journal 1

Social Networking for the k-12
Jim Klein

Mr. Klein writes about the advantages of collaboration and networking. He talks of all the information available, and mentions how collaboration with trusted individuals can save time and help us become more effective teachers. Mr. Klein mentions the problems facing our kids in education and how social networking is a possible answer to some of our educational problems. Using community sites students can interact share thoughts and ideas and collaborate on their own creations.

With each passing day technology is bringing us closer together. I am currently a substitute teacher for a world history class and one of the lectures I recently gave mentioned the invention of the radio. Prior to the radio people on separate coasts had to wait for the pony exress to deliver mail. After horse delivered correspondence there were trains. It seems like so long ago. I grew up when pagers were first appearing while I was in high school. Now, we can connect instantly over the internet. Not only can we talk through text, but we can use video's to see while we chat. Social networking seems like the next logical step.
I think anyone who has ever surfed the net realizes the capabilities for information. The article by Jim Klein points out, that social networking can be a very effective tool for teaching. I remember a teacher at the university of redlands telling me to question the things i read on the internet because any fool can post an article. He mentioned the neon nazi movement as evidence that you cannot trust everything you read on the internet.
I jumped on the net twice last week before class to try and find information about Joseph Stalin and Mussilini. It did not take me long to find something, but it would be nice to have easy access to a trusted site that I know the other history teachers use.
I wonder if this social networking is where future teachers might go to find lesson plans? Having user profiles makes lots of sense because it makes filtering of the information that much easier. I can see myself logging on, going directly to a user whom I trust and seeing what new stuff he may have found on that particular day.

1. Does this sharing of information lead to an increased threat of computer viruses or identity theft? The only thing that scares me is the potential threat for viruses I have all kinds of protection on my PC, but that does not mean someone else within the online community does too.
The article mentions the student community site which has over 450 students involved, with even some second graders using pod casting.

2. The second question that pops into my mind is; will classrooms in the future have a computer for each student? It also mentions that students can review or comment on work done by their peers. Another step in collaborative learning. I wonder how comfortable my students would be if they had their peers reading and commenting on their work?

3. What will our educational system be like in 20 years? I imagine that technology will help us teach much more effectively but the costs will be much greater as well. However, if the schools districs save the money on paper, maybe it will even out. Will this access of trusted information lead to more standardized lesson plans across the US? Either way it will be exciting to see.