Blog Post 3

“Always Learning”

I found this blog to be one that “worked” for a variety of reasons. I thought the overall layout of the blog was nicely done and looked professional without over crowding the page. The blog gave the reader something to look at as well as think about with the quality of content on their page. The author, Kim Cofino, takes the time to explain why she is using a blog as well as why its important to reflect back on your personal teaching experiences. In terms of design, I thought this blog used white space to her advantage and presented the material in a logical and meaningful way. I thought the Kim’s blog was creative and user friendly, which made traveling around her page easy to do. The blog utilizes different tabs on the top of the page to separate different pages, which is why I think I enjoyed her blog so much. The material was separated into different categories and included links to other pages or resources. I thought at times the blog was a little text heavy but I don’t think it interfered with the overall quality of her page. As I was scrolling down Kim’s blog it seemed to be full of content, which tells me that she is serious about her blog and takes time to make it appealing to a variety of potential readers.

“State of Ohio Education”

This blog did not seem to ”work” in my opinion because of its design and layout flaws. At first I thought the page was nicely laid out, but as I scrolled down, the content became hard to read and felt crammed along the side. The author tried to include too much on their main page and actually hurt their blog by doing so. Going down the right side of the page there are links with different dates (blog archive) that looks repetitive and boring. I understand that the author, Colleen Grady, is trying to provide additional information and past work, but this way is not very appealing. I think it would be helpful for this blog to use more illustrations and/or pictures on their page to make it “come to life” and give the viewer something else to look at. I think the Colleen does use white space well on her blog but it can be excessive at times. After reading her blog, I would guess that Colleen is relatively new to blogger and only uses the basic features of the site. One aspect of her blog that I really enjoyed was her “recommended books” section, which allowed her to express her opinion on different authors or pieces of literature. I think that this blog has potential but needs to be slightly altered to appeal to more viewers.

Using Wordle: Accessibility

1) Is it important for all people to have access to the Internet? Why or why not?

2) Will eliminating the digital divide create new global, national, and/or local social problems?

3) What might these new problems be?

Blog Post 2

It ‘s hard for me to take a stance on whether or not we, as a community, should scrutinize teachers’ private lives because I think it is a case-by-case situation. For the most part, I think that teachers’ private lives should be left alone from criticism by parents, other employees, or students unless it interferes with their performance in the classroom. If a teacher chooses to be a model on the weekends, I think that is their right. However, if that teacher chooses to be an underwear model, I would argue that it would create a distraction in the classroom and that teacher would not be fit for the job. In addition, I think teachers must be aware of their social networking sites and delete or “untag” any post or image that shows them in an inappropriate way. I would also argue that as a community and as mature adults, parents must realize that teachers can enjoy a beer responsibly with friends and should not lose their jobs for it. I know that every teacher can’t be perfect, but I have to believe most teachers will recognize they are these student’s role models and will act appropriately online or out in public. I think that a learning environment can be created outside of the classroom and teachers should be able to interact with students if the students are better for it.

As a future teacher, if an image of me drinking a beer responsibly and legally came up on the Internet, I would use it as an example to teach students about the dangers of underage drinking or how to safely do so when they are of age. I think that we as educators must make an impact on our students’ lives in a positive way and if that can be achieved through social networking, it should be a possibility in the classroom. I think that technology will play a significant role in our future education system, and we need to teach students now how to be safe, smart, and sensible when ever we are on the Internet. I don’t think Facebook is necessarily the best option for students and teachers to communicate, but other sites such as Edmodo could be very beneficial for posting assignments, grades, or announcements. To prevent sanctions or criticism by appearing in something inappropriate, I would trust who I am as a person and avoid situations that could cause a conflict. I personally would not accept friend request from students just as a way to keep my work life and private life separate. In short, I think there is a time and place for everything and as a teacher could find a time to relax and enjoy myself away from cameras and students.