Myspace

I recently read the article by Theodora Stites about the upcoming virtual relationship revolution. I have to be honest because the only social website I belong to is myspace and I really only use that to get into touch with people that I already know. However, I have discovered that this website is like being in high school again, some people are in competition to see how many friend adds they get. Who can be most popular, so they add people whether they have ever met them before or not. I recently got a message from someone I went to high school with, who stated that he was cleaning up his friends list and if you did not contact him ASAP you would be deleted.

Relating this virtual relationship revolution to education, I have really discovered how younger people think that they are not vulnerable to online predators. As I look through other people's myspace pages I am appalled at the amount of information they give out about themselves, and the revealing and sexual pictures that kids under the age of 18 post for the whole myspace world to see. I have read bulletin postings where people give out their address and phone numbers, "Call me if you are bored." These people do not realize how vulnerable they are making themselves.

I think that children need to be taught in the school system how to keep themselves safe online. That it is not okay to give out every little detail about your life for the whole world to see, especially your address or phone number. Kids need to realize that by posting a picture on myspace they are allowing the whole world to look at that picture.

Technology and Education

I think that technology can be a very useful tool for educators. Students can access information with computers that they would not be able to obtain from any other source. Elementary students can gain information from NASA or go on online fieldtrips. In a fifth grade classroom that I worked in, the students were able to take a virtual tour of the Holocaust Museum and gain valuable insights into the destruction of World War II. High school students can learn valuable lessons about effective research and look at primary documents from college campuses around the world.

Computers can also benefit students with exceptionalities. Students with learning disabilities can benefit from having someone type what they say and then having the educator blow up the font. The students can learn to read the story that they have read. There are many different educational computer programs that can help children with disabilities as well as benefit all students. These programs are interesting and educational, Where In the World is Carmen San Diego is an example of a wonderful computer program to include in a classroom, as well as in a child's home.

However, there are controversies surrounding technology, especially because many people cannot afford to buy a computer for the home or schools cannot afford to keep up with technology and may own out-dated computers and programs. I think that the way the future is moving to heavily rely on technology that it is extremely vital to at least teach basic computing skills.