Research and Technology

Technology and the internet have made a change in the world and for sure in the classrooms all over the world today. I have chosen 3 articles that pertain to social networking, second life and virtual reality. It is so exciting for me to see such technology come out and be part of the learning world. Our children need to properly learn how to utilize such technology into their daily school operation.

The First article that I have chosen is “Second Life: an overview of the potential of 3-D virtual worlds in medical and health education” by Boulos, Hetherington† & Wheeler. The second article that I have chosen, “Social Isolation and New Technology How the internet and mobile phones impact Americans’ social networks” by Hampton, Sessions, Ja Her, and Rainie. The third article that I have chosen is, “The Unbearable Likeness of Being Digital: The Persistence of Nonverbal Social Norms in Online Virtual Environments,” written by Yee, Bailenson, Urbaneck Chang, and Merget.

In the first article, the authors conducted a review/ case study, which introduced 3-D virtual worlds and how it played on educational and medical/health librarians and educators. Second life is described as one of the most popular virtual world platforms that emphasized social interaction. It was developed at the University of Plymouth, UK, and presented as two detailed case studies.

The authors addressed the pedagogical potentials of Second Life along with some challenges and issues that have relations in using the virtual worlds. They compiled an up-to-date resource page that offered additional pointers and online materials that can support and extend this study (http://healthcybermap.org/sl.htm).

Teachers can use these studies to introduce Second Life to the students. They can determine if this is something for their students or not, depending on the ages of their students. As a group project, the class could conduct their own investigation to discover the benefits or the harm in using Second Life. Students, in coordination with the teachers’ rules and regulations, could use a wiki page to express their views of Second Life, and to write a blog to be posted on the class’ blog page. They can write an online argument for or against the school using Second Life in the classrooms.

In the Second Article there was a survey (the first ever) which studied the role that the internet and cell phones play on how people communicate with others in their social network. The authors explained their findings, which challenged prior research. They also addressed their views about the so called “harmful social impact of new technology.” They found, as previously reported in other studies, that it was untrue about Americans’ isolation. The extent of social isolation had not changed since 1985. As a matter of fact, there was an increase in Americans who belong to different online social networks. The article confirmed that discussion networks have reduced to about a third of the population; the claim is that Americans have become less diverse in their socialization patterns.

The study also stated the obvious facts that there should be no concern about the use of the internet and cell phones; they are the reason for smaller networks of social organizing. For that matter, cell phones and internet technology have been configured to communicate with larger, and by far more diverse, core discussion networks. Actually, the different discussion networks are one of the ways in which people measure the importance of social communications.

I can see how the social media activities include people from all different backgrounds and cultures. I had the same idea: that people that use the internet frequently to socialize would be apt to confining in others who belong to another race. Members of a political party share photos online and have political discussions with others who share their ideas. Facebook and other personal networks are very diverse and are used to bring people together. When you have not seen your friends for a long time, or when you have lost contact with them, you may find them on such networks these social networks. This brings people together, not apart, as it has been reported in the past.

It was stressed in the article that bloggers might belong to a local voluntary associations, like youth groups or charitable organizations; consequently, it was found that the using social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, or LinkedIn might take the place of some neighborhood face to face involvement. On the other hand, the internet will not take people away from public places; it can be used to request their attendance for a face to face meeting in parks, cafes, and restaurants.

Research showed that people are most likely to meet more people from a diverse culture and with diverse point of views and a common component for experiences that reach all types of public spaces. In the past, 38% of the Americans that have taken trips to a library have logged on to the internet in their time there; 18% of them have used the internet in a café, restaurant, or coffee shop. Now a days, if a hotel does not have internet use, most people won’t even get that room; they will find other places with internet use. Even, most people use their cell phones while in near a landline phone; that is the main method of staying in touch with their closest family and friends.

All this technology usage and cell phones have not replaced face to face contact; rather, people just use the internet and cell phones to arrange these upcoming face to face meetings. On the average, in a year, in-person contacts are about 210 days; mobile phone contacts are 195 days; and landline phone contacts are about 125 days; text messaging contacts are about 125 days; and email contacts are about 72 days; instant messaging contacts are 55 days; contacts via social networking websites are 39 days; and contact via letters or cards are about 8 days only. That leads us to believe internet usage does encourage social contacts across any long distance.

It is safe to say that many internet technologies are the common ground for local contacts, as they are for distant communication. I think if we can get students busy with the correct method of internet and social network usage, that students will not have much time to use this technology in the wrong ways. As a teacher, I would hold a class session where I explained some of the social networks (just as Dr. Lambert did in second life). I would have all of my students logged on at the same time to see the social network simultaneously. Of course, prior parent approval would have to be secured before a classroom teacher engages students in an online social network.

