Blake: Work Prioritiestag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//172007-12-21T05:35:53ZDon Blake, Organizational Specialist
Constituent Relations--Student ProgramMovable Type 3.35Class divisions between MySpace and Facebook users tag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.10232007-12-10T21:34:53Z2007-12-21T05:35:53Z[Stephen Baker writes "Blogspotting" for BusinessWeek.] Researcher Danah Boyd took a lot of attacks when she blogged an essay about the social differences between Facebook and MySpace users. Now she points to a study done by a Northwestern professor, Eszter...Don Blakewww.donblake.com/technologist
Stephen Baker writes "Blogspotting" for BusinessWeek.]
Researcher Danah Boyd took a lot of attacks when she blogged an essay about the social differences between Facebook and MySpace users. Now she points to a study done by a Northwestern professor, Eszter Hargittai, who surveyed students at U. of Illinois-Chicago. The results appear to confirm at least some of what Boyd wrote.
Here's what she wrote in June:
The goodie two shoes, jocks, athletes, or other "good" kids are now going to Facebook. These kids tend to come from families who emphasize education and going to college. They are part of what we'd call hegemonic society. They are primarily white, but not exclusively. They are in honors classes, looking forward to the prom, and live in a world dictated by after school activities.
MySpace is still home for Latino/Hispanic teens, immigrant teens, "burnouts," "alternative kids," "art fags," punks, emos, goths, gangstas, queer kids, and other kids who didn't play into the dominant high school popularity paradigm. These are kids whose parents didn't go to college, who are expected to get a job when they finish high school.
Hispanic students were the only ethnic group surveyed on campus that used MySpace more than Facebook. There also appears to be a correlation between the parents' education and Facebook usage. One interesting note: Asian-Americans are far more likely than the others to use Xanga and Friendster.]]>
Warned to stay away from social networking sites, Educators have decided to embrace the online fadtag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.10222007-12-10T21:26:21Z2007-12-10T21:29:43ZTo see more of the Columbia Daily Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to www.columbiatribune.com [Copyright (c) 2007, Columbia Daily Tribune, Mo.] Teachers are often warned to stay away from social networking sites popular with teenagers, but a...Don Blakewww.donblake.com/technologist
www.columbiatribune.com
[Copyright (c) 2007, Columbia Daily Tribune, Mo.]
Teachers are often warned to stay away from social networking sites popular with teenagers, but a handful of Hickman educators have decided to embrace the online fad.]]>
Language arts teacher Phil Overeem and social studies teacher Jami Thornsberry, both longtime educators and club sponsors, say the site Facebook provides a faster and more effective way to communicate with students than other methods. Students don't pay attention to morning announcements, they said, and teens rarely check their school e-mail accounts.
"What it boils down to is that students think it's the corniest and squarest thing in the world to use their student e-mail," Overeem said. "They just won't. They will not regularly check their student e-mail, and that causes problems, especially for extracurricular sponsors who do a ton of stuff."
Overeem heads Hickman's Academy of Rock club. Since he launched his Facebook account earlier this year, he's seen a 50 percent to 60 percent increase in attendance at meetings and events.
Thornsberry sponsors three clubs, including Student Government, which is in charge of homecoming. She credits Facebook for helping this year's pool of homecoming queen candidates raise more than $20,000 for charities.
"I decided to get a Facebook page this school year after realizing what an effective tool it is for quick communication and announcements," Thornsberry said. "We have used Facebook for club announcements, T-shirt sales, last-minute details on events and programs we are working on, and to generate support for our queen candidates and their charities."
Professional education groups have mixed opinions about teachers using social networking to communicate with students. The Missouri National Education Association warns teachers on its Web site that social sites like MySpace are "no place for educators." But the National School Boards Association encourages educators to find ways to take advantage of social networks because they are so widely used by students.
A July report issued by NSBA estimated that 96 percent of American students with online access have used social networking sites.
In Columbia, 921 members belong to a Hickman group on Facebook, and 343 members belong to a group called "Hickman Kewpies -- Proud to be a naked baby." Rock Bridge Senior High School's Facebook group has 366 members, and the Bruin Bear has his own Facebook page with links to 85 friends.
With so many students logged on, Missouri State Teachers Association spokesman Todd Fuller said, he can see how the network could be beneficial for school clubs or organizations.
But MSTA advises teachers to avoid social networking because of the risks.
"Our experience has not been positive," Fuller said. "Teachers who are within their first or second year out of college are using Facebook and MySpace with students like they did with their friends. That professionalism isn't there."
