Secondly was the issue of pornography, while I know there are filters that can be placed, I also know they can be easily circumvented. While I am all for free speech, I do wish there were more content filters turned on by default on social media. I would rather see an active consent to remove the filters, than to assume everyone is an 'adult'. Especially as we know the majority of people who use social media are younger.
How long have you been 'online'?
I've been online for 5 years.
What do you do when you are online?
I talk to friends, watch videos, listen to music and post my artwork onto my Tumblr blog.
Describe the projects that you make/do?
I draw, all the time. I've also been working on game design, coding and concept art.
How has your experience been learning online?
It hasn't been as good as I'd expected. There is nearly no communication between the classmates and the teacher, and there's no hands on experience. You receive your books in the mail, and the teachers do no more than tell you which chapter to read. And they almost never reply to you or grade your papers in a reasonable amount of time.
Do you frequent social media?
I use Tumblr and Twitter, and I use them a lot. I check them regularly.
How do you deal with negative people online?
Unless they've said something really offensive to me, I normally just ignore them. I've had people try to bully me so many times online, that I've just stopped caring.
Is social media a big part of your life?
It keeps me from getting bored, but I don't believe it's a big part of my life.
if there was something you could change about social media, what would it be?
I'd really, really like it if there was more of a filter on pornography. I can go on Tumblr and look up my favourite anime video game, and see a whole bunch of anime pornography. It's awful, especially since the game is targeted to audiences 16 and under. Thankfully, people on twitter have more sense and make sure that their twitter is blocked to everyone under a certain age.
I thought her comments about teacher interaction was really unfortunate. Feedback is so important as it adds to teachers guiding the learning of their students in a unique and individual way.
ReplyDeleteI also was saddened by the cyber bully questions. She has grown so used to it that it doesn't bother her.
And, I agree with her about the porn filter. That is very frustrating and it must be uncomfortable.
Interesting interview
My takeaway about the bullying comment, wasn't so much that it was what we consider hardcore bullying, but people hiding behind the keyboard and being rude, nasty and 'trolling' for attention.
DeleteIf you ever participated in a message board, you see these people all the time. People who say outrageous things, because they can. After a while, you get used to this type of person and just ignore them.
Homeschooling is where this technology really must be effective if it is to be effective in a regular classroom. It is very unfortunate this student has not had a good experience, and the teachers should understand that the home-schooled students need more feedback and attention.
ReplyDeleteAlthough there should be a pornography filter, sites like Tumblr are full of those pages, and perhaps 13 may be too young to be going on that site.
I think it is great that you interviewed a homeschooler it really gives you another perspective of technology, especially from someone who uses it for school on a daily basis. It is quite surprising that she is dissatisfied with her online learning and for the most part because there is no interaction. So although she engages in most of her schooling online, it lacks an internet community feel and she desires a community of
ReplyDeletelearners and teachers that she can be connected to.
In her case, she uses the internet to display and share artwork, but also interesting to note is that she uses the internet to curtail her boredom – so it is a source of entertainment while keeping her busy. I think a lot of teens use the internet when they are bored, whether it is to internet browse, play games, or participate in social media. Technology is both a source of entertainment and necessity.
That's the thing, the internet like traditional forms of communication is only has interactive as the participants want it to be.
DeleteCreating a rewarding learning environment takes work and I think many instructors think it's enough to upload a lesson and post grades.
Like you note, this is her main source of interaction with her peers and while she interacts with them, she does so on her own, as opposed to it being part of the learning experience. Which is ok, but I think the entire class, including the instructor are missing out.