Dear all,

 

As Bonnie and Barry have rightly explained, it does take a number of
skills to be able to start and run a MySpace page. Oftentimes, students
with a MySpace page will have a basic understanding of blogging,
uploading photos, uploading videos, and even HTML (any MySpace page you
see with a photo posted in the comments section or a background with
photos in it requires the use of HTML).    Students learn these skills
because the benefits of learning them are clear, namely, more friends, a
cooler looking page, and individual expression.  Unfortunately, the
ability to maintain a MySpace page is not a "marketable job skills" to
employers if the student doesn't know how to use other programs such as
Microsoft Office and/or Quickbooks or if they aren't proficient in the
English language (MySpace is offered in multiple languages).

 

All of the students that we work with are capable of obtaining
marketable job skills.  MySpace can be an indicator for a students
potential and, if used thoughtfully, can be a solid foundation to build
student's confidence and skills on.

 

Emily

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________

Emily May

Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow

783 4th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11232

718-369-0303

emay at obtjobs.org

www.obtjobs.org

 

<mailto:emay at obtjobs.org> 

  

________________________________

From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology-bounces at nifl.gov]
On Behalf Of Bonnie Odiorne
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 8:34 PM
To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [Technology 1506] Re: Social Networking Part III:
GettingStudentsandStaff on Board

 

I would add to Barry's post that very often limited English/Reading
prioficiency students perform in work and in everyday situations more
highly in terms of functionality than their "levels" would predict. I
would not however discourage the "waste of time" on MYSpacem but simply
give them the opportunity to empower themselves by prioritizing their
skills and goals: very often skills students possess have to be
explicitily expklained as transferable to another domain: ii.e. how
MYSpace embodies communication, interpersonal and networking skills that
transfer to the workplace. They would also need to be warned that
employers (and others) do monitor MySpace sites for inappropriate posts,
which could jeopardize employability. One could say similar things about
Facebook, wikis, and other similar comunicvation spaces thast are not
adequately moderated and thus represent abuse and even danger. But,
parents especially have to be aqware of th dangers their chidlren could
be by revealing bits of their "lives" to predators, and what better way
than to participate themselves? At Post University, many students use
FaceBook, and some of our student services have pages too in an attempt
to reach students but the ethical questions have been raised about
administration having access to these sites in view of potential
infractions; the trust level would very quickly disappear.

Best,

Bonnie, Adjunct Faculty, Writing Center Director, Post University

----- Original Message ----
From: "Bakin, Barry" <barry.bakin at lausd.net>
To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List <technology at nifl.gov>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 5:28:18 PM
Subject: [Technology 1505] Re: Social Networking Part III: Getting
StudentsandStaff on Board

As Larry Ferlazzo mentioned, Myspace is not accessible within my
district so any use of it, for whatever beneficial reason, would have to
be done from a non-work location.  That in itself, would present
boundaries to implementation. Not only would keeping an eye on it
constantly to make sure that innappropriate postings did not slip
through be challenging, simply responding to any inquiries from
interested students in a timely manner would pose a problem.

 

Those difficulties not withstanding, there is certainly a valid argument
for attempting to meet the students where they are.  There is a certain
irony to the data mentioned that show that even though "majority of the
participants" face barriers including but not limited to a "lack of a
high school diploma, deficiency in basic skills, no marketable job
skills, chronic unemployment, and limited English proficiency" 88%
nevertheless have MySpace pages, which require at least some basic
skills and English proficiency and an investment of time and effort to
produce and update.  Perhaps an additional component of any program
making use of MySpace would be to show that the participants already do
have marketable job and basic skills and the time to develop them into
more efficient tools for their own advancement; they're just using their
time for socializing on MySpace instead.
Barry Bakin

-----Original Message-----
From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology-bounces at nifl.gov]
On Behalf Of Mariann Fedele
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 1:08 PM
To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [Technology 1501] Re: Social Networking Part III: Getting
StudentsandStaff on Board

	Hi Emily,

	This is a great set of protocols. Have you had any difficulties
in having staff and students meet and stay within the protocols?

	Do list subscribers have any concerns related to Myspace or
other such sites that Emily can respond to?

	Regards,

	Mariann

	 

	 



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