d3v0n_grrrl

This article really brings the truth out about how open the internet is.  It was a scary article, but much needed for many, I think.  People expose so much on the internet, not realizing how much they are really giving out to the rest of the public, especially to social hackers.

The part that gave me a little chill, mainly because I never really thought about it before, was the idea of using mapquest.  It is such a huge website and millions of people visit it daily.  And it's there for giving out personal information, such as addresses, postal codes, and phone numbers.  I've used it a number of times to find out addresses, and have sometimes even used the "directions to" option, which requires me to write my own address and postal code.  What a scary thought that that information is available to anyone that really wants it.  And I have given it willingly!

I have experienced first hand how easy it is to access someone's information.  I met this person in high school and we had just become friends.  One day, he comes up and says, your phone number is... and read off my phone number.  I was shocked seeing as how we hadn't yet exchanged phone numbers.  He said he looked it up on the internet.  The only other thing he knew about me was my last name, which is a VERY common one.  So, the fact that he knew exactly which one was mine really made my skin crawl.  And just think, anyone can do it!!  How terrifying.

This article just reassures why I'm not the blogging types.  I know many people that are consistent bloggers.  It's not something that I've ever been in to.  Mostly because from what I knew of blogs (prior to this class) was that it was used for social reasons.  I've found out about a break up before the receiving party has, I've heard about relationship fights, and all that other unnecessarily personal stuff.  Plus, people post so many photos on their website.  To me, this is all way to much information in one place.  Also, the world doesn't need to know about relationship issues and other personal problems.  But maybe that's just me!

I think everyone should read this article, especially the younger, perhaps more naive, children.  You hear all the time about people being stalked on the internet, perhaps this could prevent some people from exposing too much information.  The article is like a reality check.  You hear many of these facts in brief form, but to have it explained really reminds you how dangerous the internet can be, if you let it.

Cheers all!

Problem solving is a huge aspect of learning. It is a very important task for children. They will need good problem solving skills in school as well as outside in their personal lives. Math problems and personal conflicts are an example of everyday uses in which children will problem solve.

Teaching children to problem solve can be a difficult situation, since it is a task that they must really, in the end, learn on their own. There are so many different ways to problem solve. Therefore, a teacher cannot teach how to problem solve in a particular way, because it will not necessarily be useful for another. So, we must teach our children to try to figure out what works best for them when it comes to problem solving. This may mean making many errors along the way. This can be incredibly discouraging at times.  This is when we, as educators, really become an important part of a child's learning in this area.  We must teach them to persevere through their mistakes and to learn from them.  Reflecting is ever so important so that next time, we will not make the same mistake (however, new mistakes may arise which is a new learning process).

If we learn with different strategies, then we need different methods in which to learn.  Technology can create new methods for children to problem solve.  And may perhaps many that other methods may not.  A concept that Jonassen wrote about was designing programs which problem solving is necessary.  Children can create web pages, for example, and throughout the whole process they are problem solving.  It is new problem solving that perhaps cannot be learned in a typical classroom setting.  As a child works out the issues with creating programs, they are learning and thinking of ways in which to solve possible complications or simply on how they want design it.  This can create new levels of learning which may inhance other aspects of problem solving.

Fostering this type of problem solving may not always be easy for teacher.  It is independent and sometimes, it is only within the child themself that can solve their problem.  But perhaps this is a beneficial thing.  It gives children a sense of their own power and accomplishment, and it may also create independence in children.

In high school, I took at computer course that required me to learn how to create a web page.  Even when learning the basic aspects of webpages, it was fun and creative and let each student really think about what they wanted everyone else to see.  It also seemed enjoyable to almost every student.  Each student was constantly working on what their site but also just trying new things out.  As Jonassen (pg. 29) points out as well, it can be one of the most engaging problem solving tactics, and for me and many others, it really was.  Hopefully this can be integrated into the currirculum earlier.  I really feel it will create many independent children willing to try new things!