Welcome to the blogosphere

My fellow classmates:


I do not like communicating my ideas over the internet. It feels too impersonal and is considerably less cathartic than speaking, moving and communicating with a real person in real space. I feel like I get lost in the technological translation. Like Bill Murray in the movie Lost In Translation, I feel like a stranger with no desire to get to know anybody or speak the foreign language.

Despite my feelings about expressing myself over the internet, I use internet communication and appreciate the usefulness of the instant media for group updates and photo sharing. I also think that technology has a strong place in the classroom, especially in today's technological climate. Most of my students will likely be better at using the internet as a form of espression and communication than I am. Although the internet is a communication tool I will never enjoy as much as the real thing, I must not allow my distaste to affect my students. It is highly likely that the students will differentiate much less between digital space and real space and may, in fact, learn better in a digital environment.

In reality, I appreciate some of the information other people find on blogs and message boards. For instnace, my boyfriend always has a great tidbit to share from the user generated news site called slashdot. However, I have reservations about using blogs for science content. I was looking at some science blogs and was not impressed - too much bias. I think I will stick with notable science websites for material to present.

I am not sure if I will ever see the internet as a fun place to be, but I am certain that I now have the tools to put this very important tool to use for me and my students. Despite the fact that I do not find joy in technology, I do find joy in student success. According to Associated Content, technology will be the vehicle for success:

Does Technology Improve Student Success?
As technology makes advances worldwide many upgrades in hardware and software are introduced into our classrooms across the United States. These advances bring many promises of unique, fun, challenging, and educational forms of learning.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/416355/does_technology_improve_student_success.html