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In the article Myspace, Facebook promote Literacy, Debra Lau Whelan talks about how social networking sites can help you gain more than just friends. Social networking sites offer e-safety, "Staying safe, keeping personal information safe, protecting yourself and your belongings, making sure that we don't participate in bullying or other antisocial behavior, and helping out other people who might be affected by these issues, is a key part of digital citizenship." Responsibility becomes a central role on these sites because their safety is at risk. Kids are able to control childish behaviors or prevent themselves from making rash decisions by using safe tactics on the internet. These sites broaden horizons for the users, letting them talk to people they may not have talked to otherwise, creating a variety and diverse web culture, driving away from cliques on school playgrounds. "Collaboration, discovery, and becoming a team player are all encouraged because these sites promote working, thinking, and acting together." Social networking sites allow users to create groups online to help find other people with the same interest as you. This allows communication on a topic that many people all over the world share a common interest in. Diversity brings new ideas and helps these users see things in a different point of view. These teens are not trapped in just with their classroom but they can't interact with people all over the world. Teens messing around on the computer on social networking sites is not just leisure time wasted, "Being able to quickly adapt to new technologies, services, and environments is already regarded as a highly valuable skill by employers, and can facilitate both formal and informal learning," Computer skills are adapted from using these sites, making it easier for teens to perform computer tasks in the future at work. This article gave me a new outlook on Facebook and social networking sites. I always thought that these sites w

With starting kids off young have we caused a new problem with laptops in the classroom? Kathy McManus blogged on August 14, 2008 about the banning of laptops from university classrooms. Within her blog she mentioned that "The laptop--the favorite in-class tool for college and university students across the country-is coming unplugged." Have we been abusing our laptops in class? I am not going to lie when I bring my laptop my browser ends up on facebook, or youtube checking out the newest funny stunt that some kids posted. The blog talks about how when used correctly the laptop can be a wonderful resource for a classroom but teachers cant monitor every laptop all the time.

In the article Lift the Cell Phone Ban, by David Rapp, the ongoing concerns of cell phones in the classroom is discussed. David Rapp first discussed concerns of North American schools and how cell phones are becoming distracting. Rapp then brought the idea of using these devices in the classroom. He states how many countries like Asia and the United Kingdom already use cell phones in the classroom a great amount of the time. David Rapp discusses an experiment that happened in Canada where the use of cell phones in the classroom worked and helped. The teacher was able to use video recordings on the cell phones to monitor small group discussions and get work turned in more efficiently.

In the article, "Why Schools Should Learn To Use Online Services Like Facebook & YouTube Rather Than Banning Them," Mike Masnick argues that incorporating Facebook and other social networking sites, would be beneficial to both students and teachers. He says that by trying to fuse these social media sites with the teacher's curriculum, it will make education and school work more relevant to the students lives.

The number of educators who now welcome social media into the classroom is growing. Some go so far as to say that the use of services such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are an integral part of a 21st century education. This represents a sea change for educators. Until recently, most schools banned students from using social media tools in the classroom. But progressive educators say this represents a major disconnect with the world that awaits them outside the school walls. It's not protecting them today so much as handicapping them tomorrow.

Gives ideas on why embracing social media is a good idea. Talks about how a growing number of teachers are starting to use networking sites in their classroom.

Seeing No Progress, Some schools Drop Laptops I found this article in an old edition of The New York Times, Seeing no progress, some schools drop laptops. In this article the author addresses the fact that in most schools having laptops given to children at such a young age was of no academic successes but instead has been making it a hassle for teachers to be able to teach their students properly. This article is aimed towards laptops being banned from elementary schools and high schools, due to the facts that studies have been done on the academic success that should have been brought on with these laptops were non- existent.