PLN 7

Summary

The video "Web 2.0...The Machine is Us/ing Us" by Michael Wesch, demonstrates the view that the web or the web 2.0, as he calls it, is us, or is using us to learn from the users of the internet. He begins by demonstrating how "linear" the old ways of learning and communicating were, by just writing with a pencil; erasing and rewriting single thoughts.  Wesch then transitions into explaining how words are not just words, but that words become "content", that can be expanded on through other peoples input.  Now a simple word can be clicked on and expanded, and millions of peoples input on a single topic or word can now be accessed.  With that access, and the millions of people who input data related to a single thought, people now can access infinite amounts of knowledge that before, would have taken hours of research in a library for every to come up with; all with a simple click of a mouse.  In the past, what came out of a pencil, directed by our fingertips, was just extremely limited to just our thoughts.  Now, what comes out of our fingertips on a keyboard is just the beginning to a world of knowledge, inputed and accessed by millions of people a second. Wesch makes a point that the "internet" is so much faster than writing on paper; and how it gives the world the freedom and expression, and the ability to both obtain and share knowledge and is faster and more convenient than ever before.

Response

The video "Web 2.0...The Machine is Us/ing Us" by Michael Wesch is correctly demonstrating that The web 2.0 is using us to learn and to connect other people around the world. . Wesch also is correctly demonstrating that writing is "linear", this is so true, living in a world with "content". Wesch explains this by telling us "content"can be expanded on through other peoples input.  For example, as a class using the web is a almost a every day thing, it is so helpful to a class to have the web at its finger tips. A class puts in "Content" everyday into the web, by posting blogs, sharing papers, blogging on others posts, and watching and commenting on videos. Wesch talks about how anyone can search up anything with a click of a mouse and come up millions of websites and more knowledge in that search. It is the "internet", which is so much faster than the writing on paper and trying to figure stuff out with books. You have the world at your fingertips,"Web 2.0...The Machine is Us/ing Us" is s great way of demonstrating how the "internet" is the new and best thing out there.

PLN 6

Summary

In "The Case Against High-School Sports" by Amanda Ripley Defends that football should be removed completely in high schools around the country. Ripley is proving this point by saying that many schools are not paying enough attention to the academics but, to the sports. This can lead to major problems Ripley clearly states, such as big financial problems for the schools and the district. Ripley makes a big point that a lot american high schools are promoting sports instead of a solid academic education. Which she proves in a story about a Texas school that really tried to push for sports instead for academics. Ripley is trying to prove a big point that schools need to just pull out football or any sport necessary to have a stable academic education for their students.

Response

"The Case Against High-School Sports" by Amanda Ripley is not correct because students need after schools sports, kids need to stay active after school, to get their minds off of homework, friend problems, and maybe family problems if needed. It's also something fun to do for the student and parents to watch. Parents are a big part of the schools sports, they contribute greatly to the sports. Ripley shows a statement made by James Coleman, and the paragraph say" a visitor entering an American high school would likely be confronted, first of all, with a trophy case. His examination of the trophies would reveal a curious fact: The gold and silver cups, with rare exception, symbolize victory in athletic contests, not scholastic ones … Altogether, the trophy case would suggest to the innocent visitor that he was entering an athletic club, not an educational institution (Colman). This statement is not exactly correct, this might be a good thing that the student is being presented with this. If the student wants the school activites than great it will help them. Ripely gives a big example to her side by showing us, the reader, that a Texas schooled had shut down their whole football program including many other sports. The reason they did this is because the school was running out of money. But before this the science lab was shut down, didn't have a music program in years, cut many teachers, But after all of that the school kept all its sports. The flaw of this is shown when kids start to become very angry at the school, they don't have anything to look forward to after school. Which can be very depressing for many kids because they need the after school sports. If people started taking out high school sports the kids would not be very happy with it. All students need to have a chance to be be in after school sports.

PLN 5

Summary

In “Footprints in the Digital Age” by Will Richardson features a eye opening point about how students need to be more connected with the web in everyday life, in or out of the classroom. Richardson shows that students should be self-directed learners must be adept at building and sustaining networks. He also talks about Networking: The New Literacy, Which is  social Web technologies are having a huge influence on students. Transparent and Trackable is another issue he brings up in his article. Richardson also brings up his last point about what students should know. What Richardson is trying to get across is that students are being able to be googleable more and more.

Response

“Footprints in the Digital Age” by Will Richardson is correctly stating that students should be able to be googled at this age because it can help them in job opportunities, The student is making themselves Googleable posting blog posts, YouTube videos, Flickr photos, and Facebook groups .Richardson says, "Publishing content online not only begins the process of becoming "Googleable," it also makes us findable by others who share our passions or interests."(Richardson). Students are making them selves Googeable and might not even know it. Such as Richards says that posting content (blog posts, YouTube videos, Flickr photos, and Facebook groups) is a great way to get a student Gooleable. A recent survey in 2007 announced that 80 percent of young people that are online are networking. Some about good stuff and others about bad, which is correct. That 70 percent of them are regularly discussing education-related topics, in which they are creating all sorts of content. Students are using online tools, which is also correct. As students are growing faster in technology, the student is learning much more than they are taught from parents and teachers. instead the student is doing it all by themselves and websites they go on to. The point is those websites have things that the student can post and make them selves googleable In the process. Students are and kids are becoming more and more googleable, whether the teacher, parents, or kids like it or not.