Meeting Technology Standards for Students

I believe Mrs. Fitzgerald's students met all three of the Technology Standards for Students. Each student was able to demonstrate basic operations and concepts, as they were called to the front of the room to use her computer. Students learned the social issues, as they were creating Kid Pix and learning about climates in other parts of the country. Plus, students used technology productivity tools, as they went online to find weather information and got creative with their personal picture projects. This lesson was a clear example of students learning about a subject (social studies) by using technology.

I really like the way Mrs. Fitzgerald conducted the class and I honestly can't say I would do anything differently. She would ask students how to do something, then have them actually do it. I think many kids learn by doing and her students seemed to be well prepared. Perhaps calling out all the temperatures for the sample city wasn't necessary, but I think Mrs. Fitzgerald wanted her students to know exactly what information was available. Because she showed her students where to find the information, they could handle the project on their own.

I also thought it was interesting that apparently earlier in the day there was some sort of problem with the classroom's computers. Obviously, Mrs. Fitzgerald was able to be flexible and attempt the exercise later in the day. I think that's something all teachers need to be prepared for: not everything goes as smoothly as they would like.

Online Trouble

I really enjoyed the lecture by C.L. Lindsay III. His visual props were hilarious and his manner of speaking was down to earth, though he did talk incredibly fast. I wouldn't mind reading his book.

I think the most important aspect of his message was that everything you do online has an offline, or real world, equivalent. Often people think of cyberspace as literally some far, far away galaxy. It's not, so whatever you write online has a real life consequence. That is quite apparent if you ever read the comments posted after stories on online newspapers. Posters are not required to use their real names and they can basically write their opinion on any and everything, regardless if what they write is fact. Posters can bash people and groups and there are no repercussions to posting false information. I don't believe that's what the First Amendment was intended for.

I was shocked by Lindsay's recounting of a recent poll that showed 70% of college students cheated. Perhaps because I'm an older college student, I believe that my eventual degree will be worth what I put into it, not just a ticket to a decent job. I also take plagiarism seriously. I'm currently a journalist and I take a lot of pride in my work. I would be quite peeved if someone stole my writings.

I already wasn't a fan of Facebook, and the creepy collection of online predators validated my distaste of the website. I believe if I have pictures to share with loved ones, I'll simply invite them to my home. I don't need the world to see them. Lindsay's advice to check your friends' Facebook pages also rang true for me. Last year, one of my "friends" posted pictures of my bachelorette party on her page. I found about it and asked her to take them all down (which she did). It just irks me that people think they can share not only their personal lives online, but their friends' personal lives as well.