Did I hear that right?

Did you know that if you moved to Wascana View...

1. Your neighbours would respect you.
2. You would always get the first donut.
3. Your grass would always be green, and...
4. Your kids would start getting straight A's!

Um...

WOW...

Did you know that? No, I didn't either, but, the new Homes by Dundee radio commercials claim that this is so. I have also heard another commercial that is even more ridiculous than this one. Wait, could that be possible? YES!

Excuse my sarcasm here people but honestly, would moving into a new area of town really make your neighbours respect you? Or, would it make your grass green? OR, would it allow you to always get the first donut, implying that you would also become better than everyone at work as well? No, no and NO! Moving into a grotesquely huge and enormously expensive house would not make YOU any of these things because people create their own worth. You will only by respected for who you are and what you do, not what you live in or what you can buy.

Now my favourite part, if Wascana View can't make you a better person, why then will your kids start getting straight A's? Is this because the school they were at had such a different demographic that your kids were being ignored because of their lack of "need?" Or, was it because they chose to make friends with "lower educated" children that were not up to your standard? OR, and I could dance around this all day, but is it a race issue?

This commercial really hit home for me. It seemed to be aimed at, no, it was aimed at the upper middle class and the upper class, classes that I assume are not as racially diverse as that of the middle and lower classes. Hmmm. Which makes me wonder if living in this area has more to do with White Privelege than it does with anything else. Basically, your neighbours will most likely be white, your children will go to school with white children and everyone will be at the same demographic.
I actually taught at one of the newer schools in this area, and 6 out of 10 times, that is exactly what I saw.

And, lastly, no, your kids won't get straight A's because you moved them into the ritzy area of town, that depends on them and the quality of their teacher. If you would like to have your kids get straight A's help them with their homework, spend family time togeher, talk to their teacher, research a school. But please, don't listen to the radio and this horrible commercial!!!

Telecollaboration!

Yee Haw! Jump in that band wagon and get a movin'. Teachers around the world are working with other classrooms "telecollaboratively." Meaning that they are using technology to participate with other classrooms on projects. Think of Moose Jaw teacher Kathy Cassidy and her work with a classroon in New Zealand. Or maybe the compiling of theme web pages done by multiple classrooms in Alberta for Christ the Redeemer Schools. What they did was create a website that multiple classrooms could link to. From there they have added to their own pages, but all on the same topic, one for example being endangered animals. Thus, compiling a great deal of information and activities on one subject.The classrooms can view what the other students are doing in the other classrooms.

I would use this with any age group for any subject. Personally, I would take it a step further and maybe use video communication or blogging to make students feel and be more connected. Snail Mail or E-mail could also be used here to send things (ideas, materials, information, artifacts, etc.) back and forth. Foster that idea of a "Global Community" by putting real children into the project, not just there names and products.

Till next time...

I never thought....

Did anyone look closely at their ball point pen lately? Did you think think that maybe you would bypass "technology" to write your latest paper? Well, you have been fooled! Technology has found you EVERYWHERE!!! In our world everything involves some sort of innovative technology, including the good old ball point pen, and a simple piece of paper.

Let us brainstorm:
- Ball Point Pen
- Paper
- Utensils
- Shoe laces
- Etc.

Do you see where I am going with this... Just thought I would let you know. :P

Internet Bullying at its Worst

Remember the Star Wars Kid, a kid ruined by his peers via the internet. A kid that had to move into a mental treatment facility in order to complete his education without ridicule. A kid permenantly changed by internet bullying. Now, think of Britney Spears, a woman having a breakdown in the media spotlight. Thanks to new found technologies the internet bullying occuring to poor Ms. Spears makes the Star Wars Kid look like fluffly puppies. Britney has been attacked by all media sources in America, and her breakdown has most likely been featured on gossip sights around the world. One website in particular is Perez Hilton, the gossip gangster, who has been regularily posting horrible photoshoped imagery of the fallen starlet on his blog site.
Now, I am a fan of Britney, and of Perez, but I must point out the horrendous bullying going on by the world. Technology has allowed anyone with internet access to be apart of Britney's demise, to essentially push her a little further for a laugh. I understand Perez's position is to provide gossip for the public, this making him gross amounts of money of course, but I think it is sick that the world, including myself, feeds off of this gossip and demoting people's self-esteem. Some might say that Britney is a personality and knew what she was getting into when she became famous. I agree that there is a different line to cross when dealing with Hollywood personalities, but I think society has crossed this line in the case of Britney, I know we are all curious, but maybe it is time to let the poor woman get her life back and enjoy motherhood.
For educators with older students, make sure you point out what is and is not internet bullying, help them understand this fine line and make them critically think about what they are doing or participating in. If we want our students to contribute effectively to society then we are going to have to tell them the nitty gritty about the society that they live in.

View Perez Hilton for more examples on internet bullying!

Blogged out!

I really enjoy blogging, I think it is a great way to share your voice with a greater community, I have even taught all of my grade two students how to blog, it is a fantastic invention. This being said, did everyone have to join the blog wagon at the same time. Out of the five classes that I am currently enrolled in this semester three of them are using technology to aid in reflection of course content and experiences. I am trying to read blogs, publish blogs, and moderate my own students blogs everyday and I am just feeling a little overwhelmed. There is currently too much of a good thing going on for me. This overwhelming blog experience has caused me to think about the effect of students though. If I, in university, am feeling overwhelmed keeping up with three blogs, think of how our younger students feel about being pressured to blog. They may sit down at a computer with literacy or comprehension issues, possibly not even being able to type fast enough to get their thoughts down on the page. What should our expectations be for students to make sure that they feel successful on their blog?

Library What?

A long long time ago, I can still remember,
When the smell of books would make me cry
And I said bye bye big library
Some day later I'll be braver and I'll go through your door,
but for now I'll have to say bye bye,
For now I'll have to say bye bye!

This rendition of American Pie, was created by myself in response to myself and my group during the research of a reading project. The first place that we looked for information for our project was on the internet, and this seems pretty normal for us. What was unusual is that the internet did not have the information that we needed. We were amazed, and astounded that we actually found the information in a book.

I was very surprised at how fast things have changed. It was only a few years ago that books and the dewy decimal system were a reality in my life and now I am not even sure what to do with information that I find in a book.

I am sure this is happening a lot with older students as well in elementary and secondary schools. Students, including myself, prefer the convenience of instant knowledge rather than dredging through a library to find their information. Not to mention that books and photocopies take up actual physical space, where as information found on a computer can be moved and stored easily.

Things to think about!

On the Map for the Wrong Reasons!

Our city has had its 15 minutes of fame during the month of January and what a roller coaster month it has been. Named as having "Canada's Worst Neighborhood" by Macleans Magazine, Regina has gone under the microscope by any Canadian who has read the article. The four page spread in the magazine stated that residents of Regina's North Central Neibourhood were living in conditions comparable to third world countries. It also argued what is and is not being done for the community.
Since the article was publish Mayor Pat Fiacco has show much resentment and backlash towards the magazine; I have heard rumors of him throwing copies into a wood chipper. But amidst the controversy things have actually been looking up for the inner city community. Two more articles have been published in Macleans since the original article, one stating Fiacco's feelings on the subject and the other stating the changes and public feelings within the neighbourhood.
I feel that having Regina flagged as a problem city for poverty has forced our municipal and provincial governments to really look closely at what is being done for this neighbourhood. Because of the article Regina will now have its first Urban Reserve with in the North Central Area. This is an exciting time for our city, I hope that Macleans continues to nag this city into improvement. I can't wait to see what type of positive things emerge from this odd publicity.