A Little Lost...

This blog is just a little late this week. Between the sick dog, the new job, and the Eracism judging ordeal, things just got a bit weird. Once I got it all figured out, the judging things was pretty fun. I liked listening to the kids go back and forth and, at times, get rather vicious with each other. It made me miss being a teenager! I wonder if the project has any ties with this one - http://www.eracismfoundation.org/ . This Eracism project was created in 2006 by Louis Gossett Jr. Maybe the two are unrelated, but they seem to have similar goals. It just makes me sick that in 2009, racism is still a problem. Human beings accept all kinds of change - we are inundated with new technology and new ways of doing things, and think it's great. We are constantly changing our ways of thinking about everything - except, apparently, race. Why can't we change our minds about something so trivial as the way we look? Why do people still make decisions about others based on skin color?

Deb's blog was really interesting this week - http://djbloomie.blogspot.com/. She mentioned how she showed a video about technology in her class, and a student said the video had no claim, only facts. Do younger people, then, have a better shot at erasing racism? If they are so accepting of technology as simply "the world as they know it" (thank you, Deb), then perhaps they will also be more accepting of skin coming in a variety of colors. I think technology's biggest benefit is globalization, and the fact that it is now totally commonplace for a high school kid to complete a project with a student of a different race, culture, and religion. Hopefully, our future generations will know of racism only through history books, and will think of it as archaic as dial-up Internet.

(By the way, I think this is "evangelist blogging")

Wikis, Blogs, and Nings

Am I just super ignorant, or do other people wonder what the difference is? I'm learning more as I go through this program, so I'm starting to grasp it better... I think. It might help if all three names didn't sound like E.T.'s buddies. From what I gather, a blog is somewhat like an online journal, where you post your thoughts on stuff. At least that's what I'm doing with mine. Wikis, then, are basically online documents that a bunch of different people can add stuff to and change. Are Google docs considered wikis? SO, what are nings? Nings seem to be the same things as wikis, but that couldn't be possible. They wouldn't create two totally different names to refer to the same thing, right? Or is the universe just torturing me?

I think wikis are my favorite, because of the collaboration factor. They have proven very useful for the group projects I'm currently participating in, and are much more convenient than emailing attachments back and forth. Sure, they have bizarre quirks and gliches (I had to re-make the same flowchart 3 times last night because the stupid thing couldn't figure out how to insert it -- or could that have been me?) but they have so many uses in both the education and corporate worlds that they are definitely worth a try. Erin brought up some awesome corporate uses for wikis in her blog this week - http://techtechgoose.blogspot.com/. I love the idea of using a wiki for a company handbook. Everyone could add to it and share their ideas and advice. I wish the places I have worked would have adopted something like that.

I found a really awesome blog from McDaniel College that talked about the use of wikis in higher ed. I couldn't figure out who the author was, but it was at http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/InTech/blog/. The blog mentioned using wikis for research. I hadn't even thought about that one, but it's a great idea. I know for group projects, it would make finding and sharing sources so much easier. For me, the research phase is usually the most frustrating. It would be nice to have each group member find so many sources, and list some information about each one. This would probably be good for high school students, too (though I have very limited knowledge of what teenagers like - they scare me senseless). I know they are using wikis for the Flat Classroom Project, and I think it's a perfect use for them. On a side note, I just figured out how to make words link to a certain website (Flat Classroom Project). I'm smart! My education dollars weren't wasted! Woo hoo!!!!!

Oh yeah, this was insight blogging.

Piggybacking

This week, we're supposed to use a different format again, PLUS refer to another blogger, so I'm going to kill two birds with one stone and piggyback on Vicki Davis' blog: http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/07/whats-wrong-with-dopa.html. It was really interesting this week. In all my ignorance, I hadn't even heard of DOPA. I'm glad I read her blog, because now I know how much it sucks. It could cause many blogs, wikis and social networking sites to be blocked. I know they are trying to protect kids, but this is just going too far. These sites aren't responsible for kids being targeted by sexual predators and other screwed up sickos. Like Ms. Davis said, the studies never really say where the kids are being approached. Nothing is safe any more. The Internet isn't the only place evil lurks. If parents could see what kids see (and do) at their friends' houses, or at the mall, or the park, etc., they would realize the horrible things they are worried about aren't linked to technology. When I was in high school, I knew kids who got themselves into awful situations, no computers necessary.

It is scary to think these things might be taken out of schools. Kids need to be educated on all the different tools available to them, as well as the dangers that might be out there. In their "real lives," and in their future careers, kids will use all these technologies frequently, so why not give them the opportunity while in school to learn how to make the most if them? I was so excited to read Deb's blog http://djbloomie.blogspot.com/, and learn that her community college composition students are using blogging in their assignments. Imagine how much more difficult it will be for students to come to college without any knowledge of the educational uses of these technologies! I hope this bill doesn't get passed, and that teachers and parents can keep control over educating kids about all the good (and bad) things on the Internet.

