Friday, August 19, 2011
No Longer Using This Site
Sorry to confuse you, but I have decided to discontinue using this site. I've recently found that using the MyCourses blogging tool is more efficient for grading purposes. You should now use the blog associated with MyCourses. On the class homepage, there is a link that will take you to it. Please use that link instead.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Farewell
There are no more blogs for the semester. Thanks for all the participation and commentary you've provided. I hope you've enjoyed the class. Don't forget that the April Movie Quiz must be completed by the end of April 21st (Thursday) and the Final Exam is available starting the 22nd and running through the 27th.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Should Teachers Use Facebook
A couple of weeks ago we talked about prisoners who were using Facebook to communicate to the outside world. I asked the question if restricting prisoners' use of social media violated their first amendment rights.
So here's a different situation. In the past few weeks, a number of teachers have been fired or disciplined for commenting on their students' behavior online. As a result, many school boards are now coming up with official policies as to what teachers can and cannot say on social networking sites. Read the following article here and tell me what you think. Are you violating a teacher's first amendment right to free speech if you are now telling them what they can and cannot say online? Are there other professions where speech online should be limited? If you were a teacher and had a bad day in class (for example your students were behaving badly) should you be punished for pointing that out online?
So here's a different situation. In the past few weeks, a number of teachers have been fired or disciplined for commenting on their students' behavior online. As a result, many school boards are now coming up with official policies as to what teachers can and cannot say on social networking sites. Read the following article here and tell me what you think. Are you violating a teacher's first amendment right to free speech if you are now telling them what they can and cannot say online? Are there other professions where speech online should be limited? If you were a teacher and had a bad day in class (for example your students were behaving badly) should you be punished for pointing that out online?
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
How does your phone impact your life
I'd like you to read the following story by clicking here. Then I'd like you to tell me what aspects of your phone you use the most: just for calls, for games, for music, for web browsing, pictures and video, etc.
This also brings up a bigger discussion that I was having with friends this weekend. How do you think cell phone technology has negatively impacted society today? For all the advantages and ease of communication it creates, how do you think it harms society?
This also brings up a bigger discussion that I was having with friends this weekend. How do you think cell phone technology has negatively impacted society today? For all the advantages and ease of communication it creates, how do you think it harms society?
Monday, March 28, 2011
Technology and Teens
According to the latest poll from the Pew Organization, about 75 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds in the United States own a mobile phone, up from 45 percent in 2004. This begs the question, "When do we let Teens gain access to their own personal technology?" What do you think is an appropriate age for someone to get their own cell phone? When do you think a child should have their own computer with an internet connection in their room? When should a child have their own television? Also, how many teens out there are sending or receiving sexual material over their cell phone? Some recent polls indicate 1 out of 3. Why do you think this trend, called "sexting" is becoming so popular?
Monday, March 21, 2011
Facebook As Free Speech
I'd like you to read the following article. Read it thoroughly so you can understand all the arguments. Now post your ideas on the following.
1. If a prisoner is allowed to send mail to the outside world (knowing it is monitored), should he/she be allowed to use a prison's computer to create a facebook page (if it is monitored). I'm not talking about using contraband cell phones. What if the prison allowed internet use for some prisoners?
2. Should state laws be put in place that would block outsiders (third party friends/family) from creating facebook pages for people in prison? The article states "Inmates in federal prison and a handful of other jurisdictions also have limited access to e-mail, and typically can only send it to people who have previously agreed to it." If that is the case, should laws ban criminals from having third parties set up the page and fill it with content emailed by the prisoner.
3. What is your general feeling on the article. It's easy to say that prisoners don't deserve access to social media when they are paying their time. That may be totally true. But can you think of ways in which a prisoner's right to free speech may be violated by these laws? Perhaps an even bigger question is whether you think prisoners should have the right to free speech at all?
1. If a prisoner is allowed to send mail to the outside world (knowing it is monitored), should he/she be allowed to use a prison's computer to create a facebook page (if it is monitored). I'm not talking about using contraband cell phones. What if the prison allowed internet use for some prisoners?
2. Should state laws be put in place that would block outsiders (third party friends/family) from creating facebook pages for people in prison? The article states "Inmates in federal prison and a handful of other jurisdictions also have limited access to e-mail, and typically can only send it to people who have previously agreed to it." If that is the case, should laws ban criminals from having third parties set up the page and fill it with content emailed by the prisoner.
3. What is your general feeling on the article. It's easy to say that prisoners don't deserve access to social media when they are paying their time. That may be totally true. But can you think of ways in which a prisoner's right to free speech may be violated by these laws? Perhaps an even bigger question is whether you think prisoners should have the right to free speech at all?
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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