Since I have been so lax in writing lately, others have sent me articles of their own. Here is one that is in response to a post I wrote last year about using technology in the classroom.
The author, Lindsey Wright, is fascinated with the potential of emerging educational technologies, particularly the online school, to transform the landscape of learning. She is a content writer for online college classes, where she writes about web-based learning, electronic and mobile learning, and the possible future of education. Here's what she has to say:
Cell phones, email and the advent of the Internet have brought about a number of changes to the world as we know it. Over the last two decades, the world has gone from snail mail that may take weeks or months to reach its destination to instant communication in practically every corner of the globe. People can now take online classes where they communicate with their classmates or professor via Internet and millions of people worldwide have a social networking profile that allows for instant communication with friends and relatives at all hours of the day. However, not all of these changes have been positive. With such immediate communication, people sometimes make regrettable decisions in the messages they send. Over the last ten years, the United States and other countries have seen a rise in school violence, and there have been a number of instances that have created circumstances that have put children in immediate danger.
Social Networks
There is no doubt that kids will be kids, and picking on one another for individual shortcomings is a simple part of human nature. However, with access to social websites where kids can continue their ridicule during the hours away from school, those taking the brunt of these personal attacks may feel as if there is no escape. While kids can control who has access to their profile, there are a number of ways some kids are tricked into allowing the people who insult them at school to view their pages. Promises of friendship or threatening behaviors are the most popular ways bullies are given access to their potential victims. Once access is granted, it becomes business as usual for the bully. In some instances groups of kids will team up to repeatedly insult or threaten an individual or individuals, causing severe anxiety to the person being picked on or threatened. It is estimated that almost half of kids in middle or high school have at one time been a victim of bullies. However, very few have ever reported this to a parent or person of authority.
Cell Phones
Cell phones are perhaps one of the most well intentioned inventions of the 20th century. They are necessary for businesses, parents and children alike, and have saved many lives over the years. However, over the last five years the U.S. has seen a rise in the deviant use of cell phones by young adults and teenagers – such as sexting. Sexting can be described as any text sent by a person that uses graphic language or images to sexually harass another individual. This has become somewhat commonplace in schools, yet many school officials are just now becoming aware. It is estimated that roughly 20 percent of teenagers have participated in some form of sexting in high school. There are a number of campaigns by student advocate groups as well as parent awareness groups that are bringing these topics to light. To deter sexting, parents should monitor their children's cell phone usage. This can be accomplished by simply viewing the usage and finding out what numbers are on the cell phone bill.
It is undeniable that the advances of technology have provided us with some amazing benefits in recent years. Almost any type of information we desire is instantly available to us, and all we have to do is pull out our cell phones and hit a few buttons. Likewise, social networking websites such as Facebook make connecting and keeping in touch with friends, family and colleagues just as easy. Unfortunately, these same sites provide bullies with constant access to their victims.
While some may argue the instant, 24/7 communication allowed by social networking sites still far outweighs the threat of cyber bulling, the problem is some children are unable to take insults
and belittlement in stride. There are children who begin to believe the insults or become so afraid of a bully that anxiety and stress become overwhelming. Over the last few years, the relentless taunts and threats of a single bully or group of individuals have caused several children to commit suicide. Clearly all the technology advances in the world cannot surpass the death of a child or young adult, especially when the death could have been prevented had more been aware of how the child was being taunted. As such, it is imperative that teachers, parents, students and school officials are properly educated on the dangers of incessant bullying and its effects so that the cycle of humiliation and depression can be put to rest.
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