- How do programs like Space2Cre8 parallel having snail mail pen-pals? Is interacting with/meeting people over social networking sites like Space2Cre8 more or less beneficial to having snail-mail pen-pals?
- Using the key activities and processes mentioned, how has your “profile” on social networking sites you use changed as you have grown older? Why do you think your profile has morphed over time?
- What did you think of Monica and Rahim’s conversation and how would you have responded? Would you have acted differently? Why?
- As an educator, how would you incorporate social media/networking sites into the classroom and learning environment?
-- Kathy Shen
Thank Kathy Shen for great questions!
ReplyDeleteSocial media programs such as Space2Cre8 or Facebook are similar to mail pen-pals in terms that the main purpose of those programs is to keep in touch with acquaintances and these programs function as a gesture to express someone’s interest to others. The biggest difference between social networking programs and mail pen-pals is the presence of offline friend. While, mail pen-pals are commonly used between two friends who live far away from each other, some social networking sites are typically used to display and maintain offline friendships. Interacting with people over social networking sites is beneficial mainly because those programs make it possible to interact with much more people in shorter time as well as to see ourselves as social actors with obligations toward others. The information shared by social media programs is therefore latest and quantitatively predominant. The broad and faster circulation of quantitative information implies better access and equity toward intelligence capability, which eventually leads to better dimensions of literacy and communication. The only matter is the quality of the information. Users of social networking programs are exposed to unverified information which might be true or false. Many users on social media programs use fake profiles, and once other users begin to realize the world of social media is composed of fabrication, the whole world of social media will be demolished.
Great questions, Kathy! Monica and Rahim’s conversation was very interesting. The growth that occurred in Monica throughout the course of the situation was amazing to read about. I don’t know how I would have acted in response to Rahim. I probably would not have reacted at all as not to stir further conflict, but this does not help “develop sensitivities to the meaning-making practices of others” (800). The tension in this world is caused by different ideologies, and stress cannot be relieved through silence. I am very proud to see the response that Monica made towards Rahim. She asked about his other hobbies before addressing his comment. Though she asked him to voice his opinions in a nicer manner, she said so very politely with respect towards his criticism and even complimented his photo. This shows that no one person is 100% correct and rather every opinion is subjective. The qualities of understanding, openness, and the ability to “[see] the world through new eyes” are very important for furthering friendships and dissolving hatred (797). This article and conversation have taught me about the self-transformation and literacy enhancement that can occur in any context whether it is in school or in “constructing, negotiating, and conveying meanings in the context of social media” (794).
ReplyDeleteWe are always trying to find ways of teaching eager learners, and this is often easier if we can find topics, which children can relate to. For example, finding something the child like doing, and relation that activity to the curriculum at hand.
ReplyDeleteEven, simply, finding an interest which a child has, and expanding on that interest by chunking the information needed to be learned in with their interest.
Having students create (and throughout the semester/year) update their "profile" could be a very plausible means of discovering interests, thus having information which is fun for the kids to design, and easier for the teacher to discover interest children have, to better the learning environment.
Allowing an option for an update, would not only keep the child interested and engaged, but would allow a teacher to see continuing and developing interest-- as chances are the child interest will not stay the same all the time, and will sporadically change. At the same time, it will allow a pedagogy to focus on salient patterns of children's interest, which outlast the passing ones.
Thank you Kathy Shen for good questions.
ReplyDeleteSocial media programs like Space2Cre8, my space, and facebook are really popular in this generation. These programs became a trend. They post their everyday thoughts and picture and share their knowledge about an incident. For example, I faced Occupy Cal incident in facebook rather then actually face on the campus. These social media/networking sites are very fast to share the knowledge of some fields and even comment on different peoples’ thoughts.
Actually, there are several instructors, teachers, and professors try to bring those social networking sites into their classes. My writing class professor made us to read a book about those social networking site and make us to actually engage in those social network trend. Therefore, my classmates and I had to visit outbreak in Berkeley, post our ideas about that incidents on our post at social networking site, and bring the posting and the comments from other people. Also, what we do in this class is one of the methods of using those social media into education. As an educator, I would make my students to post their thoughts about their readings or an incident in history and actually comment on each other’s posting. That way they would enjoy to share their thoughts and could gather more information while commenting each other’s posting.
Social media programs like facebook, Space2Cre8, google plus, myspace, etc. are very popular in our current generation because of the advancement of our technology. Things like this start to impact peoples lives as they start to become more involved in using these programs by posting about their everyday life. When looking at using the technologically advanced Space2Cre8 over the old snail-mail pen-pals is more efficient, but may be less personal. I believe that both have their benefits and problems. When looking at Space2Cre8, it makes the communication much faster and efficient, but somethings, it becomes less personal than hand written letters. However, when using the program Space2Cre8, we can make this the most efficient by making sure we truly try to communicate in the best way with our pals.
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