Session 2 Article Discussion

[Clinton]

Please respond to the following questions after reading the articles
listed on our course wiki page (http://techtrainer.pbwiki.com)

What is the common thread among these articles?

What are some ways if any that you have used social networking sites?
What value, if any, do you see in them? Will you continue to use
social networking sites?

In your estimation, what are the dangers of social networking sites?
How have they been exploited? What dangers are there for your
students (the age group that you teach) while using social networking
sites?

What role should you play, as an educator, in students' use of social
networking? What plans do you have to put your thoughts on your role
into action? (In other words, talk is cheap, show me the plans!)

[Brock]

On Jan 27, 8:56 pm, Clinton <ad...@northern-tier.us> wrote:
> Please respond to the following questions after reading the articles
> listed on our course wiki page (http://techtrainer.pbwiki.com)
>
> What is the common thread among these articles?

The first common thread was the descriptions of what social networking
is exactly, which is probably good for those that have no idea of what
they are or specific examples of them (MySpace/Facebook). Both
articles also got into the safety isssues that went along with young
kids using these types of sites and the dangers that they can face.

>
> What are some ways if any that you have used social networking sites?

I have set up a Facebook account this past summer for another class
that Clinton gave. I thought it was interesting doing it, but not
something that I would keep up on. The idea of a 21 year old kid
creating something like this was unbelievable to me, but like they
said in the first article you need to strike while the match is hot
because you never know when the next big thing is going to come along
at take you place.

> What value, if any, do you see in them?  Will you continue to use
> social networking sites?

I can see where if you are looking to communicate with friends that
you do not see or live far away, that it could be helpful. Since I
started my account I have gotten friend requests from people that I
went to HS with that live in other parts of the country that I would
probably never hear from again if they did not try to contact me
through facebook. I might reply back to some of these classmates once
just to respond to them, but the idea of keeping constant
communication with them and tagging them and posting pictures for them
is not anything that I would do.

>
> In your estimation, what are the dangers of social networking sites?
> How have they been exploited?  What dangers are there for your
> students (the age group that you teach) while using social networking
> sites?

First of all you do not know who is out there, depending on how you
set up your privacy tabs anyone from anywhere could be responding to
you are getting information about you. I watched the little video in
the one article about setting up the privacy for the facebook so it
makes it more secure for your children and I thought it was very
beneficial because I have not played with that site too much and I see
how that would set restrictions for your children but also still give
them the freedom to use a site like that. There are dangers for any
age but for KG age I don't think they will be networking with other KG
students at night, but they might see older siblings doing this from
their homes so letting my students know what these sites are and why
their siblings might be using them ould be important.

>
> What role should you play, as an educator, in students' use of social
> networking?  What plans do you have to put your thoughts on your role
> into action? (In other words, talk is cheap, show me the plans!)

Since I teach kindergarten, my students are just getting used to using
computers for the most part, so setting a good example though modeling
(like we talked about in class) is very important. Introducing them to
sites that are creative and interesting but also safe for them to use
needs to be done at this time, but having filters and blocks as a
caution still needs to be thought about. I think also I could show my
kids my own social networking account (Facebook) with those privacy
securities all ready set up so they can see that I am only
communicating with the people that I know and can see what appropriate
information that should and could be posted on a site like this.

[Peggy]

On Jan 27, 8:56 pm, Clinton <ad...@northern-tier.us> wrote:

> Please respond to the following questions after reading the articles
> listed on our course wiki page (http://techtrainer.pbwiki.com)
>
> What is the common thread among these articles?

> The articles both looked at the prolific use of social networking sites by young users especially teens. Facebook, MySpace, Xanga were mentioned specifically. The article from Wharton looked at a business aspect of how these sites will survive due to the changing desires of teen and early adult users. The GetNetWise site gave specific problems and solutions that parents should take to keep their kids safe. Both articles took the view that these type sites are here to stay in some form or another.

> What are some ways if any that you have used social networking sites?
> What value, if any, do you see in them?  Will you continue to use
> social networking sites?

