Comments on: MySpace education http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/03/myspace-education/ Weblog of Wesley Fryer Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Education 4 the 21st Century http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/03/myspace-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1475 Education 4 the 21st Century Fri, 21 Apr 2006 04:34:59 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=782#comment-1475 [...] In a recent blog post about the media hype surrounding MySpace, Wesley Fryer (Moving at the Speed of Creativity), expresses concern over media sensationalism and their lack of responsibility towards educating people instead of scaring them to death. I agree completely with his views on educating parents, students, and the community as a whole about the many resources and opportunities available online — and available through these kinds of social networking sites. [...] [...] In a recent blog post about the media hype surrounding MySpace, Wesley Fryer (Moving at the Speed of Creativity), expresses concern over media sensationalism and their lack of responsibility towards educating people instead of scaring them to death. I agree completely with his views on educating parents, students, and the community as a whole about the many resources and opportunities available online — and available through these kinds of social networking sites. [...]

]]> By: Kevin Farnham http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/03/myspace-education/comment-page-1/#comment-639 Kevin Farnham Wed, 22 Mar 2006 03:31:32 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=782#comment-639 MySpace represents a gulf between generations. Both young teens and their parents have misconceptions about MySpace. I've studied MySpace thoroughly, and I'm writing a book about MySpace safety ("MySpace Safety: 51 Tips for Teens and Parents"). Many teens seem to think that what they post on MySpace is visible only to their close friends -- they are stunned when they find out a parent or teacher has seen their page. Some parents seem to think the answer is to just ban the kids from going to MySpace, or banning them from using the computer. But, that's banning what is normal behavior for teens today. Today's 15 year olds have been connected to video and screens and computers for their entire life. This is the world as they know it, and an attempt to ban a perfectly normal way of relating with each other will do nothing more than send their online activities into secrecy. On the http://www.HowToPrimers.com web site I'm posting entries that are first drafts for sections of the book. There are so many examples where MySpace provides a capability that's very nice--but if the MySpace function is used without consideration that you're posting on the web and that the postings can be read by anyone, then the users themselves introduce risk. Hence, my wife and I are writing the book. How many predators are there out there? Plenty (just visit your state's sexual criminal online registry and you'll probably be surprised). Safety on MySpace is really a lot like safety on a playground. You don't drop off your kids, go away for a few hours, and hope nothing bad happens. You stay there, play with them yourself, and the would-be predator who strolls down the street sees you there and keeps walking. Anyone who says there isn't danger is deluded. But the real danger is due to parents being inadequately involved, being too computer illiterate to correct the naivete that results in unwitting risk-taking by their young teens and underage MySpace users. MySpace represents a gulf between generations. Both young teens and their parents have misconceptions about MySpace. I’ve studied MySpace thoroughly, and I’m writing a book about MySpace safety (“MySpace Safety: 51 Tips for Teens and Parents”).

Many teens seem to think that what they post on MySpace is visible only to their close friends — they are stunned when they find out a parent or teacher has seen their page.

Some parents seem to think the answer is to just ban the kids from going to MySpace, or banning them from using the computer. But, that’s banning what is normal behavior for teens today. Today’s 15 year olds have been connected to video and screens and computers for their entire life. This is the world as they know it, and an attempt to ban a perfectly normal way of relating with each other will do nothing more than send their online activities into secrecy.

On the http://www.HowToPrimers.com web site I’m posting entries that are first drafts for sections of the book. There are so many examples where MySpace provides a capability that’s very nice–but if the MySpace function is used without consideration that you’re posting on the web and that the postings can be read by anyone, then the users themselves introduce risk.

Hence, my wife and I are writing the book. How many predators are there out there? Plenty (just visit your state’s sexual criminal online registry and you’ll probably be surprised).

Safety on MySpace is really a lot like safety on a playground. You don’t drop off your kids, go away for a few hours, and hope nothing bad happens. You stay there, play with them yourself, and the would-be predator who strolls down the street sees you there and keeps walking.

Anyone who says there isn’t danger is deluded. But the real danger is due to parents being inadequately involved, being too computer illiterate to correct the naivete that results in unwitting risk-taking by their young teens and underage MySpace users.

]]> By: Wesley Fryer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/03/myspace-education/comment-page-1/#comment-532 Wesley Fryer Mon, 06 Mar 2006 17:00:54 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=782#comment-532 I totally agree Jim, we can't just sit back and let parents and others assume the news articles they read in the press or see on TV fully communicate the spectrum of dangers as well as beneficial uses of educational technology. I think technology departments ought to consider taking ths challenge on formally at levels. Part of what they can do in this dialog with parents is showcast the innovative and great things students and teachers in their districts are doing with technology. So this can be parent education as well as district-PR rolled into one. I totally agree Jim, we can’t just sit back and let parents and others assume the news articles they read in the press or see on TV fully communicate the spectrum of dangers as well as beneficial uses of educational technology. I think technology departments ought to consider taking ths challenge on formally at levels. Part of what they can do in this dialog with parents is showcast the innovative and great things students and teachers in their districts are doing with technology. So this can be parent education as well as district-PR rolled into one.