In some cases, he said, teachers might see photographs or read personal information about a student that they're not equipped to deal with. On the flip side, students could see personal information about a teacher that could be used against him or her.
Both Overeem and Thornsberry said that hasn't been a problem for them. They don't browse students' personal pages, nor do they post personal information about themselves that they wouldn't want students to know.
They also said Facebook is secure because the site allows users to form independent groups. That means teachers and students might communicate through a club page, but the teacher is not part of a separate group set up just for friends.
Hickman student body President Cooper Livingston said he's glad teachers are starting to use Facebook.
"My AP government teacher," Andrew "McCarthy, has a Facebook account, and he uses it to occasionally remind us to be ready for a quiz," Cooper said. "I think it's neat, especially because they're adapting to us and communicating with us in a way they know we use."
We love social networks … no, wait, we hate them … no wait …tag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.10172007-11-27T20:51:55Z2007-11-27T20:55:47Z[online @ Ragans' eNews Stand] by Shel Holtz Many companies have opposing views on the usage of social networking sites at work. Thus, some companies are blocking sites all together and others are promoting their use. Read on to find...Don Blakewww.donblake.com/technologist[online @ Ragans' eNews Stand]
by Shel Holtz
Many companies have opposing views on the usage of social networking sites at work. Thus, some companies are blocking sites all together and others are promoting their use. Read on to find out which side Shel is on…
There seems to be a case of split personality going on in a lot of companies. On the one hand, the blocking of social media sites continues apace. On the other hand, the adoption of social media in the enterprise is also on a growth spurt.
McAfee, the security company, is out with a study that concludes that one-third of bosses block employee access to music downloading sites like iTunes, to dating sites. One quarter block access to sites like YouTube. More than half wish they could block access to social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook, but only 20% have taken the step. McAfee suggests the rest have resisted because the sites are actually used for work-related communication. Kudos to McAfee Avert Labs Security Strategist Toralv Dirro, who tossed off this wonderful quote:
“The lines between work and play are blurring … but putting fair-usage policies in place and educating people on how to be safe on these sites is the most realistic option.”
That’s pretty enlightened for a security software company. It’ll be a cold day in hell before we hear similar quotes from the fear mongers at Websense.
According to surveys from Barracuda Networks, two-thirds of companies plan to restrict access to the Net over the next year, an increase of nearly 23% over this year. About half of the company’s customers already block access to social networking sites (25% block just MySpace, 6.3% block just Facebook, and 19.3% block both).
Meanwhile, the prospects for adoption of social media behind the firewall as part of a company’s intranet seem to be gaining momentum. SocialText secured $9.5 million in venture capital from its existing investors concurrent with the arrival of former Adobe and Cisco exec Eugene Lee as the company’s new CEO. (Founder Ross Mayfield is sticking around as president and chairman.) Ferris Research analyst David Ferris told InternetNews “There is a strong interest in wikis in corporate environments, and most tools don’t give you the features Socialtext offers, like access controls, which are really important in the corporate space.”
There’s more: The Radicati Group has projected the market for “business social software” at $920 million this year, growing to $3 billion in four short years.
At some point, companies are going to have to come to terms with the fact that networks cross organizational boundaries and that open access—governed by clearly-communicated policies—will produce benefits that far outweigh the costs and risks. Companies that understand this sooner—like Serena Software, which has embraced Facebook as a resource for employees—are likely to gain a competitive edge over those businesses too busy quaking in their boots over the bogus issue of lost productivity.
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Update: College Affordability Campaigntag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.10162007-11-27T19:06:15Z2007-11-27T19:44:46ZCampaign involvement continues to pick up momentum—specifically, student and affiliate program coordinators’ requests for hosting CAC events. After NEA's Student Program Connections conference, we added nearly 200 additional supporters across our two social network campaign sites. Facebook hosts some 2,508...Don Blakewww.donblake.com/technologist
Design and print new version of Campaign brochure. Expected to receive new version from printer in two weeks.
Reordered stickers
Included in CAC materials a summary of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act Summary
Shipped or planning to ship CAC kits to four events across US (Alabama, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Colorado).
Expand social networks to support event planning—e.g., above CAC Kit requests came from Facebook. This practice will facilitate high-visibility of student involvement and should encourage others to mirror events and learn from one another as questions and ideas for events and goods are posted publicly for all to see. I also post follow-up on shipments, etc. to these networks so others can see follow-up. Rob Bindewald, IL, is working with me to facilitate this process.