I used an instant messaging site several years ago when my daughter
was in college. She was the one who urged me to get it set up and use
it. It was a good experience to keep in touch with her although we did
not do it every day. I frequently use email now again to my daughter.
I have never experienced Facebook, MySpace, etc. I have been in the
room when my husband is using Skype but have never used it myself. I
have never used a chat room. We were required to set up a webpage
within our school home page and I really don't like that. I am not
into social communicating with other people except close family
members.

>
> In your estimation, what are the dangers of social networking sites?
> How have they been exploited?  What dangers are there for your
> students (the age group that you teach) while using social networking
> sites?

The greatest danger of social networking sites is coming into contact
with those who would exploit them sexually. My 10-12 year olds want to
be more independent and in many cases due to fractured families can
find "friends" in chat rooms who will listen, console, and tell them
what they want to hear. The children can get attention on sites like
MySpace or Facebook by posting who they are for all to see. It is
giving them an identity as they struggle to become their own persons.

Another danger is the damage to self worth when "friends" turn on a
student online and make damaging remarks about their behaviors,
ideosyncracies, personal habits, physical looks, style, possessions or
lack of, or members of their family. Due to changing emotional states
students fall in and out of favor with each other frequently. The
social networking sites enable the students to try to get others to
agree with their positions. Sometime the problems are started by adult
members of different families and then the children get involved in
the arguments. Whatever the cause the social networking sites allow
many others to be involved with more opinions and emotions getting
scrambled into the mix.

>
> What role should you play, as an educator, in students' use of social
> networking?  What plans do you have to put your thoughts on your role
> into action? (In other words, talk is cheap, show me the plans!)

We have initiated the Olweus Antibullying Program in our school. In
that program we are to hold class meetings. I will be using some of
the cautions presented on the GetNetWise site as topics to discuss in
our class meetings. These are discussions that should be started early
by parents but I am not convinced that the parents are aware of the
dangers or know what steps they should take to keep children safe. So
the school will need to pick up some of this topic as has been the
case with many topics that should be "taught at home."

[Duane]

What is the common thread among these articles?

Both articles explain how social networking is a hot commodity at this
time. Social networking can be a valuable tool, or can be very
dangerous if personal pages are left open for the whole world to
view.

What are some ways that you have used networking sites? What value,

if any, do you see in them? Will you continue to use social
networking sites?

While taking a summer course, I signed up for a Facebook account. I
have never signed up for a MySpace account but all my daughters have
them. It seems that the daily updating and checking of their accounts
is an important part of my daughters day. I thought it was
interesting that one article described this social networking as a
"social mall". I believe this is very true. For teens and adults it
is a way to share information, photos, gifts, tags, etc. with your
networking friends. I myself cannot get very excited over these
networking sites, but for some it is an important part of their life.
I find it interesting for some people to brag about the number of
friends that they have and the number of gifts they have received on
their Facebook page. As far as checking my Facebook page, I guess I
check it whenever I think of it, which isn't that often.

In your estimation, what are the dangers of social networking sites?
How have they been exploited? What dangers are there for your

students while using social networking sites?

The possible dangers with social networking are endless. Without
setting the privacy feature for viewing your page is open to the
world. I wonder if everyone knows how to do this on their Facebook
and MySpace page. One article had a hyperlink to a web page that
demonstrated how to set a privacy setting to just your friends. A
show on NBC's Dateline-- To Catch A Pedator, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11152602
is a report that will curl your hair. Men of all ages, and from all
walks of life are decoyed into chatting with a 13-14 year old boy or
girl. The decoys are lead to a home where they are exposed with
hidden cameras and later arrested. This reality show has never run
out of predators, and it has televised its 3rd program. Programs like
these show you just how vulnerable some students may be. Because they
are not informed about these predators, they believe no one can hurt
them. In a recent new article a young girl thought she had met a cute
boy on MySpace. They began exchanging messages. This girl, who
suffered from depression and ADD corresponded with this "cute boy" for
over a month until one day the boy suddenly ended their friendship
tell her that he had heard she was cruel. The next day Megan
committed suicide. The girl's family later learned later that the
"cute boy" never actually existed; he was created by members of a
neighborhood family that included one of the girl's former friends.

