Social Networking in the Classroom

Social Networking does offer a way to engage with teachers, parents, and students, however, I don't think there is a place for it at this time in an educational setting K-12. As mentioned in class, it can serve as a tool to post notes, assignments, display work, share pictures from class and field trips, but it can also breed inappropriate relationships or unfair biases. With that said, there are always exceptions. If a teacher thinks social networking sites are the only or best way to reach their community, then I think they should use that media. However, I would encourage any teacher who chooses facebook over a blog or traditional website to use a facebook page designed for class only and not intermix it with too much personal information. I would strongly caution teachers against using social networking sites as a tool to "friend" students. When I was a snotty teenager, I ask my mom why she couldn't be my friend like my friend's mom was to her. She responded with "because I'm not your friend, I'm your mother." I didn't understand her at the time, but she was right. She wasn't my friend and she shouldn't have been. I didn't have the emotional capacity or maturity to be her friend at that time. I think the teacher-student relationship should be similar. Children, as well as, students should not feel they are equals with their parents and teachers. I think as a teacher or student you need to evaluate and assess each other with some emotional distance. If you are "friends", I think it's hard not to have bias towards each other that would effect your evaluation of each other. In the case of a teacher if might also effect your evaluation of other students. Further, if a student thinks they are "friends" with their teacher and then receive a low grade from them they might take it more personally than they would have if they only thought of their teacher as their teacher.  Not to mention, social networking sites might allow students access to a teachers' personal life that could effect relationships with other students, parents, and/or the school. It human nature to make judgements about other people based on their likes or dislikes, something we disclose to people as we get to know them and feel comfortable sharing. If all becomes visible for someone who doesn't really know you well it could lead to unfair bias about your teaching ability. Some teachers might be totally comfortable with their private life becoming public, but I think most do not and others would soon find that they also do not like their private life becoming public. Overall, I would use facebook or other social networking sites with caution at this time.

RSS Feeds

This was my first time to set up my RSS feed and I love it! I knew this feature existed, but hadn't taken the time to set it up yet and I'm glad I finally did! This will be a great way for me to keep up with the latest postings about things that interest me: news (cnn), weather (weather.com), gardening (urban chickens and organic gardening), teaching (teachertube and Laura Candler), decorating (apartment therapy), movies (internet movie database), and friend's blogs (photography and crafting) I continually intend to check.....but don't always get around to it. I think the RSS feature will also be useful in the classroom allowing me to keep up with sites and blogs that interest my students. Further, I can use the smartboard to display updates that are relevant to my lessons and/or our lives giving me alternative ways to connect with my students and make class more interesting. 

The RSS feed tool can encourage my professional growth and leadership by connecting me to different educators and professional sites and/or blogs. Lastly, the RSS feed can help me stay connected to things that I'm interested in outside of teaching and reduce stress.  

Future of Now

"Web 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0" explained that Web 1.0 gave us information, and Web 2.0 created interaction with its users (i.e. such as sites as youtube, wikipedia, myspace, facebook, and linkin). They also introduced the extension of Web 2.0 - Web 3.0.  This new web system is already successfully being used by companies such as Amazon, LastFM, and Pandora and will allow the computer systems themselves to interact with each other. Although this convenience will meet our individual needs in an exciting way, I think it will be important to teach students how this system works so that they can ensure that it meets their individual needs accurately. The video also alluded to what implication this will have for society or rather what people will do when everything becomes automated. I think future generations will continue to be creative job creators, however, I have to wonder if all this technology will really give us the free time they anticipate? As more technology is introduced, I'm finding that we are actually expected to accomplish more in less time, not the other way around. I think it will be important for educators to teach students how to use technology and also how to turn off or "tune out" so that they have balance in their lives.
The "Students Today" video reminded me that students have shifted away from reading traditional books and spend more time reading websites and even more time on social networking sites. I wasn't so surprised by the website use because most of us use the web more than books today. However, I was surprised at how much time students spent on social networking sites! 
The end of this video pointed out that this generation did not create the problems of today. Doesn't every generation says that? I don't think that war, ethnic conflict, hunger, etc. are new, but rather the internet and other medias have increased our awareness of them. This awareness and connectedness gives all of us a voice and the tools that will hopefully help us collaborate to solve many of these problems. As a teacher, I realize that it will be important to incorporate multiple medias to engage my students and encourage them to use multiple media in responsible ways.
The "Did You Know" video suggested that with population growth, education (and I believe work ethic) the U.S. will soon be surpassed by either India or China as the world's superpower. The video also reminded us that technology is growing exponentially. While I do agree, I can't imagine a computer ever exceeding the capabilities of the human brain. I know there are computers with more memory and processing speeds that the human brain, but I believe there are intangibles that a computer will never be able to truly mimic. While it's true that computers will be able to solve many problems, they won't be able to use emotions to make important life decisions. Overall, I think the video does raise an important question----will our students be literate in the 21st century? I think the fact that we have to ask the question gives us the answer.
Web 4.0 explained that the media landscape will be altered and will change the way people behave. They suggested that with this exponential convergence a larger audience can be reached, but it will be harder to really connect on a deep level. I see evidence of this already. Teens spend so much time "socializing" on social media sites and text messaging that they have lost some of their face-to-face interpersonal skills. What provides you with more meaning and satisfaction---going to coffee with one true friend or Facebooking with 300?  I think this trend will continue until it gets so bad that the pendulum swings, and people start preferring more face-to-face interaction again, much like the food revolution has encouraged a resurgence in the quality food versus empty calories. As a teacher, I think it will be my job to encourage technology and traditional interaction as well.

I think the future of technology offers great opportunities to reduce illiteracy, hunger, and poverty. However, with this opportunity students need to understand that as the world becomes more flat and equal they will be competing globally and will need to work harder for what they want.

The Conditions

The conditions for effective technology learning make sense to me. However, many of the schools where I currently work (substitute and student teach) do not meet these conditions. There seems to be a shared vision for an increase in technology engagement, however, there is not enough monetary resources to create access for all teachers and students. Some classrooms have Smartboards and some do not. Some computer labs are fully functioning and some are not. In most cases, there seems to be a lack of tech support- often computers aren't working and can take days or weeks to be fixed. On the other hand, more affluent schools have Smartboards in every classroom and tech support to fix the computer lab computers in a timely manner. I think the vision is there among all the schools, but overall there is a lack of resources. I think all the conditions are interconnected and equally important. With that said, there is one condition that needs to be met before the rest---- consistent and adequate funding. Funding needs to be consistent because technology is ever changing and adequate because if it's not enough if doesn't equitably reach and prepare all students for the future. Funding will determine if teachers HAVE and Can USE technology in the classroom and that ultimately effects whether technology becomes equitable and and useful for all students.

1st post!

This is my first post. Not great with technology, but looking forward to figuring it out!