Technology as an Agent of Socialization

žWhat are some of the implications with the development of technology?

žExplain the repercussion both positive and negative.

žShould new technology be phased into the school curriculum and used on a daily basis?

žIf every student had a laptop or an ipad, what are the effects of such a program being put into place?

 

Read the following article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/04/education/04laptop.html?pagewanted=all

PBS Frontline: Growing Up Online

In class, we have discussed that nature and nuture both play a role in socialization. As technology further develops it seems that there is a new agent of socialization, the internet. People use the internet for many a things and one of them may be to socialize. Below you will find the link to the PBS Frontline special that aired in 2008. As somethings may have further developed, a lot of the information is still relevant. So take out your headphones, click on the link and start viewing.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/view/

*NOTE: Make sure to take notes.

Writing a Reflection Paper

Generally, the first step in how to write a reflective essay is a stream of consciousness type of activity. The writer of a reflective essay will spend a short period of time brainstorming ideas and random thoughts and impressions surrounding the topic of the reflective essay. The next step in how to write a reflective essay is to develop a catchy introduction and propose a backward looking question to grab the reader’s attention. This can be compared to the “hook” in fiction writing. In this instance, the more creative and generalizable to humanity, the better!
The following three steps in how to write a reflective essay form the body and conclusion of the assignment. It is crucial to adjust the viewpoint in order to effectively convey the larger meanings of the reflective essay. Develop and posit an inward looking question about the meaning and provide examples of why you arrived at this particular interpretation. Next develop and posit an outward looking question using additional examples. This is the point you pull the reader’s own experience into the elements of the reflective essay. Finally, develop and posit a forward looking question and conclusion that will leave the reader amused, pondering, or reactive to the conclusion.

The Process of Reflection

     

   Reflection is a cognitive process that promotes self-awareness and encourages self-assessment. The cognitive process of reflecting on one’s authentic knowledge, practice, and beliefs/attitudes is important to developing professionalism. Reflection allows one to think critically about one’s ability to effectively join content knowledge with practice to reach diverse populations of learners.

   Self-reflection provides a means for practitioners to identify issues; state opinion, inferences, and predictions; and express feelings, beliefs, and attitudes. The practitioner’s responsibility in self-reflection is to support personal opinion, inference, and prediction by inclusion of relevant content knowledge presented in published works.

   By asking the following questions prior to writing self-reflection, one will more effectively integrate the inclusion of relevant content knowledge from published works:

·         How has the published work either supported or changed your authentic knowledge, attitudes, and/or beliefs? Give specific examples from the published work.

·         What trends are apparent in the published work and how do these trends either support or negate your inferences and/or predictions? Give specific examples from the published work.

·          What new knowledge or new understanding of previous knowledge have you acquired from the published work that you perceive will influence your practice? Give specific examples from the published work.

·          Where did you disagree with the author of the published work? What is your counter argument? Give specific examples from the published work.

Gender Socialization

Answer the following questions:

1. Define global emotions and list six identified by anthropologist Paul Ekman.
2. What is meant by a social mirror?
3. Define what gender roles are.

Read the following article.
"Why do boys and girls prefer different toys?" from Psychology Today

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-scientific-fundamentalist/200804/why-do-boys-and-girls-prefer-different-toys

Extra Credit Assignment: Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992

Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 is the fourteenth part of Anna Deavere Smith's work in progress, On the Road: A Search for American Character, begun in 1983. The play's unifying focus is the civil unrest in Los Angeles following the April, 1992, verdict in the first Rodney King trial, presented from the perspective of the wide range of persons that Smith interviewed. The actress-playwright interprets a limited number of these actual people in her solo performances, editing and rearranging her raw material as she deems appropriate.

Closely related to themes of race and racial prejudice, anger and hatred have a powerful, resonating presence in Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992. Some of the persons, like Rudy Salas, Sr., the Mexican artist, seem almost consumed with hatred. His is directed against "gringos," especially white police officers. His anger is shared by others, mostly by inner-city blacks and Latinos who resent the treatment afforded them by the LAPD.

Questions:

1. Keep a log of biases, racism, and stereotypes that are portrayed in the play.
2. What types of racism was encounter in the United States?
3. How did racism affect their lives?
4. How many of you have experienced racism in your personal life?
5. Has someone you know experienced racism?

The following questions will be answered in a reflection paper format. The paper would be due on Friday, December 16, 2011 in class.