What role should you play, as an educator, in student's use of social
networking? What plans do you have to put your thoughts into action?

As an educator, I need to make students aware of the possible dangers
involved with social networking. I am going to implement a section
into my Computer Applications course on Internet Safety. This is a
course that is a graduation requirement for all 9th graders. This
will be a great age, and class to present to the students the possible
dangers on the Internet and how they can avoid them. I would love to
show my students NBC's To Catch a Predator show, but the language and
dialogue is too explicit for a classroom of ninth graders. I would
probably go with an online program like iSafe to present material on
Internet safety.

[Debbie]

On Jan 27, 8:56 pm, Clinton <ad...@northern-tier.us> wrote:

> Please respond to the following questions after reading the articles
> listed on our course wiki page (http://techtrainer.pbwiki.com)
>

> What is the common thread among these articles?

There are many common threads among these articles. The one that
strikes me as most important is the growing popularity of the use of
social networking sites by people of many ages, especially tweens,
teenagers, and college kids and the need for teaching them about the
importance of being safe when using them. The biggest worry, of
course, is the risk of being lured into a meeting with a sexual
predator but a whole host of risks involving users meeting someone
that they have met online in person. It cannot be stressed enough to
students that people do not have to really be who they claim to be
online. And of course, this risk can work both ways when our students
use social networks to enhance their natural beauty, appeal,
biography, etc. When I taught an Internet class many years ago, I
covered the topic of Internet safety with my high school students.
That, however, was way before social networking sites came on the
scene. I think the best word picture I could paint for kids existed
in a NY Times cartoon featuring a dog using email at a computer
keyboard. I think kids today and some of their clueless parents need
to know about the "dogs" that they can meet online.

>
> What are some ways if any that you have used social networking sites?
> What value, if any, do you see in them?  Will you continue to use
> social networking sites?

Last Thanksgiving, my 28 year old son and his family came to visit
us. I was wondering why he did not respond to his email more often,
and he said, "Mom, you really ought to get on Facebook. I use that so
much more and so do Jon and Ted (his brothers). That will keep you
much more up-to-date on what we are doing!" So he helped me to sign
up and explained a little bit about it. Digital immigrant that I am,
I was a bit intimidated at first and still don't feel as though, I am
totally clued into all that Facebook can do. But I am thrilled that
he encouraged me to get involved because, it has helped me to feel
more in touch with his day to day life in Vermont and the activities
of our middle son and his wife living in Taiwan! I have also gotten
to check out what is happening to some of their high school friends
who have gone off on their on but felt like part of our extended
family when my boys were growing up. Some people post more often than
others, but I can see how it easily makes you feel connected. There
are even some people my own age that I have been able to touch base
with through Facebook.

I see lots of value in these sites. The ability to keep in touch
easily, immediately, and with just a few key strokes enables social
network users to feel connected to each other. These sites are also
great ways to locate friends that you have lost touch with or have
moved and relocated several times. For college students and older,
they are great networking sites for jobs, community involvement,
shared experiences, etc. My son that got me started on Facebook is
church planting in Vermont and uses a Facebook Burlington Vineyard
Church network to stay involved with all of those people that are
attending the church. He has created his own network for them and
invited me to join. This encourages a sense of community and
fellowship and easily provides instant access to church activities and
happenings.

I will definitely keep using Facebook because besides staying more
connected to my own kids, I am learning about the kind of online world
many of my high school students are experiencing.

>
> In your estimation, what are the dangers of social networking sites?
> How have they been exploited?  What dangers are there for your
> students (the age group that you teach) while using social networking
> sites?