The third article is entitled, “The Unbearable Likeness of Being Digital: The Persistence of Nonverbal Social Norms in Online Virtual Environments,” written by Yee, Bailenson, Urbaneck Chang, and Merget. Daily, people use avatars online; in fact, the number of people who engage in avatars is millions of people. The average time per week using avatars online equals about 22 hours per person engaged in this social network. Online gaming allows for social interactions because many players can engage in one game with multiple avatars interacting with other avatars. In this way, a virtual community is born, and thus, social interactions occur.

Daily, a large portion of the world’s population engages in online social communication, via instant messaging another person, or using email, or a social networking platform, or by playing with avatars, etc. A MMORPG, also known as “massively-multiplayer online role-playing games,” are very popular and much preferred avenue for online social interactions between online users. MMORPG use avatars, which can potentially be used for studies that analyze the social networking component between users.

In this third article, the authors wanted to compare and contrast verbal and non-verbal communication of face-to-face interactions with those of online avatar interactions. The authors wanted to study if these modalities of communication vary between 3D human interaction and virtual interactions.

The reasons given for this study were: to determine the effects of interactions and communication styles of people who frequently engage in online MMORPG avatars, and to show the importance of using MMORPG gaming for future studies relating to social interaction and social communication. In short, does how people interact with one another change with how they interact online with one another? And what effects are there on people, who frequently play MMORPG avatars, in their interactions in the real world with real people? It was a very interesting premise for a study.

Teachers could incorporate these internet based applications into their classrooms. Aside from what I have already mentioned with a group analyzing and comparing Second Life by using wiki as a dialog platform, there are many other ways that teachers can incorporate these. One example could be having a classroom Facebook page or a wiki platform where students communicate responses to science prompts from the teacher. Another example could be emailing each other questions and answers as a studying activity for a quiz. Furthermore, teachers could have an ongoing blog over the plot development of a book in English. In history, students could use a social network to upload photos, write comments, and ask questions about a particular time in history.

Overall, these three articles illustrate the immense power of social networking and how they can bring groups of both like-minded and diverse learners into communication about similar academic ideas, topics, and discovery. Whether through an online forum, or a wiki shared assignment, whether through responding to peer’s blogs or logging on to Second Life, students deserve to learn academic communication via social networks to allow them participation and practice in technological communication with others.

Vygotsky’s Social Development Theory

Vygotsky’s Social Development Theory

Vygotsky's theory is that social interaction plays an important role in the progression of cognitive growth. Vygotsky believes that social learning comes before development; other theorists like piaget’s believe that children’s development comes before their learning. I can agree with Vygotskie’s theory that experiences bring on certain learning development. If a child is never sees or experience things; then, he/she won’t develop those domains unless taught to do so. At that point, we can still go back to Vygotsky’s theory and say that social learning has to be experienced through teaching then development of the task will be learned.

Vygotsky (1978) states: "Every function in the child's cultural development appears twice: first, on the social level, and later, on the individual level; first, between people (interpsychological) and then inside the child (intrapsychological)." Vygotsky's Social Development Theory focuses on two main principles; the first principle is called the More Knowledgeable Other. This explains about any person who has a higher level of ability or is more knowledgeable than the student about a specific idea, task, problem process, or concept. The More Knowledgeable Other can be anyone that can teach the child or student like a parent, teacher, friend, coach. This can also refer to a computer. Wow, what a concept, a computer is more knowledgeable in any one manner and therefore can play that role. This concept also supports Vygotsky’s theory of learning. So, when a child is socially engaged and there is someone or something that is guiding the child through this experience; the child will then develop in that task or process. The second principal is the Zone of Proximal Development; which plays the role of the coach that guides the student through collaboration with friends and peers working together to perform a task that a student might have been unable to complete alone. Therefore, it brings me to the conclusion that a computer application can be that guidance along with the collaboration of the teacher and the other students in the classroom.

When teachers use technology in the classroom; they are promoting an environment that helps the student take on an active role in their own learning. The teacher and students can work together and become the guidance that plays the More knowledgeable other and put the student in the proper Zone of Proximal Development. Students can take the lead of their own learning by using the computers and technology such as the Internet, games, simulations, and much more of what we have learned in Dr. Lambert’s class. Social interaction becomes the main role in learning which leads to development. As a matter of fact, Vygotsky’s theory suggests clustered desks and work space for peer instruction, collaboration. This sound to me a lot like a classroom with possible laptops while students sit in a cluster to allow for peer instruction, small group instruction, and collaboration. I agree with the theory’s suggestion that teachers need to set up an environment where the instructional design of the materials to be learned is structured in a way to encourage students to interact and collaborate with one another to become a community of learners. I keep thinking of the second life classroom which can be used to hold classes and allow for this interaction and collaboration. Students can complete blogs and use each other’s knowledge to comment on each other’s work; as to where they become the coach or the mentor. The student at that time will take learning into his own hand and comment back on the words of his or her coach; hence, providing an opportunity for social interaction experiences which leads to positive learning development.

