1. A survey by the Pew Internet
& American Life Project found that in 2004, 67 percent of parents said the
Internet has been a good thing for their children. However, this number
decreased to 59 percent in 2006. In 2012, 69% of parents
of online teens said they were concerned about how their child’s online
activity might affect their future academic or employment opportunities, with
some 44% being “very” concerned. Cite some reasons why parental support for
their children’s independent internet use is decreasing. Why do you think the
number of parents who reported the Internet being a good thing for their
children has decreased?
Parental support for independent
internet usage seems to be decreasing, because of the vast array of new gadgets
that continue to flood the market which are being marketed to younger and younger
children. Since 2004, more and more people have access to the internet through
mobile devices. Computers are not just at home anymore. Technology improves
yearly, keeping people buying faster, smaller, lighter gadgets. The marketing
of these products makes people feel out of the loop if they are not connected. The
competition among internet providers is growing as each provider tries to
market and draw in younger and younger customers. Parents are asked by their children
for ipads, ipod touches, laptops, tablets and phones with Wifi at younger and
younger ages. The number of web applications has also increased exponentially
making it even more difficult for parents to monitor their children’s internet
activity. Children as young as 1st grade and younger have mobile
devices. Parents are concerned about the negative aspects internet has on these
children. They are also concerned if these children are old enough to use the
technology appropriately and safely. We see more and more instances of
predators using the internet to gain access to children. Law enforcement
agencies now have specialized units to deal with internet crimes. Furthermore, those children deemed old enough to use the
technology continue to make daily headlines about bullying, suicide,
harassment, pornography, cheating and stalking. Parents are reflecting on this
information, while being connected is useful, technology opens up a whole new
world and makes even our youngest users vulnerable. Parents are also taking
note about the damage a digital footprint can leave when technology is not used
properly.
2. More teachers are using
tools to try to detect cheating or deter students’ inclination to cheat. In the
program, we see the use of plagiarism-detection tools like Turnitin.com and
writing assignments completed during class time to make sure students do their
own work and generate their own ideas. How can we as educators stop students
from using material they found online as their own work? Should that be
considered cheating, in your opinion?
We as educators can stop
students from using material they find on-line by encouraging responsible
internet use. Parents also can be a partner in this goal. How many children
under the age of 12 do you know who have a Facebook account or Twitter account?
Most ages for these social media sites are 13 and up. Many parents are okay
with the students participating before turning the recommended age. So are we encouraging
our children to lie to gain access? We need to teach more morals and values. At
the same time, we shouldn’t shelter our children from technology. We must be
proactive in fostering values and beliefs in our children on why this wonderful
phenomenon should not be abused. We should train students to use the internet
to supplement or enhance their work. We need to come up with creative lesson
plans, so children are not motivated to take the easy way out.
I think we need to remind
children what we mean by plagiarism. Data is so accessible, which is a great
benefit. But just like when you craft a paper from documented resources, if you
intentionally try to pass somebody else’s work off as your own its cheating.
Whether it’s a net resource or book resource, plagiarism is plagiarism and if
you don’t cite the source it’s cheating.
3. One student claims he
"never reads books" but relies on summaries and annotated notes he
finds on Web sites. He confesses that he feels guilty about this, stating,
"I feel like I kind of cheated it." In your opinion, should he feel
guilty? Why or why not?
I don’t think the student
cheated-but I do think he’s cheating himself. I read the SparkNotes website and
the intent is for it to be used as a supplemental resource. SparkNotes claims to
“give you all the information you need, but doesn’t write the essay for you.” The
student still has to do the work. Some kids take speed reading courses and
learn tips and tricks to get the main point of articles without reading the
whole article. I’d say this is similar. Let’s face it services like SparkNotes
are not going away. What we need to do as educators is inspire the students to
read the book we are teaching about. We need to make creative assignments that
can’t be answered by SparkNotes. As educators, we would be better off teaching
children about these tools. Some students who are struggling with the material
might greatly benefit from using them as a study guide. The key to curbing the “cheating”
aspect is to teach the students how to use the tools responsibly.
4. Before the Internet, in
order to be seen by the world, you had to be portrayed in some form of mass
media, and you had to be famous in some respect -- in the news, in politics or
as a celebrity. Now anyone can be seen online by anyone else in the world. Some
people have become famous for videos or photos they’ve posted (such as Autumn
Edows).
In your opinion, should people
like Edows, or others who become “famous” through their online presence, be
considered “celebrities?”
Has the ability to create an
online persona, and receive worldwide attention for it, affected our cultural
values?
