Reflection 2.0

I’ll confess, even though it may decrease my credibility: Before November of 2007 I belonged to not a single social network (well, excluding the pregnancy group I joined on ivillage back in 2005).  Can you believe it?  I’m supposedly of this group discussed in “Education Week: ‘Gen Y’ Teachers Want to Innovate, Education Leaders Lag Behind“:

“Generation Y teachers, those 20-somethings who connect with their friends via online social-networking sites and live with the world at their fingertips, are inherently going to be incompatible with a stagnant education system that can be painfully isolating and uninspiring. Will the system bend to their will or break their spirit? What does the answer mean for the future of public education in this country?”

Now, while I am currently VERY connected to the online experience now, it’s just not accurate to say all teachers of my generation are.  Of course, it’s a generalization, so that’s how it works.  I’d just like to state for the record, though, that the majority of my counterparts in my PLN are NOT in ‘Gen Y’ and are light-years ahead of me with technology and Web 2.0.  Of course, the fact that they’re IN my PLN makes them stand out from the average educator in the U.S. today.

Now that I’ve finally caught up with my peers and students, I have to say that I now truly understand the allure of the social networking experience.  I’m still not using social networks for purely social reasons - I don’t use MySpace or FaceBook at all and my Twittering is mostly about edtech topics - but the communities I’m involved in on Twitter, Classroom 2.0, and Building a Better Blog (and others) have completely changed the way I think about education, social networks, and technology.  I feel I can relate to my students better now, and won’t be so quick to brush off their obsession with IM, Webkinz, etc. There’s a new show being aired on PBS’ Frontline called “Growing Up Online” - the promo material states:

“MySpace. YouTube. Facebook. Nearly every teen in America is on the Internet every day, socializing with friends and strangers alike, “trying on” identities, and building a virtual profile of themselves–one that many kids insist is a more honest depiction of who they really are than the person they portray at home or in school.

In “Growing Up Online,” FRONTLINE peers inside the world of this cyber-savvy generation through the eyes of teens and their parents, who often find themselves on opposite sides of a new digital divide. From cyber bullying to instant “Internet fame,” to the specter of online sexual predators, FRONTLINE producer Rachel Dretzin investigates the risks, realities and misconceptions of teenage self-expression on the World Wide Web.”

(I’m really excited about watching this next week, but I’m not very enthused with the negativity portrayed in the promo video shown on the site.
I’m hoping that this is just the sensational part designed to bring in viewers, we don’t need yet another reason for parents and administration to be against students being on the internet at home and school!)

Part of the reason I’m so interested in this Frontline episode is that I totally GET the allure of interacting with people in an environment almost free of social awkwardness and where appearance isn’t important.  Although I portray myself completely accurately in all online interactions, there’s still the absence of worrying about whether I’m wearing the right thing, went to the right university, am friends with the right people, etc.  I’m valued for what I know and contribute to the discussions, and that’s really cool.  As a teacher at my school, I’m still the new girl and in my family I’m a wife, mom, sister, daughter - most of my friends don’t even know Twitter exists (and neither did I before December!). 

My personal learning network is where I get to be the true geek that I am and share experiences and thoughts that my family, friends, and colleagues might not be interested in or capable of understanding.  Now, I in no way hide my social interactions or conversations online - I’ve attached my full name to all of my work.  I’ve even shared the link to my blog with my family, but don’t think they’ve visited here more than once.  I would be ok with any colleagues or students finding my blog or Twitter updates - I believe in transparency.  I just don’t think anyone would even know how to go about trying to find me!  (Let’s find out - Mom, Megan, Lucas, friends, colleagues, etc:  if you’re reading this, PLEASE comment!!!  All you need to do is click where it says “Leave a Comment or # comments” at the top of this post and fill in the form.) I was even encouraged last night on Twitter to give up the avatar and include a picture for my tweets, which I did.

Relating to transparency, the blog challenge for today is “Conduct an About Page Audit” and I intend to do just that. Stay tuned for a picture and some more background info.