Some Perspective...

*** Disclaimer: I feel that this blog post presents “a lot to chew on”. The videos used in this post were found on-line and I think present pertinent, but not always pretty information. I hope that this post inspires further conversation and by no means am I posting any of it in order to be shocking, controversial, or rude. As is good practice with any new information, I ask that you view this with an open-mind and I hope that this information gets your “wheels spinning” just as much as it has mine! ***

This week, I got to thinking about the Internet. Really, I started thinking about its how it's used, why it's used, and how we just can't get enough!

Then I found 2 really cool resources on-line that help illustrate my thoughts. Please, take a few minutes and view these two videos.





For me, both of these videos bring up a number of questions. To be honest, it brings up so many questions that I can't even begin to list them all. Some of my "knee-jerk responses" to each video are as follows:

Video 1: Did You Know 4.0

~ Convergence of technology: How do we integrate it into the classroom?
~ What is the balance of traditional media vs. digital media in our lives and in the classroom?
~ How do we teach responsible media use (especially in the light of on-line purchasing, downloading, etc.) to our students?
~ Wikipedia: How can it be a platform for learning?
~ Text messaging: There is SO much to be learned from this form of communication, and little of it has to do with the myriad of abbreviations! ; )
~ Social networking: It can be used to raise funds, awareness, TEACH...the options are almost ENDLESS!!!
~ Mobile devices...they're here to stay...

Video 2: Yes, We Know

~ Asking questions is important, how do we teach that skill, with or without the Internet?
~ Past, present, and future: How do we teach those concepts, using the Internet?
~ Again, proper web-use...can it be taught, enforced, agreed upon?
~ Web 2.0, Web 1.0...do we know about the evolution of such, since it's all around us?
~ Our true opinion vs. what we're told our our opinion can/should be
~ Blame/censorship (an on-going debate, no matter the media option)
~ Individual/Group involvement in social media
~ Truth: What can be trusted, why?
~ Blogs: What is shared? How is it shared?
~ "Life on-line" vs. everyday life
~ "What does it all mean to parents, educators, responsible adults?"
~ Participation is important...imperative?!
~ Individual knowledge and acquisition of knowledge
~ Digital Natives vs. Digital Immigrants


However, the largest question that looms for me is this: "How do we---as a society, as educators, as humans---understand and integrate the Internet, and all that it brings, into our daily lives?"

To me, this a on-going challenge, one that, as an educator I should be in continual dialogue and discussion about. It's a new world out there, and I'm excited to be a part of it!