I have officially cast my pod...

Check out my super cool podcast: http://sthomas726.podbean.com/

Learning/Teaching Opportunities Through Virtual Worlds

I have been having so much fun with Second Life, I sometimes forget the educational aspects of it. After all, there is a LOT of trouble to get into there. Plus, the girlie-girl in me tends to get sidetracked with all the clothes and hairstyles (I guess I must not have gotten over my Barbie phase). After getting past the silly stuff, however, there is a ton of great uses for Second Life in the classroom. The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that it is a virtual world, so people can be present in Second Life without actually setting foot in the classroom. This is especially helpful given the current worldwide panic over the H1N1 issue. Meeting in Second Life is a great alternative to holding class in the classroom. I keep hearing on the news that some schools are closing. Perhaps they should consider closing the building, but continuing to hold classes in Second Life, so that students don't fall behind in their studies.

Second Life is also great for taking students on field trips. Time and budget issues prevent teachers from taking their classes to many places, but in Second Life, you can "beam" the while group there, let them look around, read tons of information, and then have discussion afterwards. No, it's not exactly like the real thing, but it's better than watching a video about it or reading an article about it. It is so easy to become immersed in Second Life, after a while, it really does feel as though you're "there."

Finally, Second Life also helps students connect with other countries and cultures. People all over the world are on Second Life, and students can learn a ton about other cultures simply by interacting with them. Translators make communication much easier than even an in-person interpreter could do, so students can have near-instant conversations with someone who doesn't speak English. Imagine the possibilities! I, for one, will probably never have the time or money to visit Japan, but through Second Life, I can at least immerse myself in the virtual sights and culture, and that's definitely better than nothing!

My attempt at "Life Blogging"

This week, it is our choice as to what we blog about, and we need to choose a different format. So, I am going to pick "Life Blogging," and hope it works out well. In life blogging, one is supposed to share a personal story, and I had a weird experence today, so I thought it would blend in well with the assignment. I spoke with someone this afternoon, and she informed me that my program of study is going to be suspended, and perhaps even eliminated. This is freaking me out, not because I'm going to get hosed and not be able to graduate or anything, but because I don't understand why my program is so short on people. I guess there is only a handful of people in my program, and it's not enough to keep it going. But why? Aren't people interested in technology any more? Or is it just such an intimidating field of study that nobody wants to "go there"?

I have to admit that I have always had a love/hate relationship with technology, but have basically taken up the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" philosophy. I started out as an English major, but grew frustrated with the repetition and busy work, so I turned to technology. Weird switch, huh? I know, but I figured schools are constantly adopting new technologies, and kids are crazy about all the new gadgets, so there would likely be a lot of jobs out there for someone with my major. That's why it's so weird to think that this program might cease to exist. Is there some major shift in the cosmos that's causing folks to shun technology? Or some freaky Y2K-type thing that's going to wipe out technology altogether?

I'm probably being excessively paranoid, but it's still really disappointing to think about. Technology has helped education a great deal by breaking down cultural barriers, assisting students with disabilities, and making information more (and more quickly) accessible. I was really excited to know that after graduation, I would be a part of that. And though nothing is going to change for me, it sucks to think that future students might not have the same opportunity.

Virtual Worlds in Education

I waited a little while to post this blog because I really wanted to understand what these virtual worlds were all about. Now that I have played around in Second Life several times, I think I get what all the hype is about. Before, I thought it was just like a silly video game where people walked around and slapped each other. Now, I realize that there is so much more to it. And although there is a LOT of trouble to get into there (I have already removed clothing and found cigars and beer), there is a whole ton of valuable resources in Second Life. You can visit schools, museums, and other places that actually have educational value. Even just being there in Second Life teaches a lot of technological skills. There are elements of pretty much every school subject there, and lots of cool (and really smart) people there to talk to. I love the idea of being able to simulate real places and situations without the permanence and consequences of real life. The articles about using Second Life to train medical students and disaster responders made me realize that there is a wealth of learning opportunities out there that could really only exist in a place like Second Life.

This article I found on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/11/13/second.life.university/index.html talks about how Second Life can build a sense of community and help students understand international international perspectives. I also found a really cool (and funny) NPR program with Michael Demers, a professor at New Mexico State University, who holds classes in Second Life. (The host, Scott Simon, says his avatar looks like Anderson Cooper in a wetsuit) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101580485
There is also a really interesting article on Read Write Web - http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/shouldnt_schools_have_embraced_second_life_by_now.php that talks about some of the recent educational additions to Second Life, and how many teachers still have not adopted it for use in their classrooms. If I end up teaching some day, I will definitely hold classes in Second Life. For one thing, my Avatar always looks super hot, even if I'm at home in my jammies. And more importantly, I think the sense of community and interaction with diverse people and places are essential elements of an interesting and meaningful class.