There are many dangers to social networking sites for today's teens.
High school students need to learn to exercise good judgement and use
critical thinking when it comes to using them. Students can be
exposed to inappropriate content. The worst case is when teens become
the victims of a sexual predator and get lured into meeting them in
person. But even benign online friendships can lead to heartbreak.
Teens' ability to assess risk at this age is not yet fully developed
in their brains. Students can also provide important personal
information about themselves and their families that can lead to
credit problems and identity theft.

Students today see social networks as a means of self expression. But
pretending to be people that they are not or presenting themselves in
a provocative way, they can create a lot of hurt to themselves and to
their families.

I think one area that was not emphasized by these articles but is an
important one, is the ability of teens or others pretending to be
teens or friends of our students to be cruel and hurtful.
Cyberbullying and ruining someone's reputation can happen all too
easily with the easy click of a mouse. The consequences of such
bullying can be tragic. There have been news stories of teens
committing suicide from such cruel behavior.

>
> What role should you play, as an educator, in students' use of social
> networking?  What plans do you have to put your thoughts on your role
> into action? (In other words, talk is cheap, show me the plans!)

As educators, I think we all play a very huge role in educating
students and their parents about social networking. First of all, we
are role models in our students' lives and need to be aware of what we
say and do ourselves in social networks. There have been several
national news stories about teachers who were not smart enough to see
this and acted inappropriately in social networks, either by what they
said or the pictures that they posted. We set the example for our
students in how they interact online.

I already mention to my students the need for prudence in using the
Internet when I talk to them about research projects and the sources
that they use. I need to expand this part of my lesson to discuss how
their online behavior affects themselves and each other. I will also
incorporate more Internet Safety, especially related to social
networks, into the 9th graders research project lessons. When I talk
about the reliability and authority of websites and show them fake
websites, I will shift that discussion over to appropriate and
inappropriate behavior on social networking sites. Every 9th grader
does a research project through their English class, so this
discussion can be a nice extension of what they learn in Duane Pick's
computer applications class.

I think more importantly, I need to provide information about social
networking to parents in our community, about both the popularity of
it and the risks and dangers associated with it. I can teach them how
they can restrict who can access and post on their children's websites
and teach them why it is so important to do this and that they need to
be totally involved in what their teens are doing online and on the
computer.

I can teach them how they can restrict who can access and post on
their children's websites and teach them why it is so important to do
this. Great tools were made available for this through the
getnetwise.org site. Many parents today are clueless and need to be
taught to be totally involved in what their teens are doing online and
on the computer, and actually in all aspects of their teens' life. I
purchased an excellent DVD of a show on Frontline (pbs.org) last fall
that talked entirely about social networking sites and the problems
associated with it. The show is titled, "Growing Up Online" and would
make an excellent presentation for part of a parent's night or a
special viewing at the school or high school library for parents. I
could be there to lead a discussion about it. Or, information about
the DVD could be provided to parents. It was excellent. I did
purchase it for my sister who has two daughters, a teenager and a
tween, with the idea that she would give it back to me and I would
donate it to the THS Library. I need to get it back and make it
available for teachers in my building to borrow. Because, I think
that is another area where I can teach others who could spread the
word on the importance of using social networking sites safely. Not
all teachers are aware of the importance of this issue.

[Donna Williams]

What is the common thread among these articles?

The most common thread I see among the articles is that they talk
about using technology to interact with other on the internet. Looking
at the MySpace/Facebook article, it is easy to see how many college
students and young adults are using the social networking sites to
keep track of their friends, make new friends, and find people who
share similar interests. In the other article, it talks about how
children will be using the internet at the various age ranges. In both
groups, the users are interested in finding things that interest them
on the internet. With younger children it may be games and websites
geared to their favorite popstars or sports heros. It seemed to me
that the articles that described the MySpace/Facebook members
indicated that the people who were using the websites might be more
inclined to do the seeking of people they wanted to talk with, whereas
it was a safety issue with the younger children in that they might
become the "seeked", and have the contact made by others.

What are some ways if any that you have used social networking sites?
What value, if any, do you see in them? Will you continue to use
social networking sites?

