Thursday, January 29, 2009

Thing #4 Response to blogs

I read the blog Spies Like Us . I like that blog writing is so casual. You don't have to think about making everything perfect. The blog itself was facinating because it illustrates how technology can be used in the educational setting to have a very negative impact. I have been known for being a half-empty person at times (as many of my friends would tell you) and as the facebooks and myspaces have experienced an explosion of interest and use, I have tended to look at them from the viewpoint of being damaging to personal privacy, etc. I know this is probably the viewpoint of someone out of touch or "old", but the blog definately covers some of the reasons I am cautious of technology. The blog illustrates how we are losing touch with our privacy and making ourselves too accessible at times.


I do like the immediate feedback you can get from blogging. You get to put information or opinions out there and receive agreement, opposition, different thought avenues, etc. It truly can be thought provoking. It's an avenue for expression instead of having information spoon fed to you like other means of writing. Caution should be taken when reading blogs since anyone can post anything. Fact or fiction should be the thought process utilized when reading. Tom, Dick or Harry can post whatever they want and leave it up to the reader to buy or sell.

6 comments:

  1. Vikingman, you said it so well. When you write something and publish it, there's no taking it back. It's out there. There's no getting that privacy back. I wonder if all these people who are publishing their entire lives for the world, will regret it later?? Or will it make us all a little more honest?

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  2. @vikingman - I think you are definitely right about needing to use caution when reading blogs. Critical reading is required to know the difference between an author's opinion and factual information.

    @Austin Tolkien Hobb - I think some of the kids who are publishing pictures and information about themselves may definitely come to regret it later because they don't know the ramifications of their actions. It's something that we need to teach them, but hard to find a place in which to do it.

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  3. Now, vikingman - I wasn't going to say you were half empty, but since you did...
    I agree that those kids may regret things they have posted - we've already seen it. But as a parent and administrator, don't you think it is part of our responsibility to "KNOW" what's out there so that we can teach it? Think about it, we've seen the repercussions of drugs or alcohol and so we teach our kids responsibility. Isn't it the same? If we just ignore that drugs and alcohol are out there, we run from it, don't educate about it - we are leading our kids down a path that they will regret!
    We take classes and courses like this, that deal with the reality of things, so that we are aware, so that we can teach and so that we can prepare our students. It is important for you to know and be aware - it's part of our job! (maryw - the when and they place ARE the hard parts!)

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  4. I read that article as well and it is sobering. It seems like it is an additional thing that we are needing to teach. However, if we don't, who will? The similarities made to Nazi Germany are scary and I don't ever want to see us come to that so we do have to take a roll.

    Enjoyed hanging out today.

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  5. Ooops. I was also supposed to include a link to my own blog in the previous post, so I'll add it here. I can be found at...http://techsploringprincipal.blogspot.com/.

    Later

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  6. I'm glad you pointed out that caution should be used when reading blogs. It is true that anyone could write anything or link anything - fact or fiction. Blogging can be very enlightening, just consider the source.

    http://learning-bobcatteacher.blogspot.com/

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