Double Entry Post Week 5

What is significant is that kids are able to create and sustain new private

social worlds through the use of messaging and blogging, worlds that are separate from, yet overlapping with, institutions such as family and school. Emerging kids’ cultures encompass, and perhaps predict, new definitions of public and private space that sometimes transcend the boundaries that govern adult life – age and sex, institutional rules, national boundaries, and so forth.

The social world of kids completely baffles me.  When my girls were growing up, their social world was the telephone and I never had a weekend that I didn’t have at least two extra kids staying the night.  Their social world was more verbal and face to face.  Sometimes I think a lot of the problems that kids are having dealing with people is because they can’t relate to people face to face anymore.  Everything is done by text or email. Everything is kind of hidden from their families.

Games and gaming. Games are one of children’s earliest experiences with

technology, and may be shaping kids’ learning habits and technological fluencies; this is the subject of profound debate in the research literature.

I’m really a fan of the gaming industry.  The people that create these games are geniuses.  The creativity and the skill necessary to do this, wows me.  I don’t like that parents aren’t more selective in the types of games that they allow their children to play.  The really violent games should not be for kids but that’s the parent’s duty to control.  Kids are so quick to learn how to do these games and that is amazing.  I still can’t use the DVD player.

Kids economies determine the scale and scope of their social networks. Until

they are old enough to own a mobile phone, children use the Internet to develop

peer networks -- using lists, chat rooms, web based social software, and email --

because it is free. These communication strategies link kids to peers, but also to

parents; the term ‘mobile parenting’ is now used to describe parenting of young

children from afar by mobile phone. Teenagers are more likely to be provided

mobile phones by their parents for the purpose of coordination or safety, but in

fact use text messaging to build distinctive new private spaces and cultures.

When my oldest daughter turned 16, I purchased my first mobile phone.  Of course, at that time it was a bag phone that plugged into the cigarette lighter of the car and sat on the center console.  I wanted to make sure she could get in touch with me if she needed to and that I could reach her.  I would not have referred to it as mobile parenting but more of a parenting safety net.  Now that mobile phones are becoming much more affordable, I think most kids do have one and at much younger ages that what they used to.  It certainly has become a way for parents to keep track of their children.   

http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20What%20Kids%20Learn%20Thats%20POSITIVE%20From%20Playing%20Video%20Games.pdf
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/otherparentingissues/i/kids_cellphones_2.htm

Reflections on Illuminated Text

I learned so much while working on the Illumniated Text assignment.  I had never worked with PowerPoint before, so that was a new experience.  Picking the poem was simple enough but then to find the art work to use, the music, and figuring out how to embed all of it, was quite a job.  The animation was even more interesting.  It was a great experience and I did enjoy it.

Double Entry Post - Textbook case

A Textbook Case of What is Wrong with Education was the least intellectually challenging for me.  Maybe it was because I thought the other two videos were excellent and enjoyed them.  All of these texts bring to light that we need to drastically change the current form of education.  As described in Bring on the Learning Revolution, we are teaching our children based on extremely old models.  With the digital world so prevalent, we need to look toward a new way of teaching.

Double Entry Journal Post Week 4

I loved the Revolution video.  The first idea that struck me was that we don't make use of our talents.  That lots of us don't know what are talents are or even if we have any.  I personally believe everyone has talent in some area but for most of my life I had no clue what mine was.  I think when we talk about talent we think of art, sports, music, etc.  Talent is so much more than that and we should help kids find their talent and it should be nurtured no matter what it is because it really is who we are.

The idea that there needs to be a revolution in education was a great idea.  Obviously what we are doing now is not working.  Students aren't learning what they need to be successful.  I've seen that by the number of students that come to college and have to take developmental skills classes.  Some of these students are graduating at the top of their class in high school.  How does that happen?  A digital classroom would certainly be innovative and revolutionary.  Students could learn from the smartest people in the world.

The other idea I liked was the commentary on our obsession with everybody needing to go to college.  Lots of people shouldn't go to college.  Some people come to college, waste their money, and flunk out.  Some come to college, make fantastic grades, graduate and figure out that they hate what they are doing.  Maybe they would have been happier mowing yards and planting flowers all day.  Every job is important and no matter what job someone chooses they should get to be happy in it.