Continue Anthony’s monthly Vodcast (latest, posted last week prior to Thanksgiving break).
Plan CAC video contest. We need to discuss appropriate “contest prize” for winner of this promo. Anthony is thinking scholarship monies. I am unsure about how we would distribute but do believe this is a worthwhile effort to look into.
Distribute remaining CAC T-shirts. I don not believe selling these is a good idea. Anthony would like to find a cheaper vendor and reprint shirts for give-a-ways. I’m still researching the cost effectiveness for this. Shirts seem to be popular. But not popular enough for cost recovery.
Meeting is set for Dec. 11 at NEA with various external groups to engage them in CAC content and message development.
Continue to discern what needs Student program has around creating a CAC video. I believe there is value in continuing to chronicle CAC events over the next six months that can serve as a “how-to” tool for future collective action events.
As part of a meeting with GEM principals in early December, strategize methods for leveraging The Gateway to attract new members and commitment to the campaign.
Continue efforts to keep CAC Blog updated with content but am still not pleased with this effort. It is not a "blog" as the only content that exists is "repurposed" content. It would be helpful to have a dedicated writer/voice who could post pros weekly. I am planning a redesign of the graphic elements on the blog. I have received some comments from folks that the content is sometimes difficult to read.
Coordinate with PR to include monthly CAC updates in State Editors email blast
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November Update: Gateway to 21st Century Materials Reports Increase in Students of Education Registrationtag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.10102007-11-14T23:38:35Z2007-11-14T23:50:52ZWhat’s New? Another record breaking month for the Gateway with almost 2.5 million hits, lots of new members that are preparing to enter the world of education and a brand new affiliate member! Welcome Hawaii State Teachers Association! HSTA is...Don Blakewww.donblake.com/technologist
What’s New?
Another record breaking month for the Gateway with almost 2.5 million hits, lots of new members that are preparing to enter the world of education and a brand new affiliate member!
Welcome Hawaii State Teachers Association! HSTA is another leader in bringing the benefits of the Gateway to educators in their great state.
We at the Gateway thank you and welcome all of our new members from Hawaii!
Future educators are joining the Gateway in droves. The word is out that the Gateway is a powerful tool for finding exemplary lesson plans, a digitized view of state academic standards and at great collaborative tool to share information about what works in education. Check our Who’s Joining the Gateway section for a small sample of the many new members in preparation for a career in education. And, for you that have joined, thanks for helping us spread the word. The Gateway gets better with every new member and the contributions they bring. Remember that as a member of the Gateway you can choose whether your comments on the learning resources you find here are for public view or if you want to keep them for your personal use only. Of course, we encourage you to share but you do have options. It is your Gateway to 21st Century Learning courtesy of your local NEA affiliate organizations!
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Human Impact on the Everglades Environment
In this lesson, students research changes that the Army Corps have made in the Everglades, focus on the human impact on the environment, design graphic organizers, summary statements, develop a Florida map of the Everglades region, and give a presentation about what they learned.
I Need Room to Breathe
Students use a pH indicator in a structured inquiry lesson to learn how exercise affects carbon dioxide levels in exhaled air.
Go Far in a Car
Traveling in a car can take you near or far. Through this literature-based lesson, students learn about rhyming words, that different things move at different speeds, and vocabulary as they explore transportation.
Gone to the Dogs
The students learn how to decode words by breaking multi-syllable words into basic syllables and counting those syllables. The children then play a station activity game that builds vocabulary and practices decoding multi-syllable words.
Complaint Department
In this activity, students write business letters describing a problem with a purchased product, and offering a possible solution to the problem.
Good Snack, Smart Snack
After completing a unit of study on nutrition, students work as company managers to design and advertise healthy snacks to sell. A list of ingredients will be listed for each snack and an advertisement will be designed to promote their product.
Quickly learn to search the huge collection of free learning resource. (Click this link to view our video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYqho-SN-m4) Our brief, seven minute, instructional video is now available on the home page of the Gateway. It’s never been easier to boost your professional skills, add more fun and individualized instruction to your repertoire of competencies. Join our cadre of 21st century educators today.
Make your search for resources from the Gateway or great benefit from your NEA membership easier and faster. Simply visit: http://www.thegateway.org and download the National Education Association Toolbar from the link in the middle of the page. The toolbar is ready for you! It easy and it’s FREE!
Did You Know?
