PLN4: Should we use Laptops in School?

A question was posed by Dr. Warschauer,which asks if laptops in a classroom are a waste of money and why. I think to some extent the laptops are a waste, however, they can be a good thing. For example, with how much technology is progressing, you can almost guarantee we'll be using computer in out careers. However, I was looking at some comments on his blog, and there was some terrible spelling and grammar. This to me means we don't spend enough time teaching kids how to read and write, and too much time on the computer. In conclusion, the laptops are not a waste of money, but we should use them less.

PLN 3: Free Choice

The Serious Side of Southpark

Most people watch Southpark for its humor. However, very few people know that it addresses some very serious issues. Some of these issues include illiteracy ("Chicken Lover") and World of War Craft ("Make Love Not Warcraft"). In "Chicken Lover", it shows the possible tragic effects of a cop who cant read. In "Make Love Not Warcraft", it shows how video games contribute to childhood obesity, and lack of a social life. "How can you kill that which has no life?" is a quote from the episode that I think helps illustrate my point. It shows that the lack of a life caused by video games make someone not human anymore, and therefore, lame. Next time you watch Southpark, keep this in mind. It might change your life.

Change the World: Child Abuse

Child abuse is a huge problems plaguing the world. 84% of inmates were abused as children. One in three girls and one in five boys are abused sexually as children. 80% of abusers are close to the child not the cliche stranger with a lollipop. 12.1 of every 1000 American children are abused, almost 900,000,000 in all, and it is estimated that for every abuse case that are reported, two go unreported.4 children in America die daily from abuse or neglect. This isn't just America's problem though, it is international. For example1 child dies daily from abuse in England, and they have 30,000 children on the list of names that health or social services are concerned for the risk of abuse. In conclusion, abuse leads to deaths, and accounts for 84%of American inmates. It must be stopped.

How is the internet changing the way you think?

There was a question posed by Edge Magazine that said "How is the Internet changing the way you think?" The Internet is an incredibly powerful tool and an amazing resource. almost anything can be brought to you with just a push of a button. You can research a topic, play games, listen to music, or do anything you want on the Internet. Teachers and parents speak of a time where there were these things called "books" which is what they grew up with, and they would have to search through these ancient devises to find what they wanted. Now, we have Google. The Internet truly has made anything possible, and can make anything easy.