Tuesday, June 30, 2009

DiSiena - Summary Reponse

RSS can help a teacher consistently keep up with student work. If students are using wikis, teachers can see what changes were made, who changed and added something, and can track what the students do. In addition, if students are using applications in which RSS can be implemented, teachers can constantly keep up with what the students are doing.

When learning about glogster, I found it so creative and would be an interesting tool to use in a classroom. I think my 6th graders would enjoy working with it. For math, I could have them continuously make posters that represent concepts they've learned and their reflections on activities. RSS would help monitor student work as students can update their posters and continuously make new ones whenever is convenient for them. Students don't have to feel like there is a deadline and with RSS teachers can see exactly who is creating new and editing current glogster posters.

Liz Kucharek: RSS response

RSS can potentially change the way a teacher manages the technology workflow in the classroom by making it more efficient. RSS allows the internet to come to them in a customized way. If a teacher were to set up a wikispace there can be RSS feeds coming to the wikispace instead of the students having to look up the information on a regular basis.

I would implement the Glogster tool in my classroom. If I were an art teacher (which is what I'm certified in) I would have the students maintain their glog on a wikispace for the entire class to see. The glog would be treated like a portfolio for the work they've done to date. The class can view eachother's glogs and I would subscribe to their glogs to get updates whenever the students added a new project they've completed.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

RSS Feed--Summary by Beth Newman

RSS Feed allows the class to interact with all projects and subject matter in a shared manner. I would use this technology in my lessons for students to view each other's work, to post comments and questions, and interact with one another.

In September, I would like the students to make a poster in glogster pertaining to their summer vacation, aspirations they may have for the coming school year, and events that may be occurring in September and October in the middle school. The posters would be posted where they could view each other's work to see what other classmates did during the summer and what the upcoming school events might be.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Summary Blog Post

Please explain the power of RSS and why it can potentially change the way you manage the technology workflow in your classroom. Also please describe in some detail an example of how you would implement one tool that we covered in class this session and how you would utilize RSS to monitor student work.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

DiSiena - Flickr Perversion

1) What must parents know about the realities of the Internet in regards to how we deal with the photos (and identities) of our children?

Parents need to be familiar with what their children are encountering on the Internet. They need to monitor what is being posted on the Internet and educate their children as to where these pictures (for example) could end up. If parents are naive to the world of technology, they need to face reality and get into the groove of this new generation. Educating children starts from the home and parents need to start teaching their kids at a young age. Children must be taught the proper etiquette of the Internet and how to protect their identities. Parents need to play a role in keeping a safe online experience for their kids.


4) What rights and responsibilities do we have as parents to protect the digital identities of our children?

Parents need to help teach their children how to be responsible in the digital world. From the early ages of a child's life, parents should monitor what their sons and daughters are posting on the Internet. However, it gets a little tough when their kids get older and are posting and being tagged in pictures on social networking sites. With this, parents need to show their kids how they can still be part of this digital world, but can protect their privacy. For example, parents need to encourage their children to keep private profiles and only share information with people they allow. Parents are not always going to know everything or always be aware of everything their kids are doing, but with the right education and teaching their sons and daughters what is appropriate, it is hoped that the children will move in the correct path.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Beth Newman--Reaction to Flickr Perversion

I am not surprised at what happened to the girl's favorite photos. We hear of things like this happening everyday in the news. I have answered the following questions:

1. Parents must be aware that what their kids are posting may not just be viewed by their friends and people they know but by many undersirable people. Without being aware of it, these people may be teachers, policemen, and other parents. In other words, they may be total strangers or people you know but you are not aware of their unacceptable behaviors. Once something is posted on the Internet, no one knows where it can land.

2. The benefits of an open reality is for greater socialization and to be included in happenings. Another benefit may be for purposes of publicity and advertising. If the individual is involved in a personal way with the openess, then the risk is far greater than the benefit. If a business is concerned and the viewing is for promotional purposes exclusively, then the benefit may be greater since less risk is involved.

3. Precautions that should be taken would be to block sites and only post things if you know where they are going. You must know the recipients and know the people who have access to your postings.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Flickr Perversion: Answer to qtn 4

4) What rights and responsibilities do we have as parents to protect the digital identities of our children?

When posting pictures of your children online, you are making a decision for them. The parent is choosing for the child that their image will be on the internet forever basically. Since parents are the guardians and decision makers for their children (before age 18) is that their right? I suppose it is. However, when making that decision, parents need to take on the responsibility that goes along with it. Once a picture is posted online, they are essentially giving up the right to control what happens to that picture.

Even if a parent chooses to stay completely offline or live a more private life, they have very limited control of what other people are doing. For example, if a child attends a birthday party and someone at the party is taking pictures then posts them on Flickr for all attendees to see, there will be pictures of that child online. Parents can attempt to police who is posting pictures of their children online, but that can be a hard battle to fight.

I don't think fighting it is the answer, but to make sure that the pictures are being posting in a responsible manner by other parties.