]]> By: Jim McNelis http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/03/myspace-education/comment-page-1/#comment-522 Jim McNelis Sun, 05 Mar 2006 06:00:16 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=782#comment-522 Thanks for the mention Wes! I shouldn't have been surprised but when I brought up cybersafety at a school board meeting, there were some members who had never heard of myspace or the other websites. It's kind of dismaying. I mean my parents had no clue what I was into when I was a teen, but they actually WERE immigrants (not digital, but Irish!). ;) We're all busy professionals and everything, but depending on the media to educate us as parents is asking for trouble. Thanks for the mention Wes! I shouldn’t have been surprised but when I brought up cybersafety at a school board meeting, there were some members who had never heard of myspace or the other websites. It’s kind of dismaying. I mean my parents had no clue what I was into when I was a teen, but they actually WERE immigrants (not digital, but Irish!). ;) We’re all busy professionals and everything, but depending on the media to educate us as parents is asking for trouble.

]]> By: Wesley Fryer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/03/myspace-education/comment-page-1/#comment-521 Wesley Fryer Sun, 05 Mar 2006 05:33:18 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=782#comment-521 Good for you Mark, taking on the parent education challenge in your educational sphere. That's what we all need to do. The <a href="http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/Current_Issue/March_2006.htm#features" rel="nofollow">March 2006 issue of ISTE's Learning and Leading with Technology</a> (unfortunately not a free download) has a great article on "Digital Citizenship at All Levels." This idea of digital citizenship is a great one teachers can use in the same conversation with parents about Internet safety. It's not just about being safe on the Internet, heck, if that is all we want to do we could just ban Internet use. We want students to learn responsible and effective Internet use (which is also safe) so they can thrive in the digital environment. Best of luck in your upcoming preso, Mark. More teachers need to be following your lead! :-) Good for you Mark, taking on the parent education challenge in your educational sphere. That’s what we all need to do.

The March 2006 issue of ISTE’s Learning and Leading with Technology (unfortunately not a free download) has a great article on “Digital Citizenship at All Levels.” This idea of digital citizenship is a great one teachers can use in the same conversation with parents about Internet safety. It’s not just about being safe on the Internet, heck, if that is all we want to do we could just ban Internet use. We want students to learn responsible and effective Internet use (which is also safe) so they can thrive in the digital environment. Best of luck in your upcoming preso, Mark. More teachers need to be following your lead! :-)

]]> By: Mark Ahlness http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/03/myspace-education/comment-page-1/#comment-520 Mark Ahlness Sat, 04 Mar 2006 16:53:51 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=782#comment-520 Wesley, I agree. Dangers and opportunities - what a strange, loaded combination to have to deal with. I'll be trying next week when I host a Family Internet Night in my classroom. I think I'll lead with the opportunities :) - as I don't want to lose everybody right off the bat. Figure if I send them home with a few questions about Internet safety in their own houses, that'll be best. Nobody else is out there for the parents, so it has to be us teachers. It doesn't help when a local newspaper recently quotes my district as saying (incorrectly) that MySpace.com is not blocked in our schools. And Glenn, I would have put my hand up if I was in that room. Now, to be honest, I've done exactly TWO podcasts with my kids, but have lots more in the works - they will be out there in the next couple of weeks. Makes me wonder why our corner of the US is lagging so far behind others. I've been watching lots of other regional tech conferences - they have a very different feel... - Mark Wesley, I agree. Dangers and opportunities – what a strange, loaded combination to have to deal with. I’ll be trying next week when I host a Family Internet Night in my classroom. I think I’ll lead with the opportunities :) – as I don’t want to lose everybody right off the bat. Figure if I send them home with a few questions about Internet safety in their own houses, that’ll be best. Nobody else is out there for the parents, so it has to be us teachers. It doesn’t help when a local newspaper recently quotes my district as saying (incorrectly) that MySpace.com is not blocked in our schools.

And Glenn, I would have put my hand up if I was in that room. Now, to be honest, I’ve done exactly TWO podcasts with my kids, but have lots more in the works – they will be out there in the next couple of weeks. Makes me wonder why our corner of the US is lagging so far behind others. I’ve been watching lots of other regional tech conferences – they have a very different feel… – Mark

]]> By: Glenn E Malone http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/03/03/myspace-education/comment-page-1/#comment-519 Glenn E Malone Sat, 04 Mar 2006 13:21:22 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/?p=782#comment-519 Here Here Right on I'm positive it's not happening on a wide scale. At our regional tech conference in the Northwest NCCE, Hall Davidson asks the crowd of 2000 tech educators in his keynote, "how many of you do podcasts with kids?"....not one hand went up...shame on us. Here Here

Right on

I’m positive it’s not happening on a wide scale.

At our regional tech conference in the Northwest NCCE, Hall Davidson asks the crowd of 2000 tech educators in his keynote, “how many of you do podcasts with kids?”….not one hand went up…shame on us.

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