The Gateway to 21st Century Skills receives thousands of visits a month from dedicated educators all over the world. Monday and Tuesday were the busiest days for the Gateway in the month of October. In fact, the Gateway is such a valuable and powerful tool that over 50% of the visitors added the Gateway to their browser Favorites or Bookmarks! In the last month, over 46% of the traffic came from people who have already bookmarked the Gateway to 21st Century Skills. Spread the word and help your fellow educators to realize the tremendous value NEA has provided for its members.
Are Your Members Using the Gateway?
Hawaii is the newest member of our branded states. Maryland, Colorado, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Washington, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, South Dakota and Tennessee have also created versions of the Gateway that display the state affiliate logos.
And now, not only will your affiliate members be greeted with a view of your logo but anyone who declares that they hail from your branded state will also see that affiliate’s logo. This will underscore your local commitment to provide the members of the profession with the tools and resources they need to succeed in driving up student achievement.
We want to hear from you. What would you like to see added to the Gateway? What improvements would you like to see? Send your suggestions, thoughts and observations on how we can make the Gateway to 21st Century Skills a more valuable tool for you, your students and your fellow teachers. Contact Bruce Walker at brucew@jesandco.org.
Gateway to 21st Century Skills Statistics for October 2007 – Another record breaking month!
October 2007 set another new record for traffic to the Gateway with over 2.4 million hits. In the month of October 2007, adjusted measures of traffic showed that 57,520 visitors created 2,429,410 hits on the site and visited 279,052 pages.
Who’s Joining the Gateway?
We have recently noted a trend toward a greater number of applications for membership from those preparing for a career in education. To celebrate we have selected a few to share with you.
Here are some excerpts from the biographies of recent Gateway applications for membership. Members show their support for the Gateway by joining and it is Free! Membership allows you to make notes and comment about the resources you find on the Gateway. You can share those observations with your peers or make comments that are only for your use. It’s like your own personal Gateway to almost 50,000 quality learning resources.
C.C. – California
I am currently a student teacher at San Jose State University. I will earn my teaching credential in Spring 2008.
E.E. – Massachusetts
I am a Doctoral student at Boston University. I am studying education and my main interest is the nexuses between mind and brain, learning and ability to learn, resilience and motivation.
C.R. – Nevada
I am a student at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas and am working on my Associates in Elementary Education.
R.O. - Nebraska
I am currently a student teacher with an ELL endorsement. My experience so far has been GREAT! Hopefully I will have a teaching position after I graduate in December.
R. – Nebraska
I am a student at the University of Kearney-Nebraska. I am currently seeking my undergrad in Elementary Education and Special Education. I plan to finish up in the spring of 08' and then student teach in the fall of 08'.
D.Y. - Kentucky
I am a student in the Masters of Arts in Teaching at Eastern Kentucky University.
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On GenYerstag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.10002007-11-05T19:02:21Z2007-11-05T19:07:10ZGenYers—that oh-so-threatening mob that’s invading the work force—are “inherently conservative.” [excerpt from Penelope Trunk’s blog] Conservative? Here are four reasons (thanks Penelope!) : They love their parents. Not only do they love their parents, but they want their parents to...Don Blakewww.donblake.com/technologistPenelope Trunk’s blog]
Conservative? Here are four reasons (thanks Penelope!) :
They love their parents. Not only do they love their parents, but they want their parents to help them figure out adult life. There is no rebellion. Instead there is helicopter parenting. And there is a near-perfect implementation by GenY of the values their parents told them were important. GenY are hard workers, achievers and rule followers. ...
They operate in teams. This is not a generation of mavericks. This is not about self-reliance, it’s about teamwork. But teamwork is inherently conservative because there’s consensus. For example, prom is a group event. And there is not infighting—GenY hates conflict. ...
They are not complainers. Baby boomers got their start as people who bucked the system to protect their own interests by protesting Vietnam. Who was fighting the war? Baby boomers. But they hated the war. So they argued against it. Who is fighting today’s war? GenY. And they hate it. But they almost never complain in a large, public way.
They are not asking for anything crazy. GenY are really hard workers. They have been working harder in school than any preceding generation. And the pace that they sift and synthesize information puts the skills of their elders to shame. So why complain about the demands of this generation? They are great at work and they want to have work that is meaningful and challenging. …
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HSTA signs on to GEMtag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.9992007-11-01T21:18:03Z2007-11-01T21:19:06ZHawaii State Teachers Association today committed to including and branding GEM in their new Web site design. They've been added to GEM's database which will allow anyone from Hawaii who visits the site to see HSTA's logo. If they're not...chadwww.theartofgettingover.net
Hawaii State Teachers Association today committed to including and branding GEM in their new Web site design.