I have used some social networking sites that deal with my hobbies. I
belong to a couple of sites that deal with photography and have
contests and forums to interact in. I also briefly interacted in a
forum geared toward a favorite television show of mine, and found the
posters there to have no respect for other members. They seem to gang
up on people they don't like or don't agree with, and either insult
the poster, or make fun of them. It seems as if people lose all sense
of proper behavior on certain sites and think they are more or less
anonymous, yet known by their screen name. My experience with the
photography forums is vastly different for the most part. The people
are friendly and helpful, and I have met some "local" people who share
my same interests.

I don't participate in myspace or facebook, but I have seen how my
daughter interacts with those. She likes to keep in touch with her
friends and cousins, and they make social arrangements through it all
the time. For them it seems to work quite nicely, and you have the
option to allow people access to your site, or not.

In your estimation, what are the dangers of social networking sites?
How have they been exploited? What dangers are there for your
students (the age group that you teach) while using social networking
sites?

I think the biggest dangers are of children becoming involved with
people who have no business being around children: the pedophiles, the
child stalkers. The most dangerous are the ones that could promise the
child something in order to lure them into a dangerous situation. Then
there is the concept of not really knowing who you are chatting with.
People can take on any personna under a screen name, and claim to be
whatever they want to be at the moment. It is hard to children to
filter out what should be true, and what kind of information is
suspicious. It is hard for many adults to figure that out! Just
reading about the tragedy of the Myspace mom is enough to give you
chills. I think many people have exploited the websites to make them
into a free for all. People feel than can say whatever they want,
whether it is true or not, whether it is hurtful or not, whether it is
something that should just be kept in their heads.

With the age group I teach, mainly kindergarten through fourth grade,
in school, when they are online they are monitored closely. They are
only allowed to access sites that are either set up for them by a
teacher or are part of an allowable group of programs. They don't have
access to email, and chatgroups.

What role should you play, as an educator, in students' use of social
networking? What plans do you have to put your thoughts on your role
into action? (In other words, talk is cheap, show me the plans!)

I hope to have a limited role in the student's use of social
networking while at school. Part of me wants to believe that some
children might be encouraged to write and read messages with their
friends, and it could help peak their interest in reading and writing.
But I would be fearful that they would lose out on the nonverbal
messages that they need to learn to read to be successful
communicators. Also, as a speech therapist, I would hope to see the
kids hone their verbal skills to communicate in person before they try
to do it in a social networking group. I think the young children are
too vulnerable to not being able to read social cues online, as well
as being vulnerable to those who communicate online without their
social responsibility filter turned on. I have also just heard my
middle school students report information to me, and when I questioned
them about it, they said they read in on the internet. I try to
encourage them to not believe everything they read on the internet.

[Rachel]

On Jan 27, 8:56 pm, Clinton <ad...@northern-tier.us> wrote:

> Please respond to the following questions after reading the articles
> listed on our course wiki page (http://techtrainer.pbwiki.com)
>
> What is the common thread among these articles?
>

I would safety would be the first common thread among these articles.
Both articles also listed and described different social networking
sites - some I had never even heard of!

What are some ways if any that you have used social networking sites?
What value, if any, do you see in them? Will you continue to use
social networking sites

I am a seventh month running and avid user and fan of the social
network facebook. I thought "facebook" was just new lingo for
"myspace" for the longest time, but was persuaded to start a page by
family members over the summer. While I hate to be dramatic, facebook
has really become invaluable to me. I've found friends from high
school, am starting to organize my ten year class reunion, have kept
in touch with family members who live across the country and college
friends I rarely get a chance to talk to or see. Just this evening I
watched a video of one of my best college friends sledding with her
two sons - and the video was taken just this afternoon. Priceless? I
think so:) Yes, I will continue to be a facebook networker!

In your estimation, what are the dangers of social networking sites?
How have they been exploited? What dangers are there for your
students (the age group that you teach) while using social networking

sites?> What are some ways if any that you have used social networking
sites?