Yes, I believe these people are
celebrities. They are celebrities because the people who follow them make them
celebrities. When we visit the websites of these people, comment or follow
them, we are guilty of propagating their celebrity status. Most people become
celebrities by doing outrageous things. Celebrities have existed since the
beginning or time. Social media just makes it easier for more people to get
their shot at “15 minutes” of fame. There were good and bad celebrities and fad
followings long before the internet. Just look at the rock-n-roll movement. I
remember how Madonna was controversial in the 80’s. For better or worse, she
became famous by doing outrageous things. The only difference now is anyone can
try to become famous. I’m sure being able to create an online persona does
encourage some people to step outside themselves and do things they would not
normally do in person. However, you still have people who are taught responsible
internet protocol and are using their celebrity for positive things. I do think
cultural values have declined. I also think the internet has contributed to
this. Children are exposed to things at a much faster rate. Parents have less
control over what they can filter and shield their children from. Even if you
screen the internet at home, it doesn’t mean they don’t have access at their friend’s
house. However, I do not solely blame the internet. I think every generation
experiences something the prior generation did not. Look at when radios were
the mode of communication, then phones, then TV’s. We are just experiencing the
cultural phenomenon of the moment.
5. Shows like "To Catch a
Predator" on Dateline NBC (http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10912603/) contribute to parental anxiety about online media. It is obvious
that certain elements of programs like “To Catch a Predator,” and even this
documentary, will likely increase parents’ fears.
Cite one current event from the
past year where a young person has been affected (positively or negatively) by
being active online. (find a link to a news story, describe it in your answer
to this question, and provide the link as well).
I have a recent example about
the dangers of the internet for minors, which unfortunately ended in tragedy. Anyone
who reads headline news is probably familiar with the story about the 12
year-old girl in Florida who committed suicide. The girl was a victim of
constant cyber bullying by classmates. The most shocking aspect of this story
is that after the girl died, one of the girls who bullied her posted to her Facebook
account that “she didn’t care if the girl was dead.” The complete lack of
remorse was shocking. In July, Florida expanded their bullying laws to cover
cyber bullying. The Polk County Sheriff’s department decided to make an arrest
in this instance, taking advantage of the expanded law. They are hopeful
bringing charges against the perpetrator will save someone else from enduring what
this girl went through. Typically schools deal with this kind of bullying, but
more and more law enforcement units are being trained how to investigate cyber
related crimes. This is just one of the many instances where the internet was
abused and led a young person to take their own life.
.
Link to story:
6. Teasing, lying, gossiping,
threatening, spreading rumors or harassing online (and offline)can severely
affect people’s self-concept and self-esteem and have an impact on their
emotional state. In the program, we see one girl who describes flirting with
boys and then revealing she was just kidding. She explains: "You wouldn’t
do that to someone’s face, but online is completely different. ... No one can
do anything. You’re at your house, they’r e at their house."
In her quote, this teen is describing Suler’s disinhibition effect. Which one do you think it is, and why?
This girl was describing Suler’s
“You Can’t See Me” (invisibility) disinhibition effect and the “See you Later”
(asynchronicity) effect. When the girl flirts, she doesn’t have to deal with seeing
the physical or emotional response to the words she has written if she doesn’t
want to. It removes the aspect of dealing with how a person responds to what
you are saying physically. This allows for people to say things they probably
would not say to your face. The girl can throw her flirting out there, but
choose not to respond or deal with a message from the recipient of her
affections. This also becomes an emotional hit and run situation. She makes it
worse by then saying “I was just kidding”.
7. At the end of the program,
Greg decides it’s time for him to "disconnect" by going to the Coast
Guard Academy, where he will spend seven weeks without cell phones or the
Internet.
Have you ever thought about
"disconnecting" from it all?
I have absolutely thought about
disconnecting from it all. Sometimes all this technology is so overwhelming. The
24/7 access people have to each other creates a lot of stress in my life at
times. When I become frustrated with the busy fast paced life my family leads,
I often joke about moving to the country, living off the land, growing our own
food and homeschooling my children. Just packing up and leaving suburbia
behind. The interesting part is my kids think it’s a good idea!
Do you think it would be easy
or difficult for you personally?
Yes, I know I can do it. I don’t
think I could for long periods of time, but if you get immersed in something
you really enjoy it’s easy to let technology go. For instance, when we visit my
parents for Christmas, they live in the country. They have only had dial-up
internet all these years, because cable internet does not reach them. Whenever
we visit our cell phones don’t get service, because of where they live. It is
annoying when my husband has had work to do, but it was nice just to decompress
and enjoy each other’s company. My parents were just able to get high speed
internet access via satellite dish. I often hear from my mom now, how all my nieces
do is text constantly when they come to visit. However, they usually forget
their cell phone chargers, so eventually their phones go dead. This is a good
thing, because disconnecting allows them to spend quality time with Grandma and
make some special memories.
What would you enjoy or dislike about disconnecting? The best
thing about disconnecting when we go to the beach for vacation or visit Grandma’s
is you actually get to relax. I just tell everyone, I am going out of town and
will not have internet access. I literally do not answer my phone or check
email for an entire week. It’s really rejuvenating. I read an article on AOL
the other day and it listed traits of highly productive individuals. One of the
traits was being able to take a vacation and disconnect. While technology is a
wonderful thing it does add another level of stress we did not have to deal
with prior the creation of the internet.
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