Technology: Positive vs. Negative

Hello, all! Today I wanted to discuss the ever present pros versus cons of children utilizing social media. Before I begin, I will indulge the information that I have a son who is 12, his age falling into the social media category people argue the most about, so I do have some personal feelings and rules, aside from objective reasoning about the pros and cons.      Let's talk about pros first. There are a couple of really cool connections with middle and high school aged kids using social media. First, it allows them to connect with peers from outside their immediate realm of limited social exposure. This can be really important for kids who feel left out, alone, or different from the social circles in their schools or neighborhoods. The ability to connect with peers that share their interests is crucial for their ability to relate, connect, and social-emotional growth during this period of their lives. Secondly, the opportunity for educational resources through social m...

     Hey, everyone! So, I recently watched a video on Facebook that truly brought me to tears. It was a Pakistani woman, about 27 years old, and she simply told her story. She explained how a "good daughter" does what they're told in her country, so she got married at 18 to please her parents. Two years later, she and her husband got into a bad car accident. Her husband fled the car minimally injured, but left her in there. She sustained incredibly damaging injuries, including spinal injuries so severe that she lost the ability to walk, and was confined to a wheelchair. I know this sounds super sad, but PLEASE hang in there. She was understandably depressed after months in the hospital and a continuous assault of bad news. She was told she could no longer have children, and would never paint again.      She pleaded for someone to get her painting supplies, and she proved everyone wrong! She lost her grief and anger in the colors of the paintings, and thro...

Hey, everyone! So, we talked about Flipped Learning last Wednesday, and I WISH they would have adapted this concept when I was in middle and highs school! I've always been one that likes to teach myself the foundation of the material, and then ask questions if I have problems with the details. I HATED sitting in a class and having an instructor read slides off a Power Point, or read from a text. In grammar school and high school, I would tune out during lectures, and just read everything when I got home. That's just the way  I learned best. I think that Flipped Learning can be very beneficial because students can come to class with their questions at the ready. It can be very challenging for students who are given homework in a traditional model: they have questions, and there is no teacher there to answer them. Then they are forced to complete homework unsure if they are using the correct form or methods. They get confused, and just write whatever they can to complete the assi...

Hey, everybody! Today, I wanted to take a couple of minutes and talk about the importance of supportive and encouraging relationships in an adult learning environment. I'll be honest, sometimes I feel out of control, and like I'm being pulled in 100 separate directions. Every day I play the roles of mother, student, employee, significant other, daughter, friend, and sister. Many times I feel like my attention to one or more of those roles is slacking and needs some attention. That's a lot of hats to wear! Talking and commiserating  with my classmates who are in similar situations really eases my anxiety, and I think that the support and encouragement we bring to each other's lives is IMPERATIVE to our academic success, and emotional well being. That being said, if anyone ever needs a laugh, hug, shoulder, or an ear, I'm around! We're in this together, and I want us ALL to succeed!

     There are several positive aspects to technology changing in society today. Students are able to access a plethora of information quickly and efficiently. Gone are the days where a student had to search books line by line to answer a single question. The lack of monotony keeps students engaged, and more willing to learn because the process is not so painstaking anymore. Also, students have more access to teachers: whether it be Twitter, YouTube, or other computer programs that offer tips or digital tutoring, students can receive the specific assistance they need. Changing technology also allows students access to their grades through student portals. In the past, grades were kept in written gradebooks and students did not always have access to them. Now, students can monitor grades on their own, and have a better understanding  of which area needs improvement.     Improvements in technology are beneficial to teachers as well. As global education is ev...