Blog Post 3

“Chorlton Park Year Two Blog” needs work, in my opinion. The design is very bland. It has a plain white background, a simple header, and barely any media elements. Most of the text is short and to the point, which works to some extent; however, it makes the blog look quite empty. Also, I think that the home page should explain more of the blog’s purpose and not showcasing the work of the Year Two students. People visiting the blog do not realize what this blog was designed to do until you click on the link called “Parents.” This link explains the blog and its main goal, but this page is mainly posts from parents to the teacher about the blog. It also never states the teacher who created this blog. On the home page, the teacher shows the same few students’ homework and the same assignments. It would be more effective to upload different students each month and to choose multiple homework assignments from various times in the year.

“Huzzah!” is a good blog that works. The design elements are very unique and not cluttered. The links are available in the sidebar and the teacher includes student blogs. I really like the reading gadget on the left hand side of the blog. The bookshelf design is eye-catching, but not too distracting. This blog has interesting stories that are about the students, along with some pictures. The audience is both the students and their parents, but it is quite obvious to tell who each story is intended for. The ones that start with “you” and a phrase that pertains to children are obviously for the students, while the ones that are just informational text are for the parents. It is creative because it speaks to the parents, but in a more entertaining way than just bland text. I can really tell the voice of the teacher in the writings, instead of just a professional sounding blog. There is also a slideshow of the students’ artwork, which is a more exciting way to showcase the classroom’s work than just posting pictures. This blog also includes some writings by the students about what they have been working on in the classroom and at school. This is a great way for the students to be involved in the blog and show the parents that their children are helping their teacher. Overall, this blog does not have anything wrong that stands out.

Accessability Word Cloud

1. Is it important for all people to have access to the Internet? Why or why not?

2. Will eliminating the digital divide create new global, national, and/or local social problems?

3. What might these new problems be?

(click to enlarge)

  

Blog Post 2

1. Offline, I do not believe that it is fair to dig into a teacher’s private life if they are not endangering any of their students’ lives. If a teacher has a personal secret that they do not wish for their classmates or fellow colleagues to know, then it should not be searched for, especially if this fact is not even posted online for the public. I think that teachers have a right to some form of offline privacy, just like anyone else. However, once this fact is against the law or harming a student, it should be investigated.

If teachers are willing to post pictures that could be seen as inappropriate online, then they should know that anyone can see these pictures, including their students and fellow faculty. I understand that teachers are regular people too and that they enjoy going out with friends, which may include drinking. Unfortunately, teachers are not encouraged to post pictures online of themselves consuming alcohol. It is just not professional and can be seen by anyone who knows that teacher’s name. Also, if the teacher happened to be out at a bar with friends and a parent saw them and captured a picture that is being investigated, then they are just out of luck. Basically, teachers should just be conscious of where they are and what they are doing because they never know who might be keeping an eye on them.

2. Teachers should stay on social networking sites because these sites can be great ways to communicate with parents about their children or the curriculum. Students, on the other hand, should NOT be friends with their teachers because this is an inappropriate relationship and can be seen as special treatment. Teachers are the leaders or advisors for the students, not friends. If students think that they are friends with their teacher, they may try and take advantage of the teacher. Also, if not all of the students are a part of the social networking site, then those who are not online friends with their teacher would feel left out and not liked by the head of their classroom. As a teacher, I would most likely create two different profiles, one for the parents and staff with my full name, and another for my friends and family with just my first name. I would make sure to be careful when uploading my own pictures or accepting tags in others’ photographs for both of my profiles, just in case a parent found the more personal profile. I would also not allow any inappropriate pictures of me to be posted online.