Comments on: Here We Go Again–Part 2

By: KB Conner

KB Conner — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:11:59 +0000

Will – I think you’ve touched on the most important point of this documentary: there is a need to educate kids about the online component of their lives. People love to fly off the handle about online dangers, and some clever presenters have managed to make a living from scaring the crap out of parents at “Internet Safety Nights.” Meanwhile, the well-crafted iSafe curriculum goes largely unused in schools, and it is a completely free resource. I just read an item that some former FCC commissioners want to create online safety materials: my first question is why, when there is already plenty out there, and secondly, why should we trust them to create a quality product?
Again, I agree with some of the prior comments here – let’s not work from fear, rather this is an excellent opportunity to begin discussions and do what we’re supposed to be good at – education!

By: Serendipity35

Serendipity35 — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:50:46 +0000

Where We Are, Where We Are Going…

Two reports, one video, one in print that I looked at in January that are worth some time and consideration. One
looks at where our students (and therefore their teachers and schools) are online, while the other suggests what
technologies may be emer…

By: paul shircliff

paul shircliff — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:04:05 +0000

I watched the Frontline episode and thought it was a good primer for discussion. It seemed pretty even to me also. I hope my fellow staff members will watch it (if I can make it availble to them, maybe show parts at in-service) and we can discuss how to safely incorporate this digital world (because we are not in our school). I always find it interesting when kids post things on the Internet, then complain about invasion of privacy. I am a teacher and not a parent, so I have trouble understanding why/how a parent puts a computer in their childs room. I tell my parents to have the computer out where they “could” walk by at anytime. I know kids will still switch screens, but it is better than complete secrecy. In a way it is scary that children create complete alter egos and prefer to live in the digital world. That does not seem healthy to me (or productive to society).

By: Growing up Online - what are our youth facing? « Connie Cossar’s Tech”no” Blog

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:32:17 +0000

[...] interactions with these social networking tools have been very similar to how Will Richardson described his own experience: “And I think that was the major point that was driven home to [...]

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:40:57 +0000

Yes… I really think we need to participate in their world rather than try to define their experiences through our own perspectives. This is very different than most of us experienced growing up. So I say, take the bull by the horns. Educate. Participate. Talk. Help them think clearly. Be interested and excited and the positive possibilities on-line. Talk about the impact of poor and impulsive decisions. For me, that was the one area that really stood out – this new medium for impulsive behavior. What can seem so funny one moment can be so destructive a few moments after “post” or “upload” is clicked. It is also so true that it is much easier to say things virtually that one would never say face2face – or to be misunderstood due to lack of body language and vocal expression/inflection. An analogy to safe sex can be made here, I think. Sex education for adolescents is so important. Yet, it is often on impulse where all of that education and good information is shoved aside and in its place – impulsive and risky behavior. As a parent, my prayer is that my boys can do a decent job of thinking before they post.

By: joseph A. Putrino, Jr.

joseph A. Putrino, Jr. — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:38:15 +0000

Hey Will,

I watched this last night and I can honestly say that in this country we try to steer the audience. You would have thought there was an Internet Boggieman who lives in the computer and is looking for our children.

I have always felt as an educator we need to guide through understanding and inspiration and not by fear! I can say that I’m truly afraid of Americans! Check out the blog I posted in reaction to “Growing Up Online”

http://nlcommunities.com/communities/putrino/default.aspx

Thanks for the heads up.

By: Review of Frontline’s “Growing up Online” « Clif’s Notes

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:57:06 +0000

[...] Weblogg-ed: Post 1, Post 2 [...]

By: Bill Ferriter

Bill Ferriter — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:05:06 +0000

The most positive outcome (I thought) of the Frontline program was the focusing of attention on Cyberbullying as the primary concern for educators and parents of digital kids—as opposed to the constant attention to predators.

That’s a leverage point that can be used to encourage more positive conversations about the use of Web 2.0 tools in schools. While cyberbullying is a challenging problem in and of itself to deal with, it is decidely less frightening–and far more approachable—than online predators.

Bill

By: “Growing Up Online” « Classroom Tech Tips

“Growing Up Online” « Classroom Tech Tips — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:59:24 +0000

[...] reaction. Athough I only managed to catch the later half I do agree with Will Richardson’s assessment that if offered a fairly balanced perspective. If you missed the program you can watch the complete [...]

By: Rodd Lucier

Rodd Lucier — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:40:02 +0000

What came through for me was that the social communication of teens/tweens is in a ‘secret language’ that only kids understand… the language called “the Internet”.

If we freeze things the way they are, we might be able to bring more teachers into the present decade. http://thecleversheep.blogspot.com/2008/01/if-you-freeze-it-they-will-come.html

By: Amy Strecker

Amy Strecker — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:04:25 +0000

In writing about this for my own blog, I came across a post from “Autum Edows” saying that Frontline misrepresented her. There’s more here. http://mindoh.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/be-afraid-be-very-afraid-take-two/

By: Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid. Take two. « The MindOH! Blog

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid. Take two. « The MindOH! Blog — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:04:04 +0000

[...] The program was more interesting and much better balanced than I had expected. As I shared at Webblogg-ed, I do wish they’d done a better job of answering the question of what parents do from here. [...]

By: Mathew

Mathew — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:20:14 +0000

@JCB There may be easy access to anorexics and suicide promotion but there’s also easy access to healthy eating resources and places that promote living versus taking your life.

I thought the point about children going online to find what they’re looking for is apt.

While technology seems to have the power to transform our teaching (since our teaching hasn’t changed much in the last hundred years it probably isn’t hard to transform it) at home it seems to replicate traditional kid stuff like crushes, peer pressure, and bullying. The difference is easy access to unfiltered information and the potential for finding an audience.

By: Amy Strecker

Amy Strecker — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:11:50 +0000

I agree. From the trailer we all saw yesterday it looked like a doom’s day program for sure, however, the reality was much better. I would have liked to see them tackle the, “ok, so what DO parents do?” question a bit better. If I was a un-tech savvy parent, I’d be very tuned in, but still unsure what to do next. I feel bad for parents who don’t have any idea how to navigate the online world; I am sure many of them feel helpless when it come to their kids and technology.

The point you raise about the generational differences is huge, and a gap that will continue to widen. I’m only 24 and in the high school I taught in the last two years, I was definitely one of the most tech savvy teachers. I’ve had my own computer station since I was 5, thanks to my programmer dad, and I’ve been online since since I was 12, joined Facebook the week it opened to my university. However, even when dealing with tech issues and connectivity in my classroom, I always had students who were faster and better than I was. It’s an exciting thing, but it requires adults and parents to be very intentional about keeping up!

By: JCB

JCB — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:39:53 +0000

I also watched Frontline and though I would have liked more about education, I thought they did a nice job. Without sensationalizing they dealt with some of the dangers of children in an online world. Despite repeated claims that teenagers don’t distinguish between the “real” and cyber world, several of the kids told a different story. In at least 3 cases it was very clear that kids were developing a different, or seperate identity online. In some cases that has clear benefits but I don’t know any solutions to the easy access to fellow anorexics or those who promote suicide.