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Given the newness of these types of technologies, it is only in the last few years that educators have started to notice them and explore their effects on student behavior and performance. While there is supporting evidence to suggest that these technologies have a large influence on the social development of adolescents, an even more pertinent issue for classroom teachers is what effects these technologies have on the academic development of young people. In this article, I examine how students' use of text messaging technology, specifically IM, affects their writing skills. How does IM use affect students' interest in traditional writing (as learned in school)? In what ways does IM usage affect students' writing ability? How does "IM-speak" change students' views of what is considered "proper" language? How can classroom teachers build on student use of this increasingly popular technology? In this paper I provide a discussion of the current issues and current teacher practices surrounding instant messaging as it relates to student writing.

Diverse opinions are critical to constructive dialog. Diversity enriches a group. But there is a line between constructive critical thinking and behavior which demeans individuals and potentially destroys communities. It is a fine line with no obvious answer for a facilitator. The goal of this piece is to think about how to support diverse and divergent thinking while reducing the likelihood of personal conflict and group destruction. And this conflict often arises due to misunderstanding. So it is about conflict beteen people, not between ideas. This is an important distinction!

The topic that we choose to do is rights and responsibilities in digital citizenship. Rights and responsibilities are the privileges and freedoms extended to all digital technology users, and the behavioral expectations that come with them. Digital rights and responsibilities are things like the right of copyright, and plagiarism. Also things like downloading music, movies and television shows being downloaded for free. Other issues include the use of the internet, especially at schools. Another issue is cell phones. Plagiarism means copying or using sites that are not properly cited, or giving credit to the author. This includes books, websites, magazines etc. It is a big problem in schools, and it is good to get away from it, and get used to it at younger ages. You must site the sites etc that you use to avoid plagiarism and trouble. Especially in higher grades like grade 11 and 12 and universities where it get very serious, such as getting kicked out of the school or university. Another big problem is the copyright of music, movies, and television shows. A lot of people download music for free on the internet and various programs, which is illegal and practically stealing. But some people do not understand how serious it is. What happens is that the artists that produce the song and etc do not get money for the songs that people are downloading straight off the internet for free. The issue of the use of computers in school is a problem, and people take advantage of the computers at school sometimes. For example people going on games etc, and other things that are not school related, or used for educational purposes. Even outside of school the internet is used inappropriately, and it is your responsibility to know what is appropriate and what is not. All these issues that we found affect the student in his/her everyday school life so we need to help them understand their responsibility towards these issues.

What is Global Competence? Help us better define global competence. Send in your students' work. Be a part of a ground-breaking effort to assess student global competence. We are collecting samples of work that demonstrate student global knowledge and skills at various developmental levels. Once the work is published, it will help teachers strengthen instruction and better evaluate student work and provide examples for students to help them strive for greater achievement. With each submission, you will be entered into a regular drawing for $500 Staples gift certificates. Learn more and get involved (PDF download). A globally competent student can Investigate the World Recognize Perspectives Communicate Ideas Take Action Students investigate the world beyond their immediate environment. Students recognize their own and others’ perspective. Students communicate their ideas effectively with diverse audiences. Students translate their ideas and findings into appropriate actions to improve conditions. Students can: Generate and explain the significance of locally, regionally or globally focused researchable questions. Identify, collect and analyze the knowledge and evidence required to answer questions using a variety of international sources, media and languages. Weigh, integrate and synthesize evidence collected to construct coherent responses that is appropriate to the context of issues or problems. Develop an argument based on compelling evidence that considers multiple perspectives and draws defensible conclusions. Students can: Recognize and articulate one’s own perspective on situations, events, issues or phenomena and identify the influences on that perspective. Articulate and explain perspectives of other people, groups or schools of thought and identify the influences on those perspectives. Explain how the interaction of ideas across cultures influences the development of knowledge and situations, events, issues or phenomena. Articulate how the consequences of differential access to knowledge, technology and resources affect the quality of life and influences perspectives. Students can: Recognize that diverse audiences may perceive different meanings from the same information. Use appropriate language, behavior and strategies to effectively communicate, both verbally and non-verbally, with diverse audiences. Explain how effective communication impacts understanding and collaboration in an interdependent world. Select and effectively use appropriate technology and media to communicate with diverse audiences. Students can: Recognize one’s capacity to advocate for and contribute to improvement locally, regionally, or globally. Identify opportunities for personal and collaborative action to address situations, events, issues or phenomena in ways which can make a difference. Assess options for action based on evidence and the potential for impact, taking into account varied perspectives and potential consequences for others. Act creatively and innovatively to contribute to improvement locally, regionally or globally both personally and collaboratively.

