Expanding Cultural Diversity through the Web

Without a doubt, knowing that we all come from different places is important. As educators, we should be relaying this message to all of our students regardless of the subject we teach. The world that we are creating,-part of is ever growing closer together yet at the same time reaffirming perceived divisions. This is the world our students will inherit; we must teach them how to participate in the construction of and control the narrative of their lives.

For too long my generation and the ones that proceeded have viewed the world through a lens that highlights the difference places, country, state, city that we all come from. The values that we share are obstructed through these lenses- we become out of focus and unclear. Our students should not share this same flawed perspective. We have the best opportunity to show them and teach them how to use Web 2.0 tools to start changing the narrative of their lives, to change the ever cloudy lens of division.

Take a look at these interesting videos and tell me what you think. And how this information could be used to inform your instruction.

Take a look at these interesting videos and tell me what you think and how this information could be used to inform your instruction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPAO-lZ4_hU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA6MhyK60iI

R.F.I.Ds

Hey teachers! Ever thought that the security at your school was lacking the bit of... well security? In my building, school security leaves a little to be desired. Students run halls, sneak into other classrooms, and do things we shouldn't talk about here in the bathrooms.

RFIDs (Radio Frequency Identification Tags) are changing the way that some school districts are thinking about security. Altogether, RFIDs aren't new devices to the tech scene. For years these id tags have been used to track supplies and materials around the world. In fact, the US military uses them to make sure that shipments sent out in, say, San Diego, arrive to, say, Iraq. Similarly, WalMart requires that all of their vendors implement RFIDs into their merchandise.

School systems are waking up to the idea. If students are required to wear an ID badge, schools could track their movements and better ensure their safety. By installing radio signal readers in classrooms, bathrooms, entrances, and hallways that students pass throughout the day, administrators can see how many students are in each classroom, which students might have vandalized the second floor girls bathroom, and whether or not Ms. ---'s last period gym class went outside to play basketball if a parent requested a child for early dismissal.

Just like with everything else, there's some controversy about the legality of tracking movements of youngsters. The ACLU and other consumer advocacy groups contend that RFIDs invade privacy because they could be used to track people. Unfortunately, this is exactly why I want this in my school---to track students down.

Here are some links on the nuts and bolts of RFIDs, arguments for their use, and warnings
against.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNPDgudPmXE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL3JP1m_Crk

Hello is there anybody out there?

Hello and Welcome