Digital Divide?

So, I saw an article http://www.thejournal.com/articles/22818 about the digital divide and how it's not what was previously thought. Lower income children do have access to the internet more so now and are using it a lot for social networking. I guess the article caught my attention because I've been feeling a little tech-inadequate you could say. For example, I have a computer (an 8 year old desktop) but everyone in my study team has a fancy laptop. And the worst part is my computer at home is not in a convenient location, so I hardly can get on it. We've solved that problem, now I have more access to it, but I still feel like with all the new stuff out there I really need to suck it up and by a new computer - get a nice flat screen or a lap top or at least something with tons of memory for my videos and photos and then I can catch up and not be behind the times. But relating this to our students, I think there is going to be a disadvantage for students whose families either don't have a computer at home, or who don't have the latest and greatest. Feeling un connected here in Tosa...

Book club need a read for summer

So our book club discussed Augusten Burrough's memoir Wolf at the Table and we all decided that it almost seems like he's writing about the same stuff over and over. We all really enjoyed his first book, Running with Scissors and maybe because it was so novel and shocking. Anyway the book gives a little insight into his father and it's pretty dark and disturbing, not a "light" fun read. We are trying to find a fun summer chick-lit (but not cheesy) sort of book, let me know if there are any suggestions

Shelfari

Before I forget, this is a cool site called Shelfari that allows you to br0wse books and also do book reviews.

Digital Media Class reaction

So the class I am in, Digital Media or Web 2.0 is really eye-opening. We are learning about all the free resources available, like wikis, blogs, podcasts and Google docs. Our class wiki is utilizing wetpaint, CEDU 534, and it where we keep track of everything for the class. I will also be making a wiki and am not sure which class I will use it for, possibly Advanced Public Speaking. I really think blogging is quite intriguing and wish I had more time and access to keep it up. I am planning on using my blog to have discussions with my book club group and then also to possibly have my students keep track of the book buzz, assuming my school gives us access to do so.

Blogache!

I just started reading blogs and can see how you can get sucked into the blogosphere...wow. My students who are already easily distracted could waste countless hours, but I do realize there is good stuff out there. I like that you can check out the blogs on Technorati and other places to make sure they are okay. As for use of blogs in my teaching, I would love it for book talking and creating lists of high interest reads recommended by teens. We are already able to do this kind of on our Destiny library catalog, but that is just to post reviews. Another use I see is creating a speaking and evaluating blog or wiki where students can respond to each other's speeches and give comments and I can post you tube or other speeches for them to watch and analyze. This future blog could come in handy in the fall when the election is going on because that creates engagement for some of my students and I have them do an election issue speech. Any way by the next blog post, I should have some links, I found a few articles and a few cool literary blogs to update my reading lists. As of now, this blog doesn't really have much of a purpose or identity and just so you all know, my baby sleeps in our "office/nursery" so I'm sitting in the dark doing this trying not to disturb his slumber...Oh the joys of parenthood. He'll probably be blogging by age 2!

Summer Reading

A Wolf at the Table by Augusten Burroughs
If you think this will be as entertaining as Running with Scissors, you'll be disappointed but it will be as disturbing, if not more, and will explain a lot about the missing piece in RWS (what is up with his dad?). I've not only read most of Burroughs books, but also Look me in the Eye by John Elder (Augusten's brother who has Aspbergers)
Still Summer by Jaquelyn Mitchard
I've read a few things by Mitchard (including her column) and all the books have some interesting twists and are pretty suspenseful, this one delivers with the adventure and suspense. It is about some old friends taking a sailing trip in the Caribbean and then there are some major mishaps and tragedies and they are left fighting for their survival. A compelling read.
Sin in the Second City by Karen Abbot
Non-fiction about prostitution in Chicago at the turn of the century. Haven't read yet, but we'll be reading for book club. I loved Devil in the White City and hope this is somewhat like this.
Love The One You're With by Emily Griffin
Major chick-lit (so if you like Sex in the City...read this)! She also wrote Something Borrowed, Something Blue and Babyproof which are all easy, fun reads that are kind of a series but can be read independently.
So get started on some educational (and mostly just entertaining escapism)!