Journal #5
My Space or Yours
Joanne Barrett
Volume 34 (2006 - 2007)
September No.1
This article discusses the history of social networking technology and the pro's and con's that come along with some of these sites. Social networking sites are a great way to meet new people, share information, and find life long partners, if that is what you are looking for. But they can also be used in a negative manner. Not everyone you meet on MySpace or sites like that are who they say they are. These sites can serve as great social tools, but only if they are used in the right manner with proper netiquette.
1. Why were these sites originally started?
Originally, these sites were created to assist students at a university in Waqshington D.C. to share personal information as well as aspects of their personal lives. Students would meet someone and then run back to their computers to look up that person and find out everything they could about them. The success of this site on that campus encouraged the creator to expand from college campuses to high school campuses. Soon people were joining specific groups with others who shared the same interests and the social networking boom began to take off. However, some were using these sites in a negative manner such as cyber bullying and harrassment. That's why it is very important to discuss with users of these sites to always practice proper etiquette while visiting these sites. You never know who will be reading these entries. Maybe a future employer, or a cyber stalker.
2. Are all these social networking sites safe?
The sad truth of the matter is that like everything else in life, there are always a handful who will use something positive and turn it into something negative, sometimes downright awful. One group that has vowed to put a stop to this is Perverted Justice. They, along with MSNBC, set up hidden camera sting operations in cities across the US to expose potential pedophiles. They will enter chat rooms and pose as young children, usually teens, and engage these pedophiles. When the sting operation invites these pedophiles over via the internet, cameras then surprise the unsuspecting offenders and they are arrested. Educating our children, whether they be sons/daughters, or students in a classroom, about the dangers of some of these social networking sites is the best policy. Not only do we teach them about discussions they might be having, but we must also teach them about what type of information they may be transmitting such as names, age, address, and other information like social security numbers. Using a social networking site can be just as dangerous as walking right up to a stranger.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Journal #4
Portable Data Empowers Leaders
Mary L. McNabb
Volume 34 (2006 - 2007)
May No. 8
This article addresses the struggles faced by many school administrators in Michigan, to increase student achievement in core content areas and to help students become technology literate. Ther are new standards that school officials are being held responsible for while maintaining a safe conducive learning environment for students. In 2002, a program called LEADing the Future (LTF), set out to train 80% of Michigan school administrators using a wide variety of technology methods. They focused on four goals that paralelled ISTE's NETS for Administrators. During a follow up to this initial training period, the LTF offered a hands on training opportunity, for all administrators, in the use of handheld technology. The goal is for school administrators to be able to research, access, organize, and evaluate data wherever they may be.
1. Are laptop computers better than hand held portable devices?
Handheld devices are capable of matching just about every function that a laptop computer can. With the help of blue tooth technology and the ability to connect to other technology sources such as a printer, scanner, or digital camera, hand held devices are proving that although they are smaller in size, they can handle just about any big job a laptop can do. The real advantage is in the size. While a laptop computer needs to be carried around in a briefcase sized bag, the handheld portables can fit right in to the compfort of a jacket pocket.
2. Why else would a hand held portable device be more beneficial than a laptop computer?
In this article by McNabb, she points out a very important reason that a handheld may be more beneficial than a laptop, and that is during an emergency either on a school campus or a field trip. A laptop is a bit too bulky to carry around at all times. During an emergency, whether on a school campus or a trip, administrators will be able to access all emercency contact information for each individual student from their hand held portable device. They can access parent contact information, or emergency contact information in a matter of seconds.
Portable Data Empowers Leaders
Mary L. McNabb
Volume 34 (2006 - 2007)
May No. 8
This article addresses the struggles faced by many school administrators in Michigan, to increase student achievement in core content areas and to help students become technology literate. Ther are new standards that school officials are being held responsible for while maintaining a safe conducive learning environment for students. In 2002, a program called LEADing the Future (LTF), set out to train 80% of Michigan school administrators using a wide variety of technology methods. They focused on four goals that paralelled ISTE's NETS for Administrators. During a follow up to this initial training period, the LTF offered a hands on training opportunity, for all administrators, in the use of handheld technology. The goal is for school administrators to be able to research, access, organize, and evaluate data wherever they may be.