This Type of learning will slowly move away from the recitation teaching that is constantly occurring; this is 2010, let’s set up classrooms that use the Internet to teach through social interaction which challenges the methods of the traditional teaching. Using the technology in the classroom will allow for scaffolding, reciprocal teaching and guided instruction which is effective strategies that implement Vygotsky’s theory; creating an environment which assists students to accomplish a task that they could not complete alone. All this can take place through a possible wiki page; where students can work together to accomplish a goal or a lesson allowing for reciprocal teaching which can be used to teach reading, writing, or editing. Students can take turns being the teacher for a pair or small group; the teacher can be there to clarify or ask questions. Through an open dialogue on Skype or on a Wiggio page there can be guided instruction which involves the teacher and students exploring a possible lesson of math problems. Together they can share different problem solving strategies in an open dialogue and coach one another.

In conclusion, social interaction has become the clear pathway to the integration of computer technology in the classroom. In the past, collaboration and peer instruction used to be possible only in shared physical space; at this time of age, learning relationships can be utilized by Internet space and technology to. This verifies that the social interaction can take place in many places which in turn provides many meaningful opportunities for students to learn and develop as Vygotsky’s theory suggests.

As an Administrator of a school where many of the classrooms provide access to personal computers and connections to the Internet; I would like to speak on some of the many significant challenges that teachers and administrators have faced or will face when using the Internet in their classrooms and jobs.

I wanted to point out some positive internet sites that could be used in classrooms; for example, look at the site below which shows how teachers can use Google Maps to teach our kids a proper way to help them understand distances and maps, while getting them familiar with a real online tool. http://www.bewebaware.ca/english/default.html. What about this site of many more; http://www.cyberbee.com/; CyberBee has been providing rich Internet resources to educators for over 13 years and is one of the internet sites that can be used as part of a curriculum. I could give you pages and pages of sites that teachers can use in the classroom, like the simulated games and virtual worlds and educational programs that are web based, blogs, twitter, etc..; but I do not want to be repetitive in all that have been said on the topic in previous blogs, assignments, and such. I do however would like to share the following thoughts with you:
Like anything else, the internet use in the classrooms has its vital challenges. I believe that the internet has been introduced to our students; we can’t take it away now. For some students, internet has become one of the most important components of their life. I feel that students may be facing much negativity that come along with the internet; but you and I know it is too late to try to hinder their intelligence by not allowing them to experience something that is so important to their development in a society that requires that knowledge. They will experience and use the internet everywhere else; why not make sure they use it under the proper supervision. I was happy to find the (http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr093.shtml) site; which help teachers make sure that students are aware of the basic Internet safety rules that they must abide by before they would be allowed to surf the net independently. This is a great resource, for many and especially for elementary children. Lawrence J. Magid said "My Rules for Online Safety". Great rules amongst many stated below:
"I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.”
“I will never agree to get together with someone I 'meet' online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will make sure it is in a public place and I will bring my mother or father along.”
“I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents."

For those of you, out there that are worried about the use of the internet in your classroom, browse through the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for Internet use; which can be one of the most important documents a school can produce. I feel that this will give many students a sense of responsibility as to what they will or will not do. Much of thoughtful research and planning have been put forth to help with the problem of usage of the internet in the classroom. Education World offers food-for-thought and a few useful tools for educators faced with developing a workable AUP for their school's students.

Yes, I do realize that there is a strong fear from the use of computer technology in the classroom, as a matter of fact, we all are worried about the dangers that the uncensored Internet might hold for children. I have read and maybe seen the inappropriate or obscene words and images, predators and violence; and many other posed threats to students. I was happy to have read about the school use of this site Acceptable Use Policy, or AUP, for the Internet which will defuse some of the dangers internet us on students.

In the readings in Dr. Lambert’s class, I found The Online Safety and Technology Working Group to be a helpful tool that was established in pursuant to the "Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act.", to help schools fight some of the discrepancies that might occur while using the internet in the classrooms and such. Federal agencies and other agencies will evaluate industry efforts and make recommendations to promote online safety for children through strong education, labeling, and parental control technology. The Working Group will also evaluate and make recommendations on industry efforts to prevent and respond to criminal activity involving children and the Internet. Recommendations on how to increase online safety measures will be taking.