They've been added to GEM's database which will allow anyone from Hawaii who visits the site to see HSTA's logo. If they're not a member, then they'll see why they should be!
Video: On MySpacetag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.9982007-11-01T20:06:24Z2007-11-01T20:42:39ZWeb 2.0 and MySpace have changed the way people communicate online. Fear of MySpace has, in part, to do with the way the media portrays MySpace: as a website predominately used by teenagers who are at the mercy of dangerous...Don Blakewww.donblake.com/technologist
MSN Interview
The Hour]]>
Strong Affiliates: Completed editing opening conference videostag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.9972007-10-31T05:38:12Z2007-10-31T05:57:39ZWe did some interviews of various association members and staff to use for the "Strong Affiliates" conference opener. Each runs about 2-4 minutes and there are seven videos. In total, I reviewed and edited 4.5 hours of footage for this...Don Blakewww.donblake.com/technologist
How has being involved in the association impacted you in your work and personally?
How does your association make a difference in the lives of public school children, members and your life?
What are you doing within your association to help create change for our children and familis in our schools as well as for other members and yourself?
Some very interesting answers that I think inform our work. Please share with other unit folks that you think might benefit from these videos...
View videos here:
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The Web 2.0 question - and Grandparents.comtag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.9942007-10-25T17:07:59Z2007-10-26T16:09:27Z[Excerpt from: Good Experience October 24 2007 By Mark Hurst online@ (sign up): http://goodexperience.com/signup.php] What does Web 2.0 mean to people over 50 years old? Put another way, what do grandparents do online? (Do they blog? Do they tag? Do...chadwww.theartofgettingover.net
Good Experience
October 24 2007
By Mark Hurst
online@ (sign up): http://goodexperience.com/signup.php]
What does Web 2.0 mean to people over 50 years old?
Put another way, what do grandparents do online? (Do they blog? Do they tag? Do they "Facebook"? )
These are important questions for Grandparents.com, a Web startup aimed at those very users. I recently worked with the company, with a team from Creative Good, to answer those questions and help the Grandparents.com team chart its way forward.
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I should note that many companies face some version of "the Web 2.0 question" right now. Everyone these days seems to want to build social networking into their business. I've recently observed a number of well-established e-commerce sites change their strategy from merchandising and selling products to "connecting customers with each other"... as though buying spatulas (or whatever) gets better after you create a buddy-list of fellow spatula lovers.
Some sites should stick to what they know.
There are, of course, other sites that do benefit from these features. Chief among them are the social networking sites themselves. Facebook.com currently gets the most attention; previously it was Myspace, and before that it was Friendster (remember them)? But there are other sites, too, that make good use of linking users to each other. For example, TripAdvisor.com is a travel site focused primarily on customer reviews; booking travel is a secondary feature.
The challenge for a new company like Grandparents.com, in creating a customer experience strategy, is to discern which (if any) elements of the hyped-up Web 2.0 trend are worth investing in. That requires considering various inputs.
What sources do executives listen to? Here are a few:
- the technology press, whose job it is to report on the newest and flashiest trends, not necessarily what actually works in the long run
- bloggers, many of whom are technophiles who enjoy playing with, and writing about, Internet trends and gadgets
- investors, who often want quick results, and look to the press and bloggers to point the way
- technology conferences, which tend to invite speakers who will draw attendees from the three groups above
It's no wonder that the spatula site wants a social networking
feature: today's executives face tremendous pressure to follow the herd.
Another voice, by the way, is that of industry colleagues, who (depending on the context) can be very helpful, or in the other extreme, may indulge in one-upmanship about whose business has gotten more exposure. (The "helpful" context would be something like the Councils: http://creativegood.com/councils )
One voice not on the list, ironically enough, *can* point the way forward, both in the short term and the long term. Who is it?
The customers.
Most companies still don't conduct meaningful research with the people who they're ostensibly working for. No customers, no business; and yet the customers are often nowhere to be found when strategic decisions are made.
It's to Grandparents.com's credit that they bucked the trend. The team reached out to listen to *customers* in order to build their strategy. "The Web 2.0 question" becomes a much easier task when you have good data.
Within one day of listening labs, we found that grandparents *do* want certain features in the website, and Grandparents.com *can* have a viable business in the Web 2.0 world. The grandparents we talked to didn't say, "I want this particular feature," but their descriptions of how they relate to their grandkids, and their demonstrations of how they use the Internet, revealed what sort of site Grandparents.com should be.
