In a class last semester I experimented some with Ning, and I became very interested in creating a social network for a classroom as a means to share work in a fun, interactive atmosphere outside of class. Because Wall.FM is free, I thought it would be an excellent alternative to Ning, so I was very enthused to learn the technology.
The network itself is incredibly easy to make, but it is a bit trickier to navigate. It feels kind of like an archaic version of Facebook. After a couple of days of playing around with it, I learned that it would take some getting used to, not only for me, but also for my students. My experience with Ning was a lot smoother; therefore, I learned that not all personalized social networking sites are created equal. To be completely honest, I couldn't see myself using Wall.FM in my classroom. It looks unprofessional (there are very few templates to choose from, none of which are especially attractive), and, to me, it isn't nearly as straightforward as it should be. Though I am the administrator of the network, I imagine it would be way too easy for students to make it sloppy. Ning is neater and more straightforward, probably because it is designed for education.
So, even though I didn't create a Ning account for this class, I will answer the questions regarding instruction through social networking assuming that I will use Ning in my future career as a teacher, because I certainly won't use Wall.FM. Social networks are a great alternative to class websites because they offer more upfront interaction. I don't believe that any class should have both a website and a network; that just gets too messy. Ning provides a medium for all information typical of a class website, which allows for the class syllabus, grading policy, calendar, assignment list, and similar information to be available to all students and teachers at any time. It also provides a simple way for students to submit work that is meant to be interactive. The teacher can ask questions related to a particular reading, and students can chime in with their answers, building off of what others have to contribute. It's a really great way for students who are a bit shy in the classroom to make meaningful contributions to class discussion, but it is also important to remember to incorporate what is discussed in the cyber world into the physical classroom. Students are also more enthused about peer revision when it is done online. They tend to enjoy giving their input when it is done virtually, because this is what they do on their own time when they're on their computers after school. On a class social network, instead of commenting on friends' statuses, they're commenting on peers' papers; the transition is logical and, for high school students, not too painful.
I would use a class social network for many activities. Of particular interest to me are:
1) Interactive discussions of reading questions
2) Publication of writing and peer revision
3) Publication and discussion of multimedia projects (movies, photography, music, etc.)
Though Wall.FM was a bit of a disappointment to me, I could definitely see myself paying $10 or $20 a year for a Ning account. The concept of incorporating social networking into a subject area that is all about communication makes perfect sense, and I believe it could greatly benefit students.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
2nd Internet Safety Post
I discussed the permanency of everything on the internet and the importance of maintaining a good internet reputation with my little sister, 16, and my little brother, 14. We also talked a little bit about safety issues such as not announcing via Facebook status the dates of upcoming trips, not providing too much information, and not posting pictures that provide too much information.
At first my sister didn't seem very receptive to what I was telling her, but I think she was primarily just being stubborn in an effort to live up to teenage stereotypes. Ultimately, both she and my little brother seemed to recognize how careful they need to be when posting things online. My mom, too, was listening in on the conversation, and she certainly learned some things for herself as well as for monitoring my little brother and sister. Because of the topic, the discussion wasn't too difficult (we weren't talking about sexting or pornography or anything; I think those would be trickier), but it was, I hope, quite valuable.
At first my sister didn't seem very receptive to what I was telling her, but I think she was primarily just being stubborn in an effort to live up to teenage stereotypes. Ultimately, both she and my little brother seemed to recognize how careful they need to be when posting things online. My mom, too, was listening in on the conversation, and she certainly learned some things for herself as well as for monitoring my little brother and sister. Because of the topic, the discussion wasn't too difficult (we weren't talking about sexting or pornography or anything; I think those would be trickier), but it was, I hope, quite valuable.
Friday, March 11, 2011
1st Blog on Internet Safety
Rather than reading or watching, per se, I opted to listen to a couple of podcasts concerning internet safety (together, they totaled 60 minutes). Both are from the Internet Safety Podcast with Dr. Charles Knutson from BYU. The first interview was with Marsali Hancock, President of iKeepSafe. The second interview was with Nancy Willard, director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use. Here is the hyper link for both of these podcasts: http://www.internetsafetyproject.org/podcasts/.
1. The podcasts I listened to focused very much on internet (and cell phone, in the case of the second podcast) safety for children and teens. Interestingly, both Hancock and Willard stressed the importance of parental involvement. Parents need to know what technologies their children are using, what they are using them for, and they need to interact with their children positively regarding technology.
2. As a future parent, I will definitely take an active role in monitoring what my children do on the internet and with their cell phones, but I will make sure to do so positively and openly. The second podcast discussed the trend of sexting, and I feel that adolescents and teens should be warned of the dangers of sending scandalous photos and videos via texting, and they need to be aware that their parents and teachers are aware of it. As a teacher, just like as a parent, I want to have open discussions with my students on these topics so that I can best inform them how to keep themselves safe.
