My experience with online communities has been limited by choice. I do not have a facebook or any other type of social networking account. For the most part, I have a negative opinion of them as being a waste of a perfectly good resource, computers, much like television has the majority of its programming breaking down social mores in the pursuit of more money. Perhaps, I have not yet seen or found the right community to become a part of. I have a hard time joining and using one when I read a story every now and then about someone’s privacy being compromised or identity being stolen or the number of criminals who are using them.
The biggest benefit of collaborative groups is being exposed to different thoughts and ideas of how to solve a problem. When one works on a problem alone, s/he is obviously limited to her/his own individual experience.
I believe the greatest challenge would be to get me to subscribe to facebook, my space or something else. I am amazed that I continue to look and use my twitter account, but I have found some really great teaching resources (that keep me going back).
My thoughts regarding the social development and socialization issues are: Students need to be warned of all of the dangers that are out there in cyber space and shown ways to use the computer that will help others and themselves to a better future for all.
I hate to sound so cynical and pessimistic. I am teaching in a district where cell phones and ipods are to be confiscated and turned into the office for parents to pick up if used during school hours, yet, for some students it is worth the risk. I would like to find a way where cell phone usage can be a positive rather than a negative. The ipods should stay turned off.
No comments:
Post a Comment