1. Are laptop computers better than hand held portable devices?
Handheld devices are capable of matching just about every function that a laptop computer can. With the help of blue tooth technology and the ability to connect to other technology sources such as a printer, scanner, or digital camera, hand held devices are proving that although they are smaller in size, they can handle just about any big job a laptop can do. The real advantage is in the size. While a laptop computer needs to be carried around in a briefcase sized bag, the handheld portables can fit right in to the compfort of a jacket pocket.
2. Why else would a hand held portable device be more beneficial than a laptop computer?
In this article by McNabb, she points out a very important reason that a handheld may be more beneficial than a laptop, and that is during an emergency either on a school campus or a field trip. A laptop is a bit too bulky to carry around at all times. During an emergency, whether on a school campus or a trip, administrators will be able to access all emercency contact information for each individual student from their hand held portable device. They can access parent contact information, or emergency contact information in a matter of seconds.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Journal #3
A War of Words
Jim Patterson
In this article, Jim Paterson looks at opposing views to new programs created in the past 10 years to help battle plagiarism. One teacher thinks that some of the new programs created help students cite their work and present it in a much more organized manner. The specific program that she talks about walks students through a step by step process that allows them to display the original material alongside their own paraphrased thoughts. On the other hand, one teacher claims that there is no substitute for "good teaching" and feels that the programs infringe on students rights by comparing the papers written to material that is already out there.
1. Should teachers be more accepting of new programs created to help students?
I think that instead of looking for everything that is wrong with a new program or software to assist students, teachers should be more accepting and focus on what is in the best interest of the student. Many times teachers take a stand off approach to changes because they like to do things the way they always have. However, that may not always be the best approach from a student stand point. There is so much new educational technology available that I feel teachers should research and use in place of “good old teaching”. Every student has a different learning style and the blackboard might not be the best way to reach every student.
2. Is plagiarism serious enough to warrant these types of programs to be created?
Before the days of educational technology and computers, it would have been easy for teachers to open up an encyclopedia and compare articles to material brought in by students. In those days, the encyclopedia was the best source for research. Now with the internet, there is a vast amount of material that can be accessed by a student, and without some way to monitor it, a students work would be very hard to disprove. Whenever there is new technology or processes created for anything positive, there will always be someone who will use it in a negative way. It’s sad, but it’s true.
Jim Patterson
In this article, Jim Paterson looks at opposing views to new programs created in the past 10 years to help battle plagiarism. One teacher thinks that some of the new programs created help students cite their work and present it in a much more organized manner. The specific program that she talks about walks students through a step by step process that allows them to display the original material alongside their own paraphrased thoughts. On the other hand, one teacher claims that there is no substitute for "good teaching" and feels that the programs infringe on students rights by comparing the papers written to material that is already out there.
1. Should teachers be more accepting of new programs created to help students?
I think that instead of looking for everything that is wrong with a new program or software to assist students, teachers should be more accepting and focus on what is in the best interest of the student. Many times teachers take a stand off approach to changes because they like to do things the way they always have. However, that may not always be the best approach from a student stand point. There is so much new educational technology available that I feel teachers should research and use in place of “good old teaching”. Every student has a different learning style and the blackboard might not be the best way to reach every student.
2. Is plagiarism serious enough to warrant these types of programs to be created?
Before the days of educational technology and computers, it would have been easy for teachers to open up an encyclopedia and compare articles to material brought in by students. In those days, the encyclopedia was the best source for research. Now with the internet, there is a vast amount of material that can be accessed by a student, and without some way to monitor it, a students work would be very hard to disprove. Whenever there is new technology or processes created for anything positive, there will always be someone who will use it in a negative way. It’s sad, but it’s true.
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