Tag Archive for: dept-ePortfolio

For this week we are leaning off our group projects and instead looking at what it means to be digital citizens and how we can use social media in our favor. We were given two sources to look at, the first was a news post Turning Students into Good Digital Citizens and the second was a video From Knowledge to Knowledge-Able.

The first post was about how we could teach our students how to use the internet effectively. How students can learn how to use social media in a way that could benefit them with information rather than just jibber jabber. The idea is for students to learn that social media can benefit them and how they can use it. That was the main point, because of course students know how to use Facebook, so to speak, but what teachers want to do is have their students use it as a tool. To really start thinking critically about what can be said and how it can be used. To use social media in a way that they are being professional. Also how teachers can and should use these tools in their classrooms. That it is not only the students job to engage but for the teachers to help the students get started and to understand how it can be used.

The second post talked about how we know how to use technology already, but we need to learn how to use technology in a way that will benefit us. The speaker, Michael Wesch, also said that we are all connected. People all over the world can communicate. We weren’t able to do that a few years ago, and now someone from the U.S can talk to someone in Italy easily. He said “technologically” we are able to connect with others through cyber space, but it is actually hard to connect with others. There is a process of getting views and being shared. “Technologically” it is easy to do, but technically it isn’t. Not only that but our students are not engaged, they are a bit ignored. He even did a study with his class about how it feels like to be a student. Then he talked about how we could use technology to help change that.

So both of these posts indicate how important it is for teachers to represent these tools to their students. How technology is changing how we see the world. It is a much smaller place, we are all now connected. Most importantly how technology can be used to benefit ourselves and the world.

I found the terminology and idea of Social Frontiers, boundary spanners, border crossers, and advocates particularly valuable. I think this philosophy creates a clear understanding of the leadership role, in a variety of situations, not limited to diversity and social justice. I like the way boundaries were described, not as divisions, but as ”ambiguous middle ground where something is held in common”. I think this kind of thinking, will decrease the instances of having to do “border crossing” which can create a negative, or hostile position to operate from. I believe the more you can turn a border into a boundary will increase better chances for success in creating change. It made me think of situations which might require a personal border adjustment from me, and how can I determine the difference should an occasion arise.

The Scanlan and Johnson state that “school administrators–particularly building-level principals–ar uniquely positioned to engage with others–such as neighborhood residents, community activists, and colleagues in local businesses, government, and faith communities–to find and build common ground and pursue shared goals.”  I see parents/principals coming forward to make these types of connections with the school and community in more affluent neighborhoods. Unfortunately, I do not see the same thing going on in lower socio-economic communities where the resources require a little more diligence to ascertain, or the families are reticent to involve themselves because they feel like they do not have valued assets to contribute. I also see a doublespeak in schools where administration decries a lack of parental involvement, yet daily praxis discourages it. Underlying this is what the book mentions about many educators wanting ‘limited’ participation from parents or community, but are not offering agency or voice to them. At the beginning of the school year I was very disturbed by something that happened. A beginning of the year packet was sent to all students. Among the various documents and emergency forms was a bright purple letter inviting parents to participate in the school. There were several items the parents could check mark to volunteer: clerical office help, clerical help at home, cafeteria help, classroom help, etc. I collected paperwork form all my students and set aside the purple papers that parents offered classroom help. The rest of the papers (3-4) had check marks for cafeteria, home, or office help and I took them to our office secretary. She told me to keep them. I explained that I had kept those pertaining to me, and that these were volunteers for other areas of the school. She took them from me and dropped them into the trash can as I walked away. When I question her action I learned that this is their routine procedure! How devaluing to these parents! How disrespectful! I addressed this issue with a new assistant principal, and we discussed a change for the future. I will be following up on this for next year. I rarely see a principal who meets with families outside of school in community spaces as suggested in the reading, however I worked for one principal who made a point to attend various community events which students or parents invited her to. I feel this added to her effectiveness as a principal in many ways.

Chapter 9 from Theoharis was, in my opinion, the most valuable of the book. My big take away is this quote, ” Many of the strategies outlined in the previous chapters will not emerge naturally, nor will they be sustained without effort. Diversity efforts (indeed any deep changes) require intentionality. As an educational leader, more than personal example is required. “Discerning how the new with both invigorate and preserve the traditional”, while effecting necessary change requires “enough diversity around the table to make those judgements and develop those processes.” Skills in building connections, spanning boundaries, crossing borders, advocacy, communication, logic, rationality, invention, empathy and understanding are essential to develop in preparation for the challenges ahead. For change to arise bottom-up, there must be effective leadership top-down as well.