one has the opportunity to communicate and collaborate with anyone from anywhere and anytime. Unfortunately, many users have not been taught how to make appropriate decisions when faced with so many different digital communicatio

communicate with other people. In the 19th century, forms of communication were limited. In the 21st

Digital Citizenship

"I wanted to team up with a problem or issue that I can contribute and relate to," Guadagnino explained. "I think people will listen to me because of who I am."

This tragedy was inspiration for one of the principal story-lines in MTV's new original movie, "(DIS)CONNECTED," a story of digital drama created to combat the growing issue of cyber-bullying.

Arjen Witzel Feb 18, 2010 7:07 AM GMT Effects ofexposure to emf radiation/ mobile phone/ wireless and related technology at my body are :Headache Fatigue Stress Sleep disturbances Skin symptoms like prickling, burning sensations, rashes, muscle pains and aches and more.But Doctors can't emplane any of this in Nederland.I lost my lob two times now.And can't start a new one because of my state of health.To keep alive at home i have rebuild my rand house in a cage of Faraday.Outside it 800/2200 uW/m2 from cell-towers and radiated devices from next door.Inside 0,4uW/m2 where i now can sleep properly.Before that impossible to get to sleep.Around me many people have the same problems, and the don't no what is the problem jet!Taking many medicine for nothing just like me in the past.I have nu future any-more. Adam Nov 6, 2009 6:38 PM GMT I have used a number of cell phones over the past 10 years. Its easy for me to say that my eye twitching, localized piercing head aches, tremors, etc are the result of this phone but it can not be proven. I do not have a home phone, I use my cell as my primary phone end never really thought that it may be the cause of head/brain issued until recently. My question... are the blue tooth devices really any better? do they not still pick up and transmit the same waves as the hand held device I have spent so much time holding next to my brain? i wish a few real studies not conducted or funded by the phone companies would surface... we need the help. Virginia Farver Sep 22, 2009 9:45 PM GMT I'm writing in behalf of my Son, Richard Blaine Farver,(Rich). Rich, died of glioblastoma multiforme brain cancer Oct.11,08 at the age of 29. Rich always had his cell phone on his head or in his pocket! Like millions of other kids he had used it for the last several years. His tumor was on the right side of his head, and he was right handed! Rich was also a graduate student at SDSU in San Diego,CA. In March of 09, articles were written about Rich and one other man that died in 2008 from glioblastoma, one died in the 90's from glio, and one is currently battling a malignant brain tumor. The articles are about a particular building and room on SDSU campus. 'Nasatir, room 131.' I found these articles in August 09. I KNOW, cell phone use caused my Son's cancer and the public needs to take this Very seriously! There is a cell tower next to this building, room, also! The, "It won't happen to me," attitude needs to be changed!! Everyone heed my WARNING! It can happen to any one! This has destroyed our lives! Please, I DO NOT want anyone else to endure this, or their families!Sincerely,Virginia Farver

been around for over 20 years, and they're now used by more than 3 billion people

including cancer

Gaming addiction is not yet classified as a mental health disorder or "true" addiction like gambling or alcohol addiction. However, some gamers clearly struggle to keep their playing habits under control and may place more importance on their gaming accomplishments than their happiness and success in the real world (e.g., academic achievement, friendships, relationships, career advancement, health, etc.). As gaming addiction becomes more of a concern for parents, spouses, families, educators, and those in the mental health community, it is important for those hoping to learn more about this issue to get their gaming addiction statistics and facts from reputable sources.

