crushed. Didn't even get the snacks. I wanted to tell guy; Don't talk to me, I don't even know you! I quickly realized that I was wearing an Atlanta Falcons hat and the guy was a Aints fan. Needless to say that I now get the snacks before I watch the game.
How to unlock a car with a text message
Original Article: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/08/03/black.hat.war.texting/index.html?eref=rss_tech&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_tech+%28RSS%3A+Technology%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
Creating all this new technology has created a whole new set of problems when it comes to crime. Criminals are finding new ways to steal your identity, shut off your home alarm system, break into cars and rob you. Now what's frightening about this article is how easy it seems for people to simply pass this information along to others and how that might cause an increase in these types of crimes. Most smart-phones now come with the tracking device, which at first seemed like a good idea because it makes it easier for to track where your kids are at all times as long as they have a cell phone on there person. On the other hand this same device can be taken over by hackers and can used to commit crimes. The internet, social media, cell-phones and other technology devices are great tools, but we have to be careful not to rely on them to do things like baby-sitting or monitoring our children because we are more than capable of doing it ourselves.
Creating all this new technology has created a whole new set of problems when it comes to crime. Criminals are finding new ways to steal your identity, shut off your home alarm system, break into cars and rob you. Now what's frightening about this article is how easy it seems for people to simply pass this information along to others and how that might cause an increase in these types of crimes. Most smart-phones now come with the tracking device, which at first seemed like a good idea because it makes it easier for to track where your kids are at all times as long as they have a cell phone on there person. On the other hand this same device can be taken over by hackers and can used to commit crimes. The internet, social media, cell-phones and other technology devices are great tools, but we have to be careful not to rely on them to do things like baby-sitting or monitoring our children because we are more than capable of doing it ourselves.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Fine-Tuning Internet Security
Original Article: http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/08/01/fine-tuning-internet-security.aspx
At my school, the school's cafeteria manager makes teachers pay twice as much as students for the same portion of food. For instance, if a student gets a hamburger and fries for lunch it will cost that student $1.25. If a teacher gets the same hamburger and fries for lunch it will cost $2.50. Same portion. Teachers don't even get extra fries with that. That doesn't sit well with me. I know, it may sound petty but I feel teachers deserve to be treated with a little more respect. Give us a little more fries or charge us the same as the students, that's all I'm saying!!
I feel that very same way whenever I find a website that I feel could help my students learn and the website is blocked for the sake of protecting students from online predators. Protecting the kids, I get that. But to deny access to educational websites like Quia.com or most wiki and blog sites for everyone, including teachers to me is another example of how teachers are being disrespected. Most teachers feel the same way. I think the idea of lower the restrictions for teachers to access certain websites so that they can have more resources available to them is a good idea. Making password protected access for teachers would keep students from going onto certain websites that may be deemed dangerous for kids and at the same time grant access for teachers and administrators to use for educational and research purposes.
At my school, the school's cafeteria manager makes teachers pay twice as much as students for the same portion of food. For instance, if a student gets a hamburger and fries for lunch it will cost that student $1.25. If a teacher gets the same hamburger and fries for lunch it will cost $2.50. Same portion. Teachers don't even get extra fries with that. That doesn't sit well with me. I know, it may sound petty but I feel teachers deserve to be treated with a little more respect. Give us a little more fries or charge us the same as the students, that's all I'm saying!!
I feel that very same way whenever I find a website that I feel could help my students learn and the website is blocked for the sake of protecting students from online predators. Protecting the kids, I get that. But to deny access to educational websites like Quia.com or most wiki and blog sites for everyone, including teachers to me is another example of how teachers are being disrespected. Most teachers feel the same way. I think the idea of lower the restrictions for teachers to access certain websites so that they can have more resources available to them is a good idea. Making password protected access for teachers would keep students from going onto certain websites that may be deemed dangerous for kids and at the same time grant access for teachers and administrators to use for educational and research purposes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)