Now, please note that we need to have very strict rules and guidelines for Social network sites which have brought so much happiness to so many students; it has giving students a place to belong and have reunited a lot of them with families that they could not find. For teens a social network becomes a life saver, you tube’s Friday making a difference: Jamie, a young man that made a connection online with friends to help Rene’. He posted her story on my space, To Write Love On Her Arm, thousand found the site and wrote about their problems and addictions. This network became a representative to so many problem based students. It became connected to a suicide treatment online community; reaching out to communities of learners. Children were forced to go to library and such to tell their stories of recovery or seek help through facebook and many more.

But if present trends continue and teachers and adults fail to wise up, these same networks will continue to be used for unsound and maybe scary ideas for children and others. On Youtube in Dr. Lambert’s second life section, social networks like Facebook and Myspace have; unfortunetly, killed the private life of so many. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-can-ruin-your-life-and-so-can-myspace-bebo-780521.html. It is sad to see that people will post just about anything on social networking sites. And the information can be used against them. David Randall and Victoria Richards reported in the readings of Dr. Lambert’s class. Many employers are using the personal information that people are posting to give or take away a job that may change their life.
In conclusion, I do support the use of internet in the classroom; but we truly need to develop and adopt the proper rules and regulations to accompany the teachers’ and adult supervision.

Podcasting

Wow, I couldn't let this assignment go un-noticed. Poscasting was one of the funnest things I did in This class. I tried beanpod, yes I know, after a while I was mixing everything up. lol. I made an account to all the suggestions that Dr. Lambert and other class members had suggested. I would get so close, but no cigar!!!

I was unable to download the tutorial, Don't ask me why, since I supposedly prepared my whole house to where I am able to do anything I needed to for this class. I used skype to talk to diff rent class members, they tried God Bless Their Hearts; but they had had trouble too. "Trial and error" they said; so I did exactly that and was able to record on pod bean and it vanished, wow!!!!

I then was able to supposedly publish my first official Podcast on Podomatic, I used my 14 year old sun, Jaafer; together, we were able to record and supposedly publish a podcast titled "How should you choose the correct school district for your child to attend". Ohhhh, yes I know, it's not on my wiki page; I couldn't find it on their. Yeah, the podcast window was there, but the video wasn't. :(((

At last, I called my sister ( remember her from my wiki page ) she was able to get int my account and download the tutorial. She walked me through it; and I was able to successful publish my third or forth podcast, twice. You hear that, not just once but twice. I saw that other people were going through the same thing and I deleted one of the pod casts off of my Wiki page via their instructions. Thanks.

The good news is, I now know how to publish a podcast and am using this method with my son's class. The teacher is welcoming to it. Thanks for reading my story of the P.O.D.C.A.S.T

In this blog, I would like to introduce to you the program that I am working with. You can concider this to be from the same family as blackboard and moodle. This project is the reason why I wanted to learn more about using the internet in the classroom or workplace.

The software is a web-based application that provides an online collaboration space for a business’s workforce. It allows a business to organize online, and help an office go, and remain paperless without the need to heavy overhead IT costs. This application, powered by Microsoft technology, is powerful and customizable to a client’s communication needs. Centralized communication goes beyond the cost savings, allowing a business to communicate efficiently without the need for broadcast emails, virus infiltration, and communication breakdown.

In an educational setting the software will serve as an adminstrative tool where faculty and the adminstration can collaborate and communicate. Also the software can also be utilized as a learning tool for students. They will be able to access software at anytime to view class announcements, retrieve documents and much more. The software can help with the business aspects of running the school as well as serve as a valuable resource for students to improve learning.


This program can customized to fit all of your school needs.
Let me know what you think..

Blogging & Twittering

This blog should have been my first, I was behind but no matter what the outcome, I still wanted to complete all of the things that I needed to. This has become so easy that now I can blog easily, at first, it was new and I felt so lost but so enlightened. I now know how to work my way around blogging, i have commented on some of my classmates' bloggs. Dr. Lambert mntioned that she didn't see the comments. Also, I have tried to comment on the web 2.o blogg and was unsuccessful; therefore I am assuming that maybe I have not reached my full potential around blogging. I will continue to work around it.
I believe he that the value of blogging and twittering must be used correctly for the educational purposes. Teacher and Administrators and Parents must always accompany each blogg and tweet lesson or link with the "Do Not" words, so that students and people don't run with some of the bad that could accompany those Apps.

