Well, well, well.... long time no speak. Is that correct? Probably not. I am incorrect and so are many of our students - in the way they are learning to socialize and communicate over the globe. Our students are using the social networking sites but not to their optimal potential. They use them to talk, for support, and self-esteem building, as stated on one of the assigned sites states. However, what about for the enhancement of their education? Do they even know about the endless possibilities of the sites they use to talk to their friends and put down those who are different and not in their cliques.
I have a student who lives on myspace. He uses at home, he uses a proxy site to get on the space in school and he also uses his sidekick to chat. All day long he is chatting about things that are not going to help him increase his knowledge or advance his career later on. But could this be a starting place for his networking. He is an aspiring model. Can he meet other teen models on the space that could help point him in the right direction? Probably. Is he? No, not to my knowledge and he texts me alot.
Also another site that we as educators should not text our students individually but mass was okay. I'm confused. Is it only for the legal aspect of it or is it because they believe that the adult is chatting inappropriately with the child? At the middle school I work at, the Teenbiz3000 site is where the students complete online assignments and chat a little. They e-mail me all the time, when they are having problems with other students in the class, problems at home or they are simply having a good day. Am i supposed to cut them off? I have excellent relationships with all 30 of the students i work with on a daily basis. i even speak to them over the weekend. i feel that the extra connection helps me to help them. I have earned their respect and they do the work.
Everytime we make a breakthrough here comes someone saying that it needs to be revised or re-thought. I enjoy chatting with my kids but at the same time i would love for my kids to stop chatting on the space and network. Learn to enhance their knowledge. And so the sun sets on this blogging moment. Later.....
Hmmm... You bring up some interesting points. I think the most important part of your post is that you are knowledgeable of these technologies. Many teachers are oblivious or do not want to know abotu Myspace or Facebook. Just knowing is the first step in learning how to use these sites to help, not hurt, our students.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Wow....you really "hit the nail on the head"! It is important that we, as educators, are aware of all of the social sites that our students use. It is also important that we as teachers know when to use them and when not to use them - as you discussed. Because our students need their questions answered immediately - they rely on the instant message, etc to get in touch with someone who will provide an instant answer. Technology must support education as we all agree on and was discussed in our first class. Technology does not take the place of education and we should teach our students to use technology as a help while they are still using the old fashion way of learning - thinking for themselves and coming to a conclusion through research and application.
ReplyDeleteI think this even lends itself to keeping up with the "young ones." I don't think that we need to act, talk, and walk, the way our students do. We do, however, need to be somewhat mindful about what is going on in their "world", so to speak. So much negativity has surrounded MySpace and Facebook since their inception as "social networking sites" that can become the ground on which pedophiles prey on young people. When used properly, however, the internet can be useful for teachers, students, and parents for their essential communication. Yes, Dr. Luongo, Facebook and MySpace can be helpful so long as we know how to use them. If we continue to close our minds to what our students do, it just leads to the further "generational" gap between us and our students.
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