iStockPhoto (CBS) Can a person be truly addicted to the Internet? A new brain scan study shows not only can that be the case, but also that Internet addiction might cause the same brain changes that are seen in alcoholics and drug addicts. For the study, published in the Jan. 11 issue of PLoS One, researchers studied 17 men and women who were diagnosed with Internet addiction disorder (IAD) and compared scans of their brains to scans of 16 healthy people who weren't addicted to the web. Study participants were between the ages of 14 and 21 and lived in China. Video Game-Obsessed Mom Neglects Kids, Starves DogsAre social networking sites turning teens into substance abusers? The researchers found more patterns of  "abnormal white matter" on brain scans of Internet addicts, compared with scans of non-addicts. White matter areas in the brain contain nerve fibers that transmit signals to other parts of the brain. These changes showed evidence of disrupting pathways related to emotions, decision-making, and self control. The researchers said earlier studies have found similar white matter changes in the brain scans of people addicted to alcohol, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, meth, and ketamine (also known as "Special K"). "The results also suggest that IAD may share psychological and neural mechanisms with other types of substance addiction and impulse control disorders," the researchers wrote in the study. Professor Gunter Schumann, chair in biological psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, London, told BBC News that he's come across similar findings in brain scans of video game addicts. "For the first time two studies show changes in the neuronal connections between brain areas as well as changes in brain function in people who are frequently using the Internet or video games," he said. Dr. Henrietta Bowden Jones, consultant psychiatrist at Imperial College in London, who runs the U.K.'s only clinic for Internet addicts, said hardcore gamers are more likely to be addicted to the Internet. "The majority of people we see with serious Internet addiction are gamers - people who spend long hours in roles in various games that cause them to disregard their obligations," Jones told The Independent. "I have seen people who stopped attending university lectures, failed their degrees or their marriages broke down because they were unable to emotionally connect with anything outside the game." According to the independent, an estimated 5 to 10 percent of Internet users are unable to control their usage and are considered addicts.

Nearly every study performed on the topic has found not only a direct correlation between age and Internet addiction, but also one between age and neglect of work. That is to say that teenagers and young adults are more likely to be addicted to the Internet than any other age group, and among all people suffering from this addiction, teenagers and young adults are more likely to neglect work (school or employment) than older adults with similar addictive behavior. In fact, in the most widely recognized study of its kind, age was the only factor that was a direct and constant contributor to this addiction across all other factors.[1] While this may be good news, suggesting that teenagers and young adults might grow out of their addiction (or reduce their intake) as they age, because this is a new "genre" of behavior, this data might simply reveal that teenagers and young adults are "early adapters." What this means, essentially, is that they may have found this addiction before the rest of the population. If this is the case, today's Internet-Addicted teenagers and young adults may carry it with them into adulthood. In fact, Stanford University's School of Medicine found that nearly one in eight Americans suffers from at least one sign of problematic Internet abuse (although this does not in and of itself constitute addiction).[2] Internet abuse is so widespread that the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders), which is published by the American Psychiatric Association, is reported to be considering adding it to its next release, alongside such issues as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and borderline personality disorders.[3] Indeed, as children and teenagers are still developing their brains, they may grow accustomed to the speed and flashy graphics associated with the Internet and actually adapt their physiology, developing problems such as ADHD, and becoming generally more impatient than people raised without the instant gratification offered by the Internet

But some language combinations work much better than others and even when the translation’s good, it’s never perfect. “Google Translate is good at helping you get what is called a gestation or essentially the essence of what the other person is communicating,” says Goolgle’s Michael Galvez. I’m skeptical that “gestations” will be enough. Much of what we read on the web is written beautifully or full of nuance and software will never be able to translate that. So some translation projects, like a new website called Meedan.net, are still using good ol’ humans. “The idea is a Wikipedia-style approach to translation,” says Meedan founder Ed Bice. Meedan uses a mix of human and machine translation to present articles, blog posts, and comments about the Middle East in hopes of bridging the gap between the Arabic and English-speaking worlds. The comments following an article like this one show how the presentation of the translated text will also be an important issue to tackle. Google Translate essentially wipes out the foreign language, showing you web pages only in your language. Meedan instead has the English and Arabic side-by-side. This layout is a valuable addition to the translations themselves when it allows you to see comments bouncing back and forth between languages.

In findings that will worry parents across America, researchers said going online was such a compulsion for some High School students that withdrawing could cause serious medical and psychological consequences.

Researchers found that one in every 25 teens had 'problematic Internet use' - and these students were most likely to report serious problems when not online.

Asian and Hispanic students were most likely to qualify as problematic users --