Alex Couros was our guest this week. I found the virtual lecture very engaging!
He has 123 thousand followers that prove this is also true for others. He had us from the start by demonstrating the online presence his own four children have. I must say I was impressed.
My main takeaways from his talk are in the form of sound bites of things that I had not heard of before. It was such a fast pace but I will try to articulate what resonated most with me.
The term "sharenting". The implications of having immediate access to social media while raising children mean that today's child is being raised to have a digital footprint and will not ever know a before and after online presence. Imagine though, what the 5-year old who writes a hip-hop song will create before he is even a teenager. I shared that video with my friend who has a 7-month-old while watching it during class. Fearless potential!
It came as no surprise that social media platforms know the science of addiction and the role that dopamine plays on young minds. There are many TedTalks on this topic as well. This to me is no different from watching commercials designed to have children asking their parents for certain toys or sugary cereals appearing throughout the child's favourite shows. The technology just allows it to happen all the time in the palm of the hand.
Another term that was brought up that I had not heard of was "slacktivist". Go figure, online virtue signaling has its own term. Who knew?
One of the many feel-good stories that Dr. Couros shared with us was about the senior citizens helping students in Brazil learn English. That was a touching story to watch. It reminded me of a similar application of senior empowerment where a kindergarten class was installed in a senior citizen's home. Stories like this are inspiring and deserved to be shared.
Until next time, I will be continuing to fill in the edges of the puzzle that will eventually contain the picture of who I will be as a connected educator. I'm still trying to figure out the #hashtag thing, maybe this will help. Cheers!
He has 123 thousand followers that prove this is also true for others. He had us from the start by demonstrating the online presence his own four children have. I must say I was impressed.
My main takeaways from his talk are in the form of sound bites of things that I had not heard of before. It was such a fast pace but I will try to articulate what resonated most with me.
The term "sharenting". The implications of having immediate access to social media while raising children mean that today's child is being raised to have a digital footprint and will not ever know a before and after online presence. Imagine though, what the 5-year old who writes a hip-hop song will create before he is even a teenager. I shared that video with my friend who has a 7-month-old while watching it during class. Fearless potential!
It came as no surprise that social media platforms know the science of addiction and the role that dopamine plays on young minds. There are many TedTalks on this topic as well. This to me is no different from watching commercials designed to have children asking their parents for certain toys or sugary cereals appearing throughout the child's favourite shows. The technology just allows it to happen all the time in the palm of the hand.
Another term that was brought up that I had not heard of was "slacktivist". Go figure, online virtue signaling has its own term. Who knew?
One of the many feel-good stories that Dr. Couros shared with us was about the senior citizens helping students in Brazil learn English. That was a touching story to watch. It reminded me of a similar application of senior empowerment where a kindergarten class was installed in a senior citizen's home. Stories like this are inspiring and deserved to be shared.
Until next time, I will be continuing to fill in the edges of the puzzle that will eventually contain the picture of who I will be as a connected educator. I'm still trying to figure out the #hashtag thing, maybe this will help. Cheers!
The idea with the senior home residents was also one of my favourite parts of Alec Couros presentation. It highlights meaningful personal connections technology can build. #I liked the video you posted # Lol
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed the virtual lecture, although somewhat inactive, it was still engaging. The fact that that kids are not really taught the impact they have, however big it may be, over the internet is a scary thought. Still, I do agree with you, that having kids having such a close relationship with technology is an equation for potential. I also still don’t get what’s all the commotion over the pound sing, I mean, hashtag.
ReplyDelete