Weekly Reading #7

First Reading: Imagine All that Stuff Really Happening: narrative and identity in children's on-screen writing 

Summary:

This article explores the relationship between narrative and identity in children’s on-screen writing. Using archived emails, and story fragments, the article shows how children borrow and transform the writing practices and voices of others. The study illustrates how children draw on popular culture texts and blend them with classroom material to produce hybrid narratives.The research conducted in this study suggests digital media and the new forms of communication provide rich possibilities for redefining interaction, and establishing participation and production that reach out beyond classroom spaces. 

Quote:

"This analysis has shown how children introduce themselves through their writing, how they signal identity in their online communication and how they act as bricoleurs, borrowing discursive fragments from popular culture (GUY)."

What I Learned:

So much learning takes place from a child's culture.  We as educator's need to be culturally responsive to our students.  Bringing the popular culture into school can provide a tremendous learning opportunity for students.

Second Reading: Milford Schools Embrace Scoial Media

Summary:

As the title suggests, this article is about a school system that is embracing social media in their schools.  Previously, if a students was on facebook or twitter at school it would have meant the student illegally navigated past a filter blocking the popular social media sites.  School officials believe that social media sites will enhance a student's education.  It is a very controversial move in the district.

Quotes (I included several.):

• Amity Regional School District Superintendent of Schools John Brady summed up the opinions of many school leaders.
  "We feel the Internet resources we do provide and allow access to are more than adequate for educational purposes," he said. "The term 'social media' says it all."

• Foran Principal John Barile said the policy is "progressive."
  "We can't ignore (social media) or bury our heads in the sand," Barile said. "We certainly want to enhance our education for children."
  
• "There has been a long-held fear that kids would abuse such programs, but, as a school system, we need to help students learn how to use technology responsibly. I teach this to my students all the time, and we rarely have issues," Turtola said.

What I Learned:

It might not be such a bad idea to allow students to access social media sites that they use adamantly at home.  Let's face it, social media has become part of our society.  Just about every business has a Facebook page.  I understand that it may be hard at first to monitor all students.  I understand that allowing social networking in schools may bring up a liability issue when it comes to cyber bullying. However, students can and will use this sites outside of school.  Why not teach students how to use these resources responsibly?  

References:

GUY MERCHANT (2004) Imagine All that Stuff Really Happening: narrative and identity in children's on-screen writing, E-Learning and Digital Media, 1(3), 341-356. http://dx.doi.org/10.2304/elea.2004.1.3.2

McCready, B. (2011, Sep 25). Milford schools embrace social media. New Haven Register. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.fairmontstate.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/893953649?accountid=10797