Virtual Classroom, interview followup

Last week we experimented with a "virtual classroom" settting on blackboard. This was basically a chat room. In this, we tried to hold a class discussion on following up with certain links posted and our reactions to them and such. I read a story, and watched a short little interview on ABC news. THey were both interesting, of course the ideas and comments crossed over with both the artcle (CNET) and interview (ABC news) since thye were from the same co-author. THe main headlines for both are that parents should get involved, technology adds to creativity of user and Digital Native, multiple personas online and mroe social outlets.

John Palfrey really stressed the importance of parents getting involved in what their kids do online. I think mostly this pertained to social networking, like myspace. He added that kids don't mind showing their friends pages rather than there own, maybe more to hide from parents online? This also ties into his point of kids having multiple personalities online and in person. Its different communicating with someone face to face, rather than behind the computer. This is very true for the most part.. talking to people you don't normally talk to in person, talking more online than in person, there are just more emotions and feelin when you talk to people in person rather than online. Online chatting has less feeling involved, not all the time can you detect things like sarcasm, etc. Also, the part on creativity was a very positive point that the author brought to the attention of the viewer. Technology is used as a tool to expand and enhance users' creativity, and art. This can deal with creating logo's for groups using software available on computers. Technology is basically a tool in every aspect.

I agree with most of the basis for the book. Although it's a tad overrated in my opinion (digital literacy) it's a good way of dealin with the problem by educating the audience on both sides -- good and bad. This is a parallel to dealing with media bias, no way to eliminate it, but rather education people in order to recognize the good and bad. Now we have technology there's no way to eliminate the bad that comes out of it, so educating users (and non users--digital immigrants) in the positive, and negative aspects of internet in order to use it as a tool in helping us get something done efficiently, or whatever we may use it for.