Double Entry Post 4

ADHD is something that was never diagnosed when I was in school.  Now every other child is on some kind of medication.  My niece is very bright and outgoing and she is an only child.  When she started to school she talked too much (according to her teacher).  The teacher called her mother and told her that she needed to get the child to the doctor because she had to be ADHD.  She just couldn’t pay attention in class and she was disruptive.  The child made 100% on everything they gave her to do but she couldn’t remember to raise her hand and she talked out.  I don’t think it ever occurred to anybody that she was just happy to be in school and have other kids to talk to.  I think we need to step back from these ADHD diagnoses and medications.  Sometimes kids just have something they need to say.  If we were disruptive in school we got a spanking. We didn’t need medicine to know not to be disruptive again.  Now, I’m not in favor of spankings in school, but my point is there are other things than medication.  I think students would be more interested in a digital classroom and would be more intent on what they are doing.

I really like the idea of comparing education to an industrial setting.  It was so accurate and I'd never even given it a thought.  We run the kids through like an assembly line.  All of the children are the same age as they get started, whether they are ready or not, and pretty much the same age as they finish.  We aren't open to allowing them to do things in an unconventional manner.  I remember getting a math problem wrong in high school when I'd gotten the right answer.  I hadn't worked the problem out like the teacher wanted it done. 

The same thing goes for the divergent learning idea that was presented.  Can you imagine that we are actually starting out with little kids that are pretty much geniuses in divergent learning and within a matter of a few years we have dumbed them down.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could turn these kids loose and let them explore?  Maybe a digital classroom would be a great idea for them.

Global Warming Picture

Global Warming Post 2

Wikipedia allows for postings and editing’s from the general public.  All editors are susceptible to sanctions.  There are rules that have to be followed.  If an editor does not follow the rules they can be “punished” which can even result in blocking them.

The discussion on the consensus on warming and on causation tells me that there is some scientific documentation that we have caused, at least in part, global warming and that there is such a thing as global warming. 

I get the sense that Uncle Ed is resentful of the fact that he was pushed out of his Wikipedia “duties”.  He seems to be pretty negative about Wikipedia now that he is not so involved.  I would guess that Ed is a conservative.  It’s hard to get a feel from the conversations but he talks about women, blacks and racism, government aid programs and poverty.  When he talks about these things it’s not like “oh, I’m so anxious to get out there and help with the problems”.  It seems like he’s a little down on them.  He appears to believe in global warming but based on the discussion about the temperature increase or the cause, he wonders how much of the consensus is based on how much of the global warming humans are actually causing.

I think that Stephen Schulz is probably more liberal.  He opposes censorship, is a supporter of the theory of evolution, and I don’t really know why I think he’s liberal, but I feel like he is.  He’s certainly outspoken.  Schulz seems to believe that most of the warming is caused by greenhouse gases as he seems to believe what the scientists say based on his conversation.

I think Wikipedia can be very useful.  The material is looked at by many editors and yes, some of them can be wrong, but for the most part, I think it’s fairly reliable.  I don’t think that Wikipedia should replace textbooks.  Although most text books are probably not as reliable as we think they are, not all students have access to computers and internet at home.  I think Wikipedia could be integrated as a resource into classroom activities but I don’t think it should be the sole resource.

Global Warming Post 1

Wikipedia appears to take the position that global warming is an environmental issue caused by people.  Wikipedia indicates that global warming will cause catastrophic problems by the rise in temperature that will affect the melting of glaciers and sea ice.  In addition, it will cause extreme weather, the extinctions of some species and sea levels will rise.

Extreme weather                               

The Environmental Defense Fund attributes extreme weather to the warming of the atmosphere.  It claims that hurricanes are more likely, wild fires will occur due to the hot conditions.  Droughts, floods and heat waves will be more prevalent.

http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=1405

Life’s Little Mysteries is another website that studies these kinds of facts.  They think that probably the most likely explanation is the natural atmospheric variability; random chance.

http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/wild-weather-connected-global-warming-la-nina-1775/

http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=1405

Environmental Defense Fund

6/13/2011                  

Google search

.org

I do feel that the domain type helps add to the page’s credibility.

The author is not identified but the organization is clearly identified.

