7 Things Meme

by Leo Reynolds

I started this blog as a class assignment, and to be honest, I hadn't decided whether to continue now that the class is over. But then, two things happened. Paul Blogush linked to me in a blog post, and Wendy Sigele and Valaina Maher tagged me in the 7 things meme that is spreading around the blogosphere. So, I figure I can keep blogging...for now!

So, here it is. Seven things you may not/didn't/don't need to/don't care to know about me.

1. I never wanted to be a teacher. After college, I went to Japan to teach English and fell in love with teaching and learning.
2. I am NOT a shopper. I really really don't like it unless I get to go to my favorite store, Anthropologie, and not worry about price tags. (But that doesn't happen often, or ever.)
3. When I want to forget about life, I play Rachmaninoff preludes or anything in a minor key on the piano. I'd rather take out a loan for a Steinway piano than for a car (but haven't done either yet.)
   
4. I've lived six months or more in Australia, Japan, and Mexico (and of course my home country!)
   
5. I went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans once.
6. My sister is my best friend.
   
7. I still have my "blankie" from childhood. Friends tease, but on the cold nights in Japan and Mexico in apartments without central heat, it made a great head warmer.

I tag Theresa White, Pam Nielson, Jennifer Dorman, and my friend Monna.

Web 2.0 and Diverse Learners

How does web 2.0 address the needs of diverse learners? I asked my PLN on Plurk:

From Ed Tech Learning Reflections

Our class discussion started with the following voice thread. Feel free to add your own comments.



For some of our classmates, it was the first time to participate in a collaborative environment outside of Blackboard. Others were more familiar with web 2.0, but learned about a new tool. But, I think we all agreed that the tools we discussed have value for learning. They are not without disadvantages. Not all students have access to using these tools. Some students are not willing to do what is necessary to gain access (come early or stay late at school, walk to the public library, etc.) But, as one teacher put it, "my students somehow find access to look at MySpace and Facebook." So, maybe if we engage our students in the same way, they will also find a way to access the Internet for homework!

I truly believe that web 2.0 tools can help teachers differentiate learning in so many ways that we are not able to do without the tools. I challenge teachers of all levels to allow your students to use these tools to demonstrate their knowledge. A written solution to a math problem or an essay are not the only ways we can do this anymore.

Readings and resources:

• Meeting Needs of Diverse Learners with Technology
  Joyce Pittman, Ph.D.
• Web 2.0 and Emerging Learning Technologies/Learning Styles
  Wikibooks
• ETT 552: Diversity and Web 2.0
  Our project wiki for class (This wiki is a perfect example of a teacher differentiating learning. Our final project is supposed to be a paper, but we are allowed to create a wiki instead. This has increased my own motivation for completing this project! Web 2.0 and differentiation works at the graduate level also.)
  

Internet Censorship

Quotes:

Net censorship spreads worldwide
Mark Ward, BBC News

Mr Pain said the world's dictators have not remained powerless in the face of the explosion of online content. By contrast, many have been "efficient and inventive" in using the net to spy on citizens and censor debate.

However, noted the report, governments have woken up to the fact that the people they regard as dissidents are active online. Many are now moving to censor blogs and the last year has seen many committed bloggers jailed for what they said in their online journal.

Experts: Internet filtering and censorship rife
Mike Steere, CNN

She said governments could use purpose-built filtering technology, censor Web sites, filter search results -- with the assistance of multinational corporations, and block applications and circumvention tools -- to stop online applications like Facebook, YouTube or Voice Over IPs that enable social networking.

Most democracies, and particularly those of the U.S. and India, had unrestricted Internet, though more than 40 countries were known to filter content, he said.

And it's not just governments involved in filtering. Search engine Google has been heavily criticized for working with the Chinese government to block searches for material about Taiwan, Tibet, democracy and other sensitive issues on its Chinese portal.

How the Mind of a Censor Works: The Psychology of Censorship
Sara Fine

Whether on the Right of the Left, censors share a complex psychological profile.

Behind each attempt to remove a book or video, or block an Internet connection is the magic wand beliefe: if the item is eliminated, the thought is gone.

After our class discussion on Internet censorship, I realized that I have been taking my Internet access for granted. I usually assume that I can find whatever I am looking for, good or bad. I have the freedom to read what I want to read. Not everyone has this same freedom. Many countries ban areas of the Internet. Some ban just pornography. Some ban sites critical of the government. Turkmenistan does not allow its citizens to have the Internet at home, restricting them to Internet cafes only. In Burma, screen shots are taken every five minutes in Internet cafes. Do countries have the right to do this? I don't think I'm the person to say yes or no, but I do know that I am happy to live in a country that allows me to find what I want to find on the Internet. Long live freedom.