The discussion about affirmative action  and surrounding attitudes was interesting. I agree with the authors point here. Affirmative action may have been a positive change for it’s time, but it wasn’t good enough as reflected in minimal change. There is some reframing to be done! I believe we are ready for better answers…Answers that will come through  the increased diversity we are currently working with. I believe there is more ‘diversity around the table’ and more awareness than in the past and it will be reflected in new ideas moving forward. I believe whole-heartedly that there is more good and positive in the world than bad and negative, and that the social justice story will continue to become more positive with time and continued resolve. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke

So again I engaged in social media. Via Twitter and facebook on the topic of higher education affordability . I tweeted to politicians @JebBush @HilaryClinton, and @SenSanders. I also commented or Replied to posts I saw on the topic. But to no avail how ever I did get a favorite on a post on starbucks paying for their employees education.  that I tweeted to a friend. College rather higher education in other countries is now a popular topic because of the education reform strong hold  in South Africa its been discussed for at least a week. And the starving students and strike going on at Missouri U had a few days. I feel as though these events are being looked at and talked about but not thoroughly being discussed. The ideas for improvement are there but everyone is so hush hush about it. I came across a post that had ideas and ways to make college affordable. But its only a program for certain schools. The should just branch out. I also found a  photo  on loans.

In my previous posts, that explored college tuition costs over social media, I focused on Twitter for engagement purposes and while I have found various resources and have posted extensively, I felt that it was time to switch gears. Through my Twitter feed, I discovered the hashtag #MillionStudentMarch and learned about an active campaign that is protesting high tuition costs. They have a clear mission which I found to be a breath of fresh air after struggling to find current discussion in social media. The goals of the campaign according to their Twitter bio are as follows: “STUDENTS DEMAND: 1. Tuition-free college, 2. Cancellation of all student debt, and 3. $15 minimum wage for all campus workers!” With that in mind, the Million Student March became my main focus this week.

The Million Student March is a movement happening at over 115 campuses across the country this Thursday, November 12th. Due to the urgency of the upcoming event, I explored both Twitter and Facebook to find the most active participants and found that Facebook was more up to date and responsive. The main page for the national campaign is active, but the only acknowledgment that I received from them was a like on a comment that I made on one of their posts. Hoping for more responsiveness, I found that the closest march to me would be at UC Santa Barbara and explored their event page to find that they post on a daily basis and tended to respond to those who seek to engage.

Borrowing from a classmate’s strategy which seemed to work well for her, (thanks Marina!) I wrote a post that included an introduction of myself, my research and an open-ended question I crossed my fingers and waited. Lo and behold, I finally received a response! After weeks of trying to engage, it was a very exciting moment for me to hear back from one of the organizers of the event. Below is my exchange with Kyle to date:

I had hopes to actually attend the march but it not only conflicts with class times but I’m in need of transportation to get there. I do expect that even if I can’t attend, there will be an increase in talk on tuition in the aftermath of the country-wide marches so I’m looking forward to that being reflected in my feeds in the coming week or so.

Until next time,

MGH

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This week we are still trying to reach out to these organizations and groups about our topic. My topic is health. I chose to look at the organization: World Health Organization or (WHO). I noticed they commented back when people would comment on something that they posted. So I thought I would give it a try. I put the simple question, “What can one do in California, U.S?”. (This was from a post about polio being Iraq) I had no response from WHO, which surprised me because when people would ask this organization a question like this they usually responded. What I did notice was that a person commented after me praising the organization and WHO did respond to him. So I thought well maybe I should post something praising this organization, or by asking another question. I guess WHO could comment on a few but not all.

I noticed that they have a new topic this week. Now they are talking about the cyclone Chapala that is going to hit Yemen. They are raising awareness and working to help prepare these people. They are also talking about the cholera vaccination that they are organizing in Iraq. Not only that but they are spreading awareness for the antibiotic resistance, which is when people refuse to get treated. This results in disease that normally would have been cured “to undermining advances in medicine”(WHO). I personally had no idea that these things were going on in the world and I find it helpful that this organization is doing something about it. I thought it was just the U.S who had people who didn’t want to get vaccinated (separate things), but either way it is a serious medical issue.

Here is a link to WHO