Perhaps more importantly, we learned what the customers do *not* want, saving the company from making needless investments of time and money in the wrong features. For example, I won't give the store away by revealing that grandparents are not sprinting to set up blogs. Nor are they prone to tag photos and bookmarks.
If you think these are common-sense conclusions, take a look at what the press is saying. A New York Times article last month announced a new trend of Web 2.0 sites for aging users:
"Technology investors and entrepreneurs, long obsessed with connecting to teenagers and 20-somethings, are starting a host of new social networking sites aimed at baby boomers and graying computer users. ... They look like Facebook - with wrinkles."
Facebook with wrinkles. Maybe that's a great investor pitch, but I didn't see anything in my direct exposure to customers that suggests it's a good strategy. I'd guess that most of the companies in that article listened to the bulleted sources above, and never invested in meaningful research with their customers.
How does your organization chart its way forward: by following the herd, or by listening to customers?
USA Today: Teens hang out at MySpacetag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.9852007-10-24T19:28:38Z2007-10-24T19:29:57Z[By Janet Kornblum, USA TODAY] Shanda Edstrom can't stop herself. Every day — pretty much no matter where she is — she's just gotta go to MySpace. Her friends are there. Her former high school classmates hang out there. Heck,...chadwww.theartofgettingover.net
Read Online]]]>
Outside NEA: See What Teachers Are Blogging Abouttag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.9472007-10-23T19:38:36Z2007-10-23T19:41:13ZGrandpa, Dennis the Menace, Betty Crocker, and a jelly bean. Oh the personalities represented in my classroom. Today Dennis the Menace made a few poor choices. Hitting, scratching, yelling - generally naughty things. After constantly reprimanding and taking away privileges...chadwww.theartofgettingover.net
Read New Teacher Diaries]]]>
WHAT!?: "OEA Strongly Encourages Members to AVOID MySpace"tag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.9462007-10-23T18:45:45Z2007-10-23T19:34:11ZWe badly need to develop supporting guidelines that will help guide our affiliates around communicating more effectively with members about the benefits & pitfalls of blogging and social networking. This week, I'm training the NEA UniServ Academy and have been...chadwww.theartofgettingover.netImportant Information! MySpace and Facebook
MySpace and Facebook present a unique set of problems for education employees. Look for an in-depth article on the subject in an upcoming issue of Ohio Schools. In the meantime[sic] here are a few suggestions that you can share with your colleagues.
The OEA strongly encourages members to avoid MySpace and Facebook. OEA advises members not to join, and for existing users to complete the steps involved in removing their profiles.
While this advice might seem extreme, the dangers of participating in these two sites outweigh the benefits.
[...]
This type association communication is disturbing [read: embarrassing] for several reasons:
1. NEA headquarters implies support and encourages members to use and even "join" social networking and blogging sites (ESEA, College Affordability, Campaign 08, etc.)
2. Younger members will view this advice as alarmist and completely "old-school." For many of them, MySpace and Facebook are a central part of their lives (see next posting: "OutSide NEA").
3. These new Web 2.0 tools are our Association's chance to modernize and communicate the value of collective action to new, younger members. We need to collectively act to preserve members' rights to manage and maintain their access to online tools just as we did in the 70s with defending the association’s right to access school mailboxes… email and Net access (e-rate).
4. We can’t afford to lose this important opportunity to meet and organize a new breed of members online. ]]>
UniServ Academy Blog Gets Redesignedtag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.8582007-10-19T19:04:01Z2007-10-19T19:12:01ZMany hours went into resdesigning and relocating Academy content to a new knowledge management schema (Blog) design. [view new design]...chadwww.theartofgettingover.net
view new design]]]>
Gateway to 21st Century Materials: 2007 MOUtag:www.donblake.com,2007:/technologist//17.8302007-10-12T17:26:48Z2007-10-12T18:05:14ZNEA renews support for Gateway to 21st Century Materials. Moving ahead in 2007-08, GEM currently hosts 13 branded affiliates, one college of education and 3 State Department's of Education. NEA will meet at the end of the month and in...Don Blakewww.donblake.com/technologist
Engage more state affiliates to brand
Engage Colleges of Education to brand with GEM and add to their Web pages
Brand GEM with MySpace, Google, Digg and other search/news/social networking tools
Continue viral campaigning of NEA programs, issues and products via GEM
Continue to add innovative functionality to GEM--e.g., update browser toolbars, YouTube educational pieces, etc.