Now, I was happy to learn about Twittering because it is a term that I hear alot around my children and on TV, so when they said: "Follow me on Twitter", I would be able to actually know what they mean and maybe decide to follow them. I have chosen to follow Sade as my first twitter because she is one of my favorite Artists. I would like my students to follow people that could change their life or be better influence on them, unfortunely, I have found that tweeting is not being used to its full potential. Wow, know what and where people around the world are doing and going to do!! I can follow great scientists, writers, etc...

This has also opened my eyes to the term blogging and twittering; I see that many of my kids' teachers use blogging in their classroom and amongs other teachers. I don't believe that their students make too much use of it because when I asked my daughter and her other classmates; they were unsure of what it was or how it has benefit them. They did however recognize the term as something they continuily use around their teachers. Therefore, I believe that when it is time for me to teach next year God Willing, I will have looked at every potential that blogging can benefit students and other staff members and make total use out of it. As of right now, I would like to introduce a new software that I have been working with that can change communication throughout the whole school and possibly the district. Read about it on my next Blogg :)

Cynthia, I have tried to post. This will be my second time trying. The Apps that you have chosen are very helpful to us Administrators. What an Idea, a presentation on the go. we don't have to worry about emailing a presentation and whether it will open in that program or not. This gives you access to the slide show presentations from where ever everyone is present at. Also, your 2nd App is so helpfull, I actually saw my daughter use this in her paper to find and write her references. I will be using this tool from now on :) (this comment was suppose to be made to Cynthia, I was unable to post it on her blog, please let me know where I am going wrong, this is the 3rd try, Thanks

Evolution in the Internet: Web 2.0 Applications

This blog has taught me how to use and maneuver around the web 2.o applications. I will for sure put into prat ice the different helpful techniques that are available.

The first web 2.0 App that I have chosen is uTutti; it is an a web program that allows music teachers the full time management that they need to freely teach their classrooms. classroom administrative duties usually take up more than half of the teachers time. It is a fact that without good classroom management; teachers will not have a smooth and goal driven lesson. Also, planning is most crucial for any lesson given in any subject. This program provides less time and effort on management and more on quality teaching. This App does most of the work for you at the touch of your finger tips. Most important, teachers can access their classroom planning sessions from anywhere. Its like a mobile classroom management system; I love it and teachers would love it. I hope I can convince my staff to use such technology. These are some of the ways that the teachers use this App for: Active seating charts, class lists and special assignment, student and parent information and contact, inventory, fundraisers, emails and reports, and much more. Imagine being able to complete all of your planning from home or anywhere else. Totally freeing the teacher to teach with more confidence and less confusion for both, the teacher, the student, and the professor. https://www.ututti.com/

For my second web 2.0 App, I have chosen GlobalScholar, a three in one App. You know how many times I sit and wonder if their is more that I could do for students at home. I know that I'm not there when they are struggling at home; and no one their to help. Parents often feel trapped because they are unsure of the homework themselves. They wish they can provide and receive a lending hand with homework so that they can have quality time with their children. This first App can offer that help with endless possibilities. First, it offers a simple-user friendly online tutoring program. This is where parents, students, and teachers can with out no worries make the connection with educators that are ready and willing to give appropriate one-on-one tutoring, homework help, study skills. This can be used anytime and it is set up to also be used as a self-paced learning and tutoring program. Wow, I don't want to begin to explain how much help this will offer to home schooled students and charter schools. Secondly, the GlobalScholar platform is also available for use by schools and/or school districts. It will enable teachers and administrators to creatively manage the curriculum and align it with the content standards to be followed. It is efficient and effective to be used with assessments, observations, and testing. It is not a substitute for the teacher, it is Marley a supplement to enhance learning from all parts. Teachers and Administrators can progress by finding and managing the professional developments that they continuously need for constant improvement of teaching and all other professional needs. An all in one App which will assist communities of learners: Parents, students, teachers, schools, and school districts. Pinnacle PD is the term used to track student and teacher learning. Last but not least, we often run across all kinds of web sites trying to sell us different school and colleges. This App can safely and efficiently help students, graduates, and professionals gain all the information they need to locate the ideal college or school to attend. Begin life with the correct tactics to drive your self to a healthy accredited colleges and school to attend in person or online. That can get very con fussing; how do we know we are choosing the right program of study or the correct school.
You see, three for the price of one, App to help all the aspects of learning, http://www.globalscholar.com/

Go visit these sites, I know you will enjoy them just as I did...

Blogging

This is great, I was not hip to any of this technology, I used to hear about these new adventures from many people around the work place and school. I will post my comments later this week. Please be patient I have much to say about this; I'm almost there. Thanks