Comment two on an education post

For an assignment, here is my second comment on an education blog outside my cohort- http://blog.mrmeyer.com/?p=5292
(comment 29)

I love your description of an individual living within the comments until they feel constricted and finally break out into their own blog. It is a great description of how one might begin blogging, but there are still so many other ways. The motivations for blogging are widespread. Some are aching to get their voice out and turn to the blogosphere for their audience. Still others, as you said, are motivated by others and in turn are contributing to a generational effect, but I doubt it’s very widespread.

For myself, I first started following blogs that I randomly came across, and I stayed if I found something interesting that kept me. Many times it was the writing. The writing was unique, full of voice, or inspirational. Often times the blogger reinforced my ideas or presented them in a new way. Rarely did I, or still do, read blogs that contradict my own beliefs.

Blogs can become Lost islands. It would be interesting to investigate how and why blogs and groups of blogs become islands.

Comment one on an education blog

For an assignment, here is my first comment on an education blog outside my cohort- http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2009/10/cell-phones-in-my-civics-class-parent.html

What a well-written anecdote! As educators, we are expected to teach. This should include proper use of technology. The classroom does not exist outside the ‘real world’ so let’s help the kids navigate in the ‘real world.’ I love the way the cell phone allowed your kids to share the unit with their parents.

I suppose a concern would be- at what point do cell phones become a distraction? Just as the kids would be using the phones with the curriculum, some would be using them for other means. Perhaps texting their friend while the rest of the class is working. Do we need to control they way these cell phones are used? And how would we?

Similarly, the move to integrate computers in the classroom started many years ago and has yet to be fully adopted. That is, not every kid has access to a computer (however the US is getting MUCH better). I’m left to conclude the cell phone will also continually face resistance. I’m willing to bet that ten years from now we will still be discussing whether the cell phone should be allowed during class. Let’s not forget that kids have been secretly using them for years, and will continue to use them regardless of any no tolerance policy. How do the kids feel about our views?

For more, here is an interesting NY Times article on the issue- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/16/technology/16phone.html