EDUC Blog 4 Reflection of Technology

As an educator, balancing any part of your life can be an uphill battle. When technology becomes a part of your life, it is like buying a box of chocolate with the cream in the middle; you never know how refreshing they are until you drive into them. The same scenario applies to technology. Once a person start working with technology they do not set out to, let it consume their lives but as time move on, it does. Technology has it pro and cons just like anything else.  

The normal demands place on our lives is a demand we place on ourselves. Meaning, for the last eight years, I have placed technology above my life, my husband and job. I decide to go back to school in 2006, to future my education and upgrade the education, I attain in 1991. Technology changes every day and in order to keep up with the changes, as educator, changes has to take place in our lives. The technology education acquired in 1991 is not the same as the technology education in 2014. Sacrifices are made to use technology today. My husband has been a pillow of support while attending school for the past eight years. Without him, none of the experience would be worth the sacrifice. 

Since, working as an IT administrator, Teacher and Website manager the use of the cell phone, desktop computer, tablet, laptop, printer, scanner, fax machine, internet, network, and database once consume my life. After, almost passing away in 2012 from a blood disorder called Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) is a blood disorder that causes blood clots to form in small blood vessels around the body, and leads to a low platelet count, I decide once God healed my body that I would make sure I took care of the life He allowed me to see again. 

Now, technology is a balance in my life. I still have to work on the amount of time I spend completing different assignment for the classes. The balance that consumer my life and benefits now; is working out at the gym for three hours doing water aerobics, walking on treadmill and working with the weight. God gives us one life to live and I plan on living it to the fullest. I use to play Candy Crusher, Pet Rescue Sage, and Jewels X but now that time is spent working out and completing this master program. No matter what we do, do it healthy unto the Lord and “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)

 

Reference 

Bible http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Proverbs-3-6/ 

MedlinePlus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000552.htm

EDUC 630 Blog 3 Social Media

           Current social network technology has come to mean individuals using the Internet and Web applications can communicate in all possible ways. The use of social networking such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram has become a popular and effective means of communication used by students. The advantages of Facebook, for example, is that the technology enables social interaction within the site; also, the creator (or administrator) is able to control every aspect of communication within the page, including discussion boards, instant messaging, and posts (Ennis, 2011). 
 

            The disadvantage is students creating their own account and having discussions about teachers, students and administration: Not only discussion but inappropriate pictures. In North Carolina, Wake County Public schools students from six different schools posted nude pictures and share videos of inappropriate material.  Click here to read article. 

            Social networking has its advantages and disadvantage. The advantages outweigh disadvantages.  Social network  allow students to work in small groups, to collaborate on a group submission based on an authentic workplace scenario, discussing their group project both synchronously, using a chat tool, and asynchronously, using discussions in the eLearning space (Jones, 2010). 

            According to recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life project (Lenhart & Madden, 2007), 55% of pre-college American ages 12 to 17 were active on social networking sites in 2006. In 2014, more students are actively using social media. Educational social media is a necessity in the educational environment, such as, google + blog, kidblog, educational Facebook and Twitter.

Reference

Ennis, R.S. (2011), "Innovations in education and technology: use of social networking for dental hygiene program recruitment", The Journal of Dental Hygiene, Vol. 85 No. 3, pp. 177-80.

Jones, M. (2010), "ACSCL approach to blended learning in the integration of technology in teaching", Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects, Vol. 6, pp. 103-13.

Lenhart, A., & Madden, M. (2007). Social networking sites and teens: An overview. Washington, DC: Pew internet & American Life Project. Available online at http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_SNS_Data_Memo_Jan_2000.pdf