Teens, Kindness and Cruelty on Social Media

I chose to read and discuss this article for a few reasons:

§  I have seen a rise in the incidents of cyber bullying being reported

§  I teach teens and preteens

§  I am the mother of a 12 year old.

 As I read the article, seeing that 95% of teens go online and 80% of those teens use social media. At the time, the most popular social network site for teens was Facebook. Surveyed teens believe that other teens are mostly kind on social media, but admit that have seen others be cruel. Most teens say that they come to the aid of those being bullied, although media attention is given to negative interactions on social media.

The article also states that teens are seeking advice from their friends and parents if they are bullied on social media. Many parents are even “friending” their teen in an effort to stay connect to monitor their teens’ activities.



References

Lenhart, A., Madden, M., Purcell, K., Rainie, L., Smith, A., & Zickuhr, K. (2011).Teens,
   Kindness and Cruelty on Social Network Sites.”: How American teens navigate the   new world of “digital citizenship.”  Retrieved on June 20, 2014 from 
   http://www.pewinternet.org/2011/11/09/teens-kindness-and-cruelty-on-social-network-sites/.

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The Vine & Instagram

FYI (because I didn't know):

The Vine is a mobile app owned by Twitter that enables its users to create and post short looping video clips.

The Vine classroom uses:  

• create book trailers
• create looping video of a particular task
• allow students visually create projects
• short oral presentations

Here's a vine video of the newest member of #lemasiondeBobino---Bailey
My husband found her wandering around the school where he teaches.  He and my daughter loaded her up and brought her home.  Oh Joy!

https://t.co/E9SrAVemh4
— Courtney Bobino (@C_Bobino) June 24, 2014

Instagram: is  an online mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing and social networking service that enables its users to take pictures and video.

Instagram classroom uses:  

• creating a storyboard
• creating photo/picture prompts for creative writing
• sharing student work
• sharing assignments
• documenting projects

The handsome gentlemen the picture below are my grandfather and great uncle. I used this picture on Instagram to honor them on Veteran's Day.
 

Screen-o-matic is fantastic! Sceenr is Keener!

1. 
   
2. 
   
3. A screencast is a digital recording of computer screen output, also known as a video screen capture, often containing audio narration. 
4. 
   

Screen-o-matic: I created a how to for accessing assignments/notes on my teacher webpage



I absolutely love Screen-o-matic.  I did not realize it was so easy to use. You are not required to set up an account-- just press the button and start recording.  The only drawback is that I could not embed the video. I had to upload it to Youtube and then embed it in to the blog.  Later, I found out that Java had to be updated.




Screenr:  I used screenr to create a screencast with step by step instructions for utilizing the Harris County Library's Website (Kid's Section) to locate books.



Screenr was also very user friendly. I was able to create an account by signing in through Facebook.
There is also a 5 minute time limit--that I went over.  I decided to record it--being more mindful of the time linit/
  I did have some problems getting started.  I had to change the security setting on Java to get it work. There were several dialog boxes that warned me that Screenr may be unsafe to use.  However, one I got the screencast done, I was able to embed it with out any problems.



Classroom uses:  I plan to record the instructions that have to repeat. I will be able to place the screencast on my teacher webpage and leave it there for reflection.

Libarary use:  Create how to videos for student to use.  This will enable students to have instructions at their fingertips 24/7.


Student use: Students will have no problem creating their  own how-to videos.  This will allow them to synthesis their knowledge of content, as well as, technology.

To be honest, the applications are very similar.  If I had to choose one, it would be Screenr. I found it the easier to use when embedding the screencasts into this blog

Teens & Libraries (Mining the PEW)

Today's teen has an entire world's libraries in the palm of their hands. IPads, Chromebooks and smart phones provide users with a wealth of information.  Where does this leave the library?

Most K-5 students visit the library regularly in school.  In middle school, we are scheduled to visit once a month--these visits are not mandatory-- and are often missed.  I suppose that high school students are not required to visit the library with their English class.  

While browsing through the  Pew Internet Research Project , I came across the presentation Teens and Libraries.

The presentation explains most teens live a world super saturated with technology.

• 95% use the Internet
• 60%-70% access the Internet from mobile devices
• 47% have smart phones 
• 80% are on some type of social media

Other research
Teens (16-17 year olds)--72% have been to the library in the previous year
                                   43% of  the teens mentioned above asked a librarian for assistance.








Raine, L. (2013). Teens and Libraries. {Powerpoint slides}. Retrieved from:  http://www.pewinternet.org/teens-and-libraries/

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Online Book Communities... Finally a Place to Call Home

Online Book Communities (OBCs) are sites designed to allow the users to chronicle their literary lives.  OBCs offer a variety of features to meet the endless desires of the true bibliophile.  To be honest, I was a little underwhelmed at the thought of "cataloging"  books that I have read.  However, once I really got started it was hard to stop.  All of the OBC sites I visited allow users to "shelve" their books.  "Read", "Wishlist", & "Currently reading" are all common shelf titles.  Most allow the user to customize their shelves to meet thier particular needs and personalities.