3. I am definitely going to talk to my little brother and sister about the permanence of everything they put on the internet. I will also warn them about the serious security threats that arise when they download various files in a peer to peer environment. I might mention some of the five top threats to teens that Hancock mentioned in her interview, which include giving out too much information, encountering pornography, violence/hate, bullying, and receiving unwanted sexual comments.
4. Cyber bullying is a serious issue, and like all problems with internet safety and security, it is best addressed through the involvement of concerned, caring, and positive parents. Parents (and teachers, when the internet is being used in or for school) need to closely monitor their children and teens and be aware of how they interact with others online. Also, it is important to be completely open and upfront on the issue. Parents must educate their children on the potential dangers of cyber bullying before their children have already encountered it.
5. Through the podcasts I found a few great sites: internetsafetyproject.org, ikeepsafe.org, and cyberbully.org. There are also many other resources that Brother West posted on the class site. Really, there is great information and resources on internet safety all over the place, and much of this material is incredibly intriguing to students, particularly because it is so relevant to them.
6. As a teacher, pretty much all internet safety issues that teenagers struggle with will come up if students are given access to the internet in class. Cyber bullying, pornography, illegal downloading, malicious viruses, and many other major issues can be stumbled across or pursued in a matter of seconds. The first step, I believe, is education. As a teacher, I will need to let my students know what issues are out there and how to avoid incidentally falling into them. The second step that I'll take is laying down specific rules for internet use (many schools have forms that students must sign for this, but I will go over them again). I will explicitly tell them that deviating from appropriate sites will not be tolerated in the slightest. The third, and perhaps most important step, is close monitoring, accompanied by positivity.
7. There is no reason for students to have the internet at their fingertips every day in an English class. Their access, in the first place, should be limited and occasional. The rest of the leverage comes from what I already discussed: proper education, setting up guidelines and boundaries, and careful monitoring.
1. The podcasts I listened to focused very much on internet (and cell phone, in the case of the second podcast) safety for children and teens. Interestingly, both Hancock and Willard stressed the importance of parental involvement. Parents need to know what technologies their children are using, what they are using them for, and they need to interact with their children positively regarding technology.
2. As a future parent, I will definitely take an active role in monitoring what my children do on the internet and with their cell phones, but I will make sure to do so positively and openly. The second podcast discussed the trend of sexting, and I feel that adolescents and teens should be warned of the dangers of sending scandalous photos and videos via texting, and they need to be aware that their parents and teachers are aware of it. As a teacher, just like as a parent, I want to have open discussions with my students on these topics so that I can best inform them how to keep themselves safe.
3. I am definitely going to talk to my little brother and sister about the permanence of everything they put on the internet. I will also warn them about the serious security threats that arise when they download various files in a peer to peer environment. I might mention some of the five top threats to teens that Hancock mentioned in her interview, which include giving out too much information, encountering pornography, violence/hate, bullying, and receiving unwanted sexual comments.
4. Cyber bullying is a serious issue, and like all problems with internet safety and security, it is best addressed through the involvement of concerned, caring, and positive parents. Parents (and teachers, when the internet is being used in or for school) need to closely monitor their children and teens and be aware of how they interact with others online. Also, it is important to be completely open and upfront on the issue. Parents must educate their children on the potential dangers of cyber bullying before their children have already encountered it.
5. Through the podcasts I found a few great sites: internetsafetyproject.org, ikeepsafe.org, and cyberbully.org. There are also many other resources that Brother West posted on the class site. Really, there is great information and resources on internet safety all over the place, and much of this material is incredibly intriguing to students, particularly because it is so relevant to them.
6. As a teacher, pretty much all internet safety issues that teenagers struggle with will come up if students are given access to the internet in class. Cyber bullying, pornography, illegal downloading, malicious viruses, and many other major issues can be stumbled across or pursued in a matter of seconds. The first step, I believe, is education. As a teacher, I will need to let my students know what issues are out there and how to avoid incidentally falling into them. The second step that I'll take is laying down specific rules for internet use (many schools have forms that students must sign for this, but I will go over them again). I will explicitly tell them that deviating from appropriate sites will not be tolerated in the slightest. The third, and perhaps most important step, is close monitoring, accompanied by positivity.
7. There is no reason for students to have the internet at their fingertips every day in an English class. Their access, in the first place, should be limited and occasional. The rest of the leverage comes from what I already discussed: proper education, setting up guidelines and boundaries, and careful monitoring.
Friday, March 4, 2011
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