Final Reflection

I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive about this class.  It proved to be extremely interesting and I hope to use a lot of what I learned in the near future if I have not already started to do so.  Luckily, a lot of the technology in the assignments were ones that I was somewhat familiar with. 

 

A few that I learned the most about were the QR codes, ScoopIt and Podcasts.  These are ones that I can put into use immediately.  I have already started to use QR codes for vocabulary and AR testing information.  Scoop It is a really neat way to  introduce a topic or even a person to the class.  Podcasts can be used a lot in my school because teachers are encourage to use a flipped classroom.  It is really easy to use podcasts and requires very little time. 

The most difficult technology was Instagram for me.  I couldn't seem to put words on my pictures even with the Overgram application.  I tried and tried but to no avail, could not figure it out. 

One of the only concerns for me about some of the technology is that it would not be accessible through the school district due to the filters in place.  Other than that, I cannot wait to get started in the Spring with what I have learned.  THANKS :)   

Teens and Technology 2013

Madden, M., Lenhart, A., Duggan, M., Cortesi, S., & Gasser, U. (2013). Teens and Technology 2013. Pew Internet & American Life Project, 1, 1-19. Retrieved December 6, 2013, from http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Teens-and-Tech.aspx

Where do teens access the internet?

In a phone survey of 802 parents and 802 teenagers between the ages of 12-17, results show that the internet is accessed with a smart phone.  According to the article, 78% of teens have a cell phones.  As stated, "the teens represent the leading edge of mobile connectivity."  Smart phone ownership is on the rise among teens.  The translates to being able to connect to the internet at any time of the day.  Teens use a phone, tablet or mobile device 3:1 over the computer/laptop.  At least 93% of teens have access to a computer, and of that 71% share it with their family.  The trends demonstrated with this survey also mimic those in the adult category. 

My Response

It is not surprising to see the statistics associated with these topics.  A majority of the teens have phones.   It is great to see that when they have a question, they can get an immediate answer when needed with accessing the internet with their phone.  Hopefully this will lead to greater knowledge and more of an interest to continue to research when questions arise. 

19 pages

Parents, Teens, and Online Privacy

Madden, M., Cortesi, S., Gasser, U., Lenhart, A., & Duggan, M. (2012). Parents, Teens, and Online Privacy. Pew Internet & American Life Project, 1, 1-29. Retrieved December 4, 2013, from http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Teens-and-Privacy.aspx

 

                How do parent protect their children with online privacy?  How is it monitored?

There is a huge concern that too much information is available online about children and teens.  There is little legislation that establishes regulations.  It is simply hard to keep up.  In response the this problem,  a phone survey was conducted of 802 parents and 802 teens.

Some of the concerns for the parents of teenagers include: how much information advertisers are learning about the teens online, how much the teenagers interact with strangers online, how the online activity might affect the future academic and employment opportunities and how the reputation is maintained.  The parents of 59% of those surveyed had a conversation with their child about privacy.   Some parents even help set up privacy settings (39%).  Parents also used parental controls, internet searches.

My response

Unfortunately, the governments cannot keep up with maintaining up to date regulations when dealing with the media and internet use.  The regulations tend to come a little too late.  Teens are often naïve on the amount of information released in the social networks sites, even if there are privacy settings.  I hate the way some tragic needs to happen before major changes are made.  I would be concerned as well if I had a teen age daughter.  Fortunately, I have a couple more years to go.  I was also surprised about the responses by those surveyed did not have higher percentages in each of the question categories.   If parents are so concerned, then why do they not act upon it?

29 pages

Teens, Smartphones, & Texting

Lenhart, A. (2012). Teens, Smarthphones & Texting. Pew Internet & American Life Project, 1. Retrieved December 4, 2013, from http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Teens-and-smartphones.aspx

   The use of smartphones is everywhere.  Particularly in the teen age range, texting has increased.  As a whole, it increased to an average of 60 texts per day.  Texting has taken the lead as a form of communication for teens, beating face to face, phone call, social networking, instant messaging, landline phone calls and emailing.  The amount of time spent actually talking of the phone has decreased.  Teens cell phone ownership has increased dramatically to 75%, up 30 percent in 5 years.  An interesting correlation is that the heavy texters are also the heavy talkers, or vice versa, light texters are light talkers. 

My Response

                It is very obvious to anyone watching that teens are losing touch with their personal skills.  This can be attributed to the cell phone.  Since cell phone are no longer just for the wealthy, teens from all social-economic status’ can have access to one.  Most are even able to have access to a smart phone or device.  Teens are using these devices to have access to information instantaneously.  Unfortunately, they have also become impatient, expecting everything to be instantaneous.  I believe this is going to lead to much larger problems in the near future.  Communication is a huge factor, not only in personal relationships, but also in recreation.  It is very important to know how have propper conversations with others, not through the phone. 

34 pages

 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA & MOBILE INTERNET USE AMONG TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS

Lenhart, A., Purcell, K., Smith, A., & Zickuhr. (2010). Social Media & Mobile Internet Use Among Teens and Young Adults, 1-51. Retrieved December 5, 2013 from http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Social-Media-and-Young-Adults.aspx

Who doesn’t have access to the internet via mobile, smart tablet, laptop, or pc?  Not very many people according to the research are without some reach to the internet.  There are definite trends in the arenas of social media usage as well as mobile internet.  The trend indicates various findings which include some of the following:  blogging is on the down for the teen and young adults while on the rise for older adults, an increase in social networking within all surveyed groups, Twitter is the one social media that is on the downtrend among teens, cell phone ownership and internet use has increase currently at 75% and finally, only about 4% of families did not have some form of internet. 

My response to article:

Truth be told, I was a little shocked by the article.  It might have due to my naivety, but I wasn’t aware the scope of social media.  I was awed that the largest upward trend in cell phone ownership was in young teens.  I would have thought that the trends started to show up at much younger age-even 6 to 7 year olds. 

I also thought it was interesting to know race and class had little to do to effect the ownership status of cell phones, but when it came down to ownership of a laptop of pc, race did seem to factor in.  So this obviously trickled down to the outcome of the other questions in the survey.  One of the questions concerned whether or not the teen got onto social media through the website via phone or laptop/pc.       

I hadn’t really thought about the positive side for teens using the internet and social media, until I read about teens, adults and online health information section.  I thought this was interesting because although teens are losing verbal skills due to using the phone as a means of communication, they also turn their phone use into somewhat of a research.  For topics that teens are not comfortable speaking to someone about, the internet gives them a means to find information and often useful, correct information. 

It was an interesting read.  Anyone questioning if the social media or phone usage is normal or not, needs to read this article. 

51 pages