I think the dangers of social networking sites where the privacy
features are not utilized is unfortunately very high, especially for
the 12 - 14 yr age group I read about on the netwise site. The danger
for the 14 - 17 and college/adult users is very different but also
very high in my humble opinion. I don't accept friend requests from
high school students of course, but do have a few college age family
member friends and a few students of the past on my friend list. It
is a rare day I see profanity in someone's status on facebook, but it
happens and it makes me cringe! Who out there is reading that and if
its the right person will you get a job that person interviews you for
someday? Also, I have two college age family members, one a freshman
another a sophomore, who have shared with me horror stories of friends
- kicked off of college athletic teams for pictures of underage
drinking on their pages, forced to go to mandatory counseling for
status profiles that were construed as suicidal or depressed. Being
online does put you out there and even with the most sincere
intentions something can go wrong. It still is a scary place, cyber
space! I know that the vast majority of the students I teach grades 7
- 12 utilize one or more of these sites and how quickly they are
capable of misusing is frightening! While I don't let students on my
page and mine is privatized, I do think that talking to them about my
having a page (whipping out facebook lingo in class gets a band
teacher a little knowledge of the world credit now and again:), will
help them see that its not just teen world, and that adults are on and
watching and they need to think twice...or three or four
times!...before clicking "post". Okay, now this is a tad bit dicey
and its Brittish humor which means of course that its not nearly as
edited as American, so don't click if you will or you are in the
vicinity of anyone who will be offended by a touch off color (and
really, just a touch!) comedy - but I work with high schoolers and
don't see them being as much a target for online predators as for
cyber bullying or posting or having posted about them an inappropriate
picture/statement and I think the dangers they face are humorously
summed up in this short youtube clip titled "Facebook in the Real
World":) http://youtube.com/watch?v=nrlSkU0TFLs

What role should you play, as an educator, in students' use of social
networking? What plans do you have to put your thoughts on your role
into action? (In other words, talk is cheap, show me the plans!)>

Well, like I said above, I hope that my talking about being a facebook
user is not creepy, but useful to my students as a reminder that there
are adults they respect out there so watch what they post. I bring up
other adults in the community who have pages sometimes too! And the
few classroom discussions (we also get a lot of time for talk on band
busses!) we've had about facebook, a lot of my students have commented
(most often with shame and embarrassment) that their mom/dad/aunt/
uncle/GRANDMA! has a page. But what I find the most hysterical is
that I just found out this fall that for all of the effort I expend
updating the marching band webpage with dates, bus departure time,
rules, forms, etc...my students thought all of that just "wasn't
working" and have been managing and operating a facebook group page
titled the Wyalusing Rams Marching Band page for the last year. I had
wondered why attendance at summer rehearsals and events had gotten so
much better last summer than summers before - I guess the answer is
that facebook trumps snail mail and phone calls:)
>
!)

[Melissa C]

On Jan 27, 5:56 pm, Clinton <ad...@northern-tier.us> wrote:
> Please respond to the following questions after reading the articles
> listed on our course wiki page (http://techtrainer.pbwiki.com)
>
> What is the common thread among these articles?
>

The common thread that I found was that of social networking. The
popularity
of these sites and the safety issues that are associated with the
different age
groups that have a computer access.

> What are some ways if any that you have used social networking sites?

Other than participating in a chat room discussion. I have never had
an interest
in the social networking sites. But as I sit here doing my homework,
I plan on
setting up a Facebook account when I 'm done!!! I received an e-mail
from a friend
that peek my interest!!!!!

> What value, if any, do you see in them?  Will you continue to use
> social networking sites?

My lack of experience with social networking make this question hard
to answer.
I'm sure people that use them find them very valuable. I do see the
value of them
from an entertainment point of view. The idea of being able to
communicate with
people from you present and past is appealing, but I can't see myself
having the time
or finding the need to constantly be on the computer in a social way.
I look at the internet
more as a resource than as a socializing opportunity.

>
> In your estimation, what are the dangers of social networking sites?

