How much is too much media?
Did you know that in a poll of 2100 individuals, 79% of teens think their friends share too much personal information online ? I wonder if they notice the irony. Every user of social media should have a plan before they post. This is especially true for educators who can benefit from the tools, but also face significant risks if not informed.
Whats your Social Media Strategy Bering June 9 FINAL
Free Online Tutorials for students
Harvard Business Review offers free online tutorials to help your students learn concepts. Each lesson is 2 hours:
Tutorials are at the bottom of the page.
The History of Privacy
The above document highlights some of the stages that we in North America during the listed years, and much of the rest of the world have experienced. Some examples are:
1890 First Kodak snapshot camera invented
1900 Fingerprints identified as unique and distinguishable
1907 First dictograph (bugging device) invented
1936 Social security numbers created in the U.S. as part of life-long piece of personal identity
1948 Sexual behavior in the Human Male by A. Kinsey published, the first open discussions about individuals’ sexuality
1950s The cold war and trust in government prompts increased surveillance of citizens
1964 SIN numbers distributed in Canada to record transactions between individuals and the government 
1967 U.S. Supreme Court rules that intercepting communications requires a warrant
1975 Computers become available commercially
1980s DNA fingerprinting and cell phones become widely available
1995 The term “spyware” is used for the first time
2004 Facebook appears
Although there are many reasons to be cautious when providing information through social networking, reflecting on the changes above helped me take a step back. While the rise in “oversharing” on the Internet exists today, there have been many significant changes in our past that could have led to extensive privacy problems.
Looking for an E-reader?
Kobo is adding Wi-Fi (easy wireless networking) to the E-reader available in Canada.
Social Media Comic-Secrets Nov.29
Many U.S. School will require Internet safety
The Federal Communications Commission (U.S.) recently announced that it will require schools receiving funds for Internet access from the E-rate program, to address issues related to student cyber bullying. Schools will have to create policies that ensure appropriate use of social media applications such as:
-Preventing improper use of networking sites like Facebook and MySpace
-Maintaining Internet safety policies and filters to prevent access to inappropriate content
-Provide online safety education
The FCC will release a resource package, Stop Cyberbullying Toolkit for Schools, on November 22, 2010.
Individuals studying the effects of social media on youth are happy to see this development. The increasing use of social media and easy access to both the Internet and palm held devices, means that information spreads quickly and unchecked through all schools levels, leading to conflicts, depression, and in extreme cases, physical harm.
According to a Canadian study funded by Bell Canada, many children and youth experienced computer based bullying including:
-27% described incidents which made them “fell bad”
-22% had rumours spread about them
-18% had someone pretend to be them online
-11% were threatened
In Canada charges can be laid for cyber bullying using the Human Rights Act which protects people from hate or discrimination based on matters including an individual’s physical size, age, ethnic, national or racial origins, colour, disability, and sexual preference. The punishment for computer crimes and cyber bullying is a fine up to $50,000. However, as the U.S. is doing, Canadians should seek to prevent bullying rather than just lay charges after the damage is done.
Online Teachers Canada 