The organization does have a reputation for credibility.

The organization does explain its purpose.

The organization does provide contact information.

I do think this organization is qualified to present the information found on its web page.

The purpose of the page is clearly stated.

The purpose is to find practical environmental solutions.

The page does not contain advertisements.

The audience for this page would be environmentalists.

The page was copyrighted in 2011 and has been well maintained.

The page is authenticated by experts.

The page gives links to favorable site reviews.

This source seems very reliable to me.

http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/wild-weather-connected-global-warming-la-nina-1775/

Life’s Little Mysteries

6/13/2011

Google search

.com

I don’t feel that the domain lessons the page’s credibility.

The author of the page is identified.

The author is a staff writer.

The author links to many other sites that display evidence to support her theory.

The author does not display bias.

The author is the original creator.

The author provides contact information.

The author probably is no more qualified to provide this information than I am.

Informational page

The page does contain advertisements and they are distracting.

The intended audience appears to be the general public.

The article was dated May 13, 2011.

The page appears to be well maintained and current.

It doesn’t appear the content is peer reviewed.

After answering all of these questions, I don’t feel this page is as reliable as my first source.

Reflections on Illuminated Text

I really enjoyed the process of making an illuminated text.  I had never worked with PowerPoint so the whole process was new to me.  There were so many things that I didn't realize you could do to make it fun, like the animations and picking the music.  
It was a little overwhelming at first.  I didn't like working with the text boxes because I just couldn't get them to work right.
I think an illuminated text might be really useful in a math lesson, especially for younger students.  You could make illustrations fly in and out and make everything seem to come to life.

Double Entry Journal #3

In this new media age, the ability to negotiate and evaluate information online, to recognize manipulation and propaganda and to assimilate ethical values is becoming as basic to education as reading and writing.”

I had not really given much thought to this before I read this article.  People will need to be honing their “BS” radar skill that’s for sure.  We will have to be able to discern what is real and what is not sometimes just by reading it.  This should help students become more aware and hopefully more careful of the kinds of things they are reading on the internet.

Many educators express concern about young people’s increased reliance on Wikipedia as a resource for their homework assignments and research projects.

I guess maybe I shouldn’t admit this, but I always look on Wikipedia to research things.  It never occurred to me that the information I was reading wasn’t necessarily accurate.  I think of Wikipedia as an encyclopedia.  But if you really want to think about it, who’s to say that an encyclopedia is any more correct that Wikipedia.

In doing so, students follow their curiosity, tap their knowledge, and draw connections between topics that might not seem intuitively linked.

This is a great quote. Even if Wikipedia has no other purpose, if it can encourage students to look further and continue to search a subject, then it serves a huge purpose and is a good educational tool.

http://www.wikipedia.org/
http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=553883

Illuminated Text Revisions

I took all of the feedback I got from my classmates and made some revisions.  I darkened my text, added more art and did away with some of the sound effects.

Double Entry Journal #2

http://www.nytimes.com/

http://www.cisco.com

“In today’s world, a literate person must be able to read and create a range of paper-based and online texts (newspapers, pamphlets, websites, books, Kindle, and so on), participate in and create virtual settings”

“While some see such engagement as problematic, we, like Gee (2003), see these actions as redefining the world of literacy and our most basic understanding of what it means to be literate.”

“Literacy is not simply a separation of language systems that can be tested or skilled to death.”

The first quote cited above lists a sampling of different online texts that are available and widely used today.  More and more people are becoming dependent on the virtual literacy available whereas the world from the beginning of time has depended on print or drawings or something of this nature.  People have to be able to know how to find the information that they need and anymore that information is so easily accessible via the web or electronic communication.

The second quote talks about how some might see multimodal learning as problematic.  I think that the printed newspaper may have been considered a problem by some people way back when.  Anytime there is change, whether it is big or small, some people are going to be afraid of it.  That’s not to say there aren’t problems; you hear every day about somebody’s account being hacked but the benefits far outweigh the problems.

I think the final quote refers to the breakdown of language systems and our ability to be able to easily assess ones knowledge of them.  It will become more and more difficult to assess someone’s literacy when you can’t really test what they know.  Kindergartners use the web on a daily basis.  How do you assess something like that?