I don't think there is any argument as to the dangers of these sites.
All you have to do
is turn on the T.V. There are always stories about children being
lured into dangerous
situations by people they have met online. I don't think it is
primarily children that
are exposed to dangers online. I think that for many reason, the
stories involving children
are the ones that seem to make the news. Maybe adults aren't as
likely to admit
to putting themselves in these types of situations?

> How have they been exploited?  What dangers are there for your
> students (the age group that you teach) while using social networking
> sites?

My students are mainly multi-handicapped and non-verbal. They do use
the computers
in my classroom, but only to access specific software I have that
addresses some of their unique needs.
As a sister of twin 17 year old girls who live with me, I cringe every
time they get on the computer.
Luckily,(to my knowledge) they don't use the social networking sites
that often. But I know that
at some point they will depend on these sites to communicate, just
like every other college student out
there. I just hope that at that point, they will be responsible and
keep in mind all that they know
about the danger of using the internet.

>
> What role should you play, as an educator, in students' use of social
> networking?  What plans do you have to put your thoughts on your role
> into action? (In other words, talk is cheap, show me the plans!)

I think as educators, the most important thing we can do is to model
responsible
use of these sites. That is hard for me to do in my current
classroom, but at the elementary level,
I think it could be done by simulating a social networking site in the
classroom. Show the students
what is appropriate both to post and to receive, allow them to make
mistakes and guide them
in making the right choices.

[Fitz]

> What is the common thread among these articles?

> The common threads would involve the definitions of social networking and the risks involved - whether they are personal or as an investment. There doesn't seem to be any logical way of predicting the next big thing - for use or investment purposes. It was good to read about the different forms and learn more about them. Even though I watched th privacy settings demonstration - I think I'd still like to see someone's facebook page in person - so I can ask questions. I did feel better after watching the privacy settings and would considering using facebook.

> What are some ways if any that you have used social networking sites?

I've used instant messaging before - but typically when I'm on the
computer - I'm not available for chatting.

> What value, if any, do you see in them?  Will you continue to use

> social networking sites? I do see value in the social networking sites and look forward to using more of them.

>
> In your estimation, what are the dangers of social networking sites?
> How have they been exploited? What dangers are there for your
> students (the age group that you teach) while using social networking
> sites?
>

Dangers would include cyberbullying and predators. One thing I had
worried about personally(before reading the article about privacy
settings) - is other people possibly placing inappropriate photos on
my page. I love all my friends -at the same time - there is the
possibility that their humor might not be appreciated by the global
medium. Also - if you had a student who had a personal reason for
wanting to defame a teacher - using the internet might be the way to
go. In many ways the web has opened up the world for anyone to act
as anonymous paparazzi. Students at the elementary are more open to
understanding there are crazy people out there - and the students
might remember to follow internet etiquette. Once adolescence hits -
it's anyone's guess. There are way too many emotional factors that
would allow kids to fall for anyone who sides with or "understands"
them.

> What role should you play, as an educator, in students' use of social
> networking?  What plans do you have to put your thoughts on your role
> into action? (In other words, talk is cheap, show me the plans!)

Educating ourselves about the technology and attempting to keep up
with the trends would enable us to educate the students. Educating
the parents and keeping them alert to what is happening is also
crucial. Our District webpage should be providing good website links
for parents and kids. Unfortunately, we don't have anyone to do that
at this time.

[Wheaton]

On Jan 27, 8:56 pm, Clinton <ad...@northern-tier.us> wrote:
> Please respond to the following questions after reading the articles
> listed on our course wiki page (http://techtrainer.pbwiki.com)
>
> What is the common thread among these articles?

The common thread between the two articles is the increasing
popularity with socializing on-line. Both articles point out the
dangers that may occur if you expose yourself to others on line.
Despite poor judgment by some of our youth (and adults) in the past,
these type of social interaction over the network will continue to
thrive in oneform or another.

> What are some ways if any that you have used social networking sites?

I have honestly never created any knid of myspace or facebook profile,
however my wife has.

> What value, if any, do you see in them?

