Second Life or First Life?

Article in Time Magazine online. This article discusses the second life world and how, as an avatar we are even viewed differently in another realm if we are "ugly" or "pretty". I related to the very beginning of the article when it said that it was hard to make a prettier version of themselves.

Who would think that the avatar would be an extension of the person behind the screen? There was a study mentioned in the article done at Stanford University regarding self perception. "Jeremy Bailenson, head of the lab and an assistant professor of communication at Stanford, studies the way self-perception affects behavior. No surprise that what we think about ourselves affects the confidence with which we approach the world. What is a surprise is that this applies in the virtual world too."

I think that this is true, for the small amount of time I have ventured onto Second Life. I noticed how "pretty" some of the people are. I met some who had beautiful butterfly wings and their makeup was just so. Which started me thinking about my own avatar, and how she was nothing like me. She was goth! She has funny pony tails and weird makeup! I was given some new clothes from the nice people on ISTE island, so at least I looked a little bit "normal."

Hmm.. who would have thought. What I do think about this Second Life is that I do feel a bit strange. I feel like I am "cheating" on my REAL life. It feels sort of "naughty"!! Especially when I met someone who took me to an adult island to "dance" so that I could earn free money!!!

I did not realize that people actually use real money on the game. I read a smaller article to the left of the initial Time article that I posted above, and it says that people make money, real money here. That is very strange.

I am not sure that I would want kids using SecondLife. I guess I do not know enough about it yet, so I am a little conservative.

So, my final thought is .. what is the purpose?? I think I am more a Twitter person. At least I am the real me and I am not hiding behind a cartoon goth avatar.

Personal Learning Networks

Personal learning networks are easy to create, so I say! But, I am sure they seem scary to the everyday "old fashioned" teacher who is concerned with making sure their students are learning, having authentic experiences and getting ready to "pass the test". Who has the time to invest in such a non-important tool? I say you have to learn .. just start slow! You will thank me.. and everyone else you meet through your PLN.

One of the biggest challenges we face with technology today and teachers, is that they work in their comfort zone. They are comfortable with what they know, and feel REALLY uncomfortable when it comes to the world of the "unknown" .. the dirty word.. "technology"! Even speaking on a live blog regarding "internet safety" last night, live from Princeton University, there was mention of "old vs. new" teachers. See some of the information from the blog:

8:51	NJTechTeacher - Speaker thinks that perhaps new teachers have a better handle, but they really don't since college is teaching the "old way" still

8:51	Dave Powers - I am a brand new teacher

8:51	Kim T - @NJTechTeacher .. what is the old way?

8:51	coolcatteacher - Teachers don't know the difference between "social" networking and using social networks in schools.

8:52	John Peters - @KimT - Yes, I am very fortunate our IT Director is very forward thinking and gives some of us, not everyone the ability to explore emerging technologies. I am just lucky to be one of the few

8:52	coolcatteacher - They said that schools are producing teachers who understand these new tools.

8:52	NJTechTeacher - @dean Yes you can

8:52	Dean Shareski - @Kim T. Teacher is gatekeeper of information....social learning is an add on

8:52	Dave Powers - New teachers pick up technology quickly, but the problem is that everyone doesn't see how web application technology has changed the landscape of the world.

8:52	Kim T - @Dean.. I see.. I am a mom of 3 teens.. maybe that I why I feel it is so important to know about it and teach it to my students!

8:52	coolcatteacher - Dean Shareski is creating fluent teachers -- but many profs aren't and hate blogs and wikis, etc.

8:52	NJTechTeacher - Parent says "yes they're reading and writing online" but not like a novel.

8:53	coolcatteacher - @Dave but they're not taught responsible use of the tools --they aren't being used online. This has been a phenomenally balanced presentation. This has honestly been the best internet safety presentaiton I've ever seen. Period.

8:53	John Peters - Let's don't talk about "Old" teachers. We have some that barely are able to check their email and enter their grades online. Trying to teach them something new is a HUGE challenge.

8:53	NJTechTeacher - @Kim T - The old way - lecture, straight from book, not utilizing social tools, podcasting, etc.

So, there is a discussion on how we are going to get our "OLD" teachers to embrace technology. I think what would help them is to establish a Personal Learning Network. I know it is "Just one more thing to do". I am sure that is what I would hear. If they just tried maybe a quick RSS feed, or a twitter account, they would realize how invaluable the experience could be to their gathering of information for their classes and curriculum.

Isn't it part of the job to always be learning new things and being a self learner?? What better way than to create a PLN??

I have to say without twitter, I would not find half of the information that I have been shown! It is an amazing tool where wonderful people are not afraid to share the latest and greatest information about technology with me.. yes me.. a stranger! I feel like I want to share back and hopefully I can help them in ways too!

Thinking about the RSS feeds, they are a great resource and would be a wonderful tool to set up for your classroom. I also think delicious (here are my accounts) and diigo are great too. While using these bookmarking tools, I have been able to join groups and other people's networks of bookmarking. What a great time saving resource! I can then go into their account and see if they have tagged anything that I am looking for. Hopefully we are working in the same profession so they would have my interests in their account.

I think blogs are wonderful and powerful tools with some great information contained in them, but it is really difficult to read all of them. Check out this great blog I found today explaining the "glue of blogging" by Ewan McIntosh. What amazes me, is this PLN spans our entire world. Real people, sharing real information that we do every day! That is why twitter is so helpful and priceless. In 140 spaces or less, you must get your point out. I do read a lot of blogs through my RSS reader, but I also feel as though, even when I bookmark them, they are lost in cyber world! I never feel completely organized with all of these tools.. and that is what they are for! :) Organization!!!

Another great resource for a personal learning network would be wikis. Such as our learning module for this class! The ultimate personal learning network, where people can collaborate and share with each other on many topics. What a better way to learn than by sharing information. Watch this video about how wiki's work! Very cool! Did we already see something like this? I am on information overload!

If you can surround yourself with great people and add them to your personal learning network, your learning will come to you !!! Thanks for introducing us to this new world Jeff!

RSS Feeds

RSS Feeds seem like a novel idea, although I find it difficult right now to wade through the waters, so to speak. There are so many that I have subscribed to, that it seems impossible to scan them all through for new updates. I am enjoying keeping the sites in one place, and I am sure the updates are a great thing, but who has the time? I see how they can be useful for education if working on a project, and keeping track of updates. I also see how the updates of information would be useful for us to keep track of who has updated their blogs.

RSS is very cool, and Alan November spoke of these RSS feeds at last year's Christa McAuliffe(you can watch the 2007 presenters talks - Will Richardson was one speaker at the 2007 conference), as the information that comes to you and you do not have to do anything! I think that is AWESOME, and I do plan on figuring it out when I can sort through it all and make sense of it. I have starred some items, I am not sure what I am doing with them. I also tried to start organizing the RSS feeds into folders so there is some method to my madness! Not so sure about that!

I have a lot of them, I can tell you that right now.. thousands of updates and I am letting them grow by the minute, without doing anything!

Once I can get my head around them, I am sure they are going to be another part of my daily ritual. I can say Twitter is becoming more of a daily ritual too..