Most recent public comments by Student Anitha Muthukumaran https://nowcomment.com/users/96872 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212256 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212256 Hi Natasha, What a wonderful idea to capitalize elders in minority groups to teach youth on specific cultural topics. But I wonder how much of these get encouraged in public schools? For example, my daughter in middle school is currently learning a lot about Native Americans. What if the teacher gets an elder from that community who can talk to the class? Mon, 23 Nov 2020 18:28:43 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212253 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212253 Hi Kevin, I totally agree with you. Teachers should see the value of these networks, otherwise, it will never get implemented in classrooms. Maybe professional development as a “value exercise” as opposed to “compliance exercise” can help deliver a shift in thinking and attitudes. Mon, 23 Nov 2020 18:20:07 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212251 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212251 Hi Megan, I would agree with your statement totally if we don’t generalize the population that benefits from these networks to humans. I teach children with visual impairments and some of my students should be taught explicitly. Hence I think student passions should be prioritized in schools, but multiple means of engagement should be provided with students. This way, students have a choice on how they want to proceed with things that interest them. Mon, 23 Nov 2020 18:16:28 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212249 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212249 I do believe that such rifts from school, family, and community can be interpreted as anti-social behaviors. When students feel safe in these online environments and face more resistance in outside environments, they will start rebelling and doing things that can get extremely violent and unsafe. Fri, 27 Nov 2020 19:22:52 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212243 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212243 My kids have never been into video games. However, I do believe that a lot of parents consider online gaming as being addictive. However, when a kid practices their favorite sport for hours, it was never considered addictive and it is often encouraged. I just feel that “addiction” has a negative connotation to it and it is often used with video games. Tue, 24 Nov 2020 18:51:41 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212241 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212241 I can totally relate to the lack of intergenerational connection especially with gaming platforms. I did not grow up playing video games. I grew up playing with friends outside my home everyday after school. So, how can I encourage or motivate my students when I am not comfortable on those gaming platforms. It does take a cultural shift to reach the current generation of students. Wed, 24 Nov 2021 06:07:52 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212240 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212240 As an itinerant teacher of students with visual impairments, I rely on communities of practice (CoP) a lot to provide my professional services. It is interesting to differentiate CoP with that of online affinity networks on the basis of shared interest. All of the practitioners in my field have a shared interest to serve our students. And I follow certain CoPs and truly enjoy the knowledge I am gaining out of these. And I join these CoPs intentionally. So why are these not considered affinity networks? Mon, 23 Nov 2020 17:57:28 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212239 https://nowcomment.com/documents/132976?scroll_to=2212239 Interestingly these are the very same concerns I had prior to reading this book. I still will feel more comfortable with my students engaging on a well-known platform such as “Scratch” rather than unknown networks. I don’t fear as much about the loss of reading and writing skills as I feel that our students should be prepared for jobs that require them to use technology more than learning to write in cursive. I do fear about young people getting into the wrong online crowd and becoming socially isolated. COVID19 has taught us a lot about being online for 8 hours in a day. So I am hoping a lot of research that comes post-COVID19 will help us gauge the benefits and risks involved in online platforms a little more! Mon, 30 Nov 2020 06:21:01 -0500