I can see if you had a close group of friends in high school or
college and you wanted to share information with them that cannot be
expressed in a phone conversation (i.e. photos). Plus if you had a
large group of friends, you need only to submit one profile for all of
them to view. As for the 'meeting' people in this way, I think it's a
little crazy.

 Will you continue to use
> social networking sites?
>

> In your estimation, what are the dangers of social networking sites? Obviously, its the "who's out there" factor that seems the most dangerous to me. Also, unless you know how to set up all of the privacy factors, you are going to be exposed to a ton of these strangers.

> How have they been exploited?  What dangers are there for your
> students (the age group that you teach) while using social networking

> sites?I teach 5th grade and the biggest problem I have seen is their need to impress the junior high aged kids, who in turn want to impress the senior high kids. I feel whatever the Juniors and Seniors in our school are doing on line eventually makes it's way to my students. It amazes me to hear some of the sites and online activities I'm hearing my students say they are participating in. Although the social networks claim they are geared towards certain age groups, it's still being exposed to 10 and 11 year olds.

>
> What role should you play, as an educator, in students' use of social
> networking?  What plans do you have to put your thoughts on your role
> into action? (In other words, talk is cheap, show me the plans!)

The thing I have really started to do this year is keep a good ear
open as to what my students are doing on line. I'll actually go home
and research the sites they say they are going on. I've called the
attention of a few parents as to what their child is watching/looking
up. Of course I start off by telling them "it's none of my business,
but your child says they are looking up ........". What I tell the
parents, or ask for that matter, is to please tell your child that Mr.
Wheaton does not want to hear about these things and will not
tollerate it in his classroom. What they do at home is their own
business, but my classroom is my domain. so far, it's worked out
where the parent was totally oblivious (and embarrassed) about the
things their child had exposed my other students to.

[Eliza]

On Jan 27, 8:56 pm, Clinton <ad...@northern-tier.us> wrote:

> Please respond to the following questions after reading the articles
> listed on our course wiki page (http://techtrainer.pbwiki.com)
>
> What is the common thread among these articles?

The common thread that exists between the 2 articles is the discussion
of the
popularity that exists among among a variety of social networking
tools. Both
articles also discuss some of the positive and negative aspects of
social
networking tools.

>
> What are some ways if any that you have used social networking sites?
> What value, if any, do you see in them?  Will you continue to use
> social networking sites?

I have been on facebook for a little over a year. I was very
skeptical
when I joined, because of the problems that I had heard about with
educators and myspace pages. I actually was convinced by several
former students who were all into it. Now that I know what it's all
about
and that I pretty much determine my own fate with it, I love it!! I
think that
having boundaries with facebook is a good idea. I only agree to be
friends with
former students, and if a current student asks I ignore, and then
explain to the
student what my boundaries are facebook. I have been reintroduced to
many
friends from high school and college. Also, I have a better time
keeping in touch
with extended family. I will keep using the sites as a means of
communication.

>
> In your estimation, what are the dangers of social networking sites?
> How have they been exploited?  What dangers are there for your
> students (the age group that you teach) while using social networking
> sites?

Well, I think that the dangers associated with social networking sites
are pretty
obvious for most adults, but not so much for students, that's why they
are
often victims. Firstly, I think that students tend to forget
regardless of how
well you think you know someone on-line, you really only know what it
is that
they want you to know. And that it might not necessarily be the
truth.
It's not a great tool for getting to honestly know someone. I teach
middle school
students and I think they often use this as a tool to associate with
older students,
and that scares me!! Lastly, I definitely see how someone may over-
use social
networking tools. I find that I need to becareful how much time I
spend on facebook.

>
> What role should you play, as an educator, in students' use of social
> networking?  What plans do you have to put your thoughts on your role
> into action? (In other words, talk is cheap, show me the plans!)

I think that it would be my job to model behavior for my students and
perhaps
use it as a discussion point for the social networking tools.
Obviously I can't control
what the kids do at home, on their own time. However, talking about
it and setting
a good example is a great way to make an impression on junior high
students.