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.

PLN 4

Summary
Black Boles in "What Could You Do with 20,000 Dollars" states many things you could with 20,000 dollars besides going to collage, students could be doing self learning and saving many in the process.Boles also states that collage might not even be for you, if is not clear what a student doesn't know what he/she wants to do than wait for collage and don't spend the money.Boles gives many examples of what 20,00 could do such as spending around 600 dollars on a whole book collection for self learning and for fun. If one on one teaching instead of a big class is better for a the student then take that money and get one on one teaching for a year which would 3000 dollars. Students also need money while they are out of school so the student could go invest in small or big companies to get their money back but also get more in return. If a student does not need to spend the money on a collage education that is not needed then don't.

Response
 "What Could You Do with 20,000 Dollars" by Black Boles, is a very good eyeopener which in this case the video is correct because many students don't even need to go to collage and need to use the 20,000 on other things the student might need instead. The student might not know what he/ she is going to do for a carrier, so why go? The student should wait for collage, it is not for them yet. If the student stills wants to learn then the student should get a private tutor. They can still get almost the same education for much cheeper and at your chosen times. For 1,500 dollars a student could by a new Mac book, photoshop, and other new technology for more learning opportunities just the student would in collage. 1,000 dollars would let you travel the country and go to meetings that would help you find job opportunities. Over all the main point is that a student dose not have to go spend 20,000 on collage, go spend it on things that will help explore the world and help you learn in the process.

PLN 3

Summary
In the Movie "Bully" ,by Lee Hirsch, Hirsch features that kids are taking their lives because of bullying. The movie also explains that bullying has become an epidemic to kids all over the world and in our neighborhood. The bullying problem starts with physical bullying such as pushing and punching. Many bullies tease kids with mean words and that can lead to emotional pain. Emotional pain is a growing problem and can actually be more painful than the actually physical bullying. In some cases bullying can lead to kids taking their own lives. Kids are committing suicide around the world and it could be happening in schools in your neighborhood because of bullying.

Response
The Movie "Bully" by Lee Hirsch, explains that bullying is getting out of hand and kids are committing suicide because of this situation. There is a great lack of response from trusted authorities such as parents, teachers, SRO, bus driver, administration. They are told time and time from the victim that bullying is occurring. The authorities need to change the practice of not doing anything about the bullying situation. If not, many kids will keep getting bullied. In some situations this can lead to a suicide. The person who needs to change is the bully himself. Bullying is a cyclical problem, a bully has usually been bullied themselves. Often the bully does not care about what happens to the victims. If authorities can change the cycle of these kids bullying before it gets to out of hand, hopefully it can save one more life of an 11 year old like the character Tyler from the movie.

PLN 2

Summary
In "Whats Wrong with the Teenage Mind?" by Alison Gopnik, clearly shows that kids are not growing up the same way they used to. They start puberty earlier which means teens go through adulthood earlier as well. Gopnik states this when she says that parts of the teenage brain are out of sync. When teens go through puberty earlier it starts to kick in emotions and motivation.  For some reason teens are starting to eat more and move less . As teens get older they start to want more rewards which is related to motivation.  Teen are seem to be more motivated to take more risks when they are with there friends for social rewards. Sometimes to get the social rewards teens will do stupid things rather than make adult decisions. When a teenager starts puberty earlier and they can make bad choices without thinking through the consequences

Response
"Whats Wrong with the Teenage Mind?" by Alison Gopnik, is a very strong article which is correctly saying teenagers go through puberty earlier and going into adulthood earlier. Parents these days don't give their children enough chores or things to do around the house which can hurt them later in life. Many teens have no work ethic when they get older, which can hurt when trying to stick with a job later in life. Another problem with children that are overly protected is that the kids don't have discipline. So they under estimate they consequences and often make stupid choices trying to get social points from their peers.  It seems that teens don't learn from their mistakes and are willing to take risks to get social points. When teens make a mistake there is not enough discipline from adults in their lives to provide the right boundaries.  Becoming an adult means leaving the world of your parents and starting to make your way into the world by yourself. This sometimes is not a good thing when a teenager is so young to start to become so independent at a young age.

PLN 1

Summary

In the video “A Vision of Student Today” by Dr. Michael Wesch, shows how technology can help the world but distract students in many ways, because of students using the technology inappropriately in class.This is clearly shown in the video, when a student says they spend all class facebooking instead of listening. Other students said they get distracted by their phone,ipods,and computers as well in class.  Some students are not using their technology for a learning tool in class and they need to take it out the classroom.

Response:

In Dr. Michael Wesch video  “A Vision of Student Today” States electronics distract students, but it can be very useful to a class and a student on a day to day bases.Technology can help outside the classroom and inside to be a useful tool.  Electronics are useful outside because they can be used for papers,homework,studying,keeping organized, ect. In the video a girl said she spends most of the class period on facebook, But that’s her fault not electronics. A different student says she only get 7 hours of sleep, but that maybe from using technology is a wrong way. They could be very useful in a classroom if the student used technology correctly and responsibly. If some students chooses not to do so that is their fault.  Technology is a great learning tool, Such as using the internet for a world wide learning experience. If schools took technology out of classroom because students were using it for the wrong reason, then all students would be at a learning disadvantaged for those who use it correctly. The World has Technology, and we should use it to our advantage in order  to learn quicker and faster on a daily bases. No matter if  in or out of the classroom, it  is very helpful. One big thing technology does is keep students  organized. A student needs to be organized to keep up on work, technology can do that.