I plan to use OBCs both professionally and personally.  Professionally and personally I plan to:

*  keep  a record of books I would like to read

* maintain a record of books I have already read

* keep abreast of new titles and reviews for those titles

Professionally, I see endless possibilities. Here are just a couple of my ideas for classroom use:

  * students will write reviews of books they have already read.

  * students will make suggestions for each other

I set up accounts with a few of the more popular OBCs:

Goodreads

Goodreads is by far the OBC that I heard the most about.  It is very popular.  

I found this site to be similar to Facebook.  An account holder can friend and be friended by other users.  Users can give "status" updates about books they are currently reading.  

For classroom use, I think that students would be able to adapt and use this site without any problems.  Personally, I found this site to be easy to use, but it did not appeal to me personally.  The appearance is rather generic.  

Booklikes

Signing up for a Booklikes is pretty easy you can use your Facebook account.  In appearance the dashboard page reminds me of Tumblr.  Users can "like" posts---repost the comments of others.

The shelf is pretty standard for OBCs.  Unlike, some other OBCs  there is a section where you can set up your own book blog.  I personally, like this one the best for me.  As for student preference, I think the more advanced students would be able to navigate a create their own space.  

Shelfari

Shelfari is rather easy to sign up for.  If you have any Amazon account, then it is a breeze.  You will just use your Amazon account information.  Otherwise, the features are pretty standard to what I have seen in other OBCs.  One nice feature is the ability to add to your contacts (friends) is to use your Google email lists.  It was fairly easy to add books to the shelves.  All of the students, in my district have district issued GMail accounts.  This would make it easy for teachers to use and for students to make contacts.

Librarything

I really did not find this OBC appealing.  Asethically is very uninviting.  I also found that adding books to the shelves was not as easy as the other sites.  I know that my students would definitely be reluctant to use this site--there are just too many links and words on the page.  In fact I think that they would (especially my ELLs) find it intimating.

Podcasting...

Podcasting is defined as creating a digital audio file.

Now what exactly does that mean as an educator?  It means that you won't have to say the same thing --300 thousand times a day (that's a hyperbole).  Seriously,  podcasting can be a really useful tool.   I teach in a very mobile area.  Students move quite frequently.  Podcasting can be a way of bridging the gaps that some students come with.  

Just think, assignments and lessons can be pre-recorded.  Students will be able to hear your exact words--leading clarity.

Here are a few ways that I have used podcasting:

* explaination of content

* give instructions for projects

* parent instruction

* as part of a flipped classroom

* stations/centers

Here are some podcasting sites that you may find useful:
Audioboo
Podbean
PodOmatic

The following is podcast that was used campuswide (I used Educreations).

Cartoons & Comic Apps

I have been teaching for about 15 years now... as I look back, I used to wonder about those "old heads" that didn't want to embrace technology.  They refused to use the electronic gradebook and still held on tight to the overhead projector.  Well, now I'm somewhere between an "old head" and a "techie".
(I am still holding on to Powerpoint--even though lately--I have used Prezi.)

On the  other hand, I am so desperate to keep my students engaged.  The little darlings don't have the patience for my favorite types of assignments.  And to be honest, I would rather grade something on a computer screen than take home yet another billion pieces of paper.

So with that in mind, I investigated 3 Comic Srtip making sites.  There are so many uses in the ESL/Language Arts classroom for these apps.  I instantly thought of my English Language Learners that are often unsure of their words.  This would be one way to get them to summarize passages.
It could be used for characterization exercises or as a take home quiz to assess what you remember. The possiblities are almost endless.

Take a look at my humble creations:



Pixton is an online tool that can be used to create comics and characters.  Pixton does have accounts specifically for educational purposes.  Once teachers create an account you can populate it with classes.  This allows for students to be able to respond to a specific assignment.
My personal thoughts:  I like the ability to set up an account that can be populated with students.  It took me awhile to work through making a comic.  I believe most of my students would be able to use Pixton with no problem.  I do however, have to consider my students with Intellectual Disabilities-- I don't think that they would be able to use this program on their own.




ToonDoo is a online tool that is that is also used to create comics /comic strips.  There are many characters and backgrounds to choose from.

My personal thoughts:  I felt ToonDoo was very easy to use.  It only took a few seconds for me to get the hand of it.  I believe that all of my students would be able to use ToonDoo with minimal instruction.  The drawback is that there is not an "educator" specific component. I however, will use this site during the upcoming school year.

Make Beliefs Comix is yet another online tool to create comics.  The site allows you (or your students) to email the finished product.  It does not require a login.

My personal thoughts:  This was my least favorite site.  The instructions are too wordy for the struggling reader.  Comics are not offered in color.  I found the site pretty simple--but I have to think of the students I teach.