Growing Up Online (Yes, I AM included)

Readers,

It's Friday (thank God) and I wanted to post a commercial for a recent PBS special. This special, which aired last month, is titled, "Growing Up Online" and it focuses on the "net generation" (my generation and the generation that I teach).

It seems that the Internet has changed the world and I look forward to discovering the "next great thing" that emerges from this/our generation.

MP

Colleges Students and Faculty Can Contribute Ideas to Win Free Iphones.

The AT&T Corporation just announced an interesting contest! Students and faculty can participate in this technology-based contest. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, "Students and faculty members can develop applications across three categories—social networking, academics, and safety and security—for any type of mobile phone. The contest closes August, 31." More information can be accessed at the following link - http://chronicle.com/weekly/v54/i27/27a00401.htm.

Are Professors Using Technology?

Most college classrooms across the nation have data projectors, smart boards, touch screens, elmo machines, and wireless mice. These forms of technology cost colleges and universities an extra ordinate amount of money. Do college professors actually use these forms of technology their the fullest extent?

As a millennial, I try to take advantage of these forms of technology every day that I am in the classroom. This semester, I am fortunate to teach my classes in classrooms that include all of the technology listed above.

When planning my classes at the beginning of the semester, I include a brief visualization session in the planning process. During this visualization session, I adopt an undergraduate student's perspective for a brief amount of time. Then, I ask myself the following questions/statements:

What would keep me awake during class?

I would prefer a lecture that includes the following elements: A, B, C, and D.

I wish my professor would...

I would like to learn about XYZ technology this semester.

What are the most prominent issues in the media that students should know?

After answering these questions, I start revamping my syllabus. I hope that I do not overload my students every semester with Blackboard discussion questions and Youtube videos. However, I believe that I am teaching them valuable technological skills.

Today, I was inspired to write my thoughts regarding new technology in the classroom from the following article, "How to Find What Clicks in the Classroom" (by Judith Tabron).

Professors Strike Back! - Professors on Facebook

If I were a freshman student, would I want to have my professor as a friend on facebook? Facebook is supposed to be a website that college students keep in contact with college students and alumni keep in contact with alumni (or any combination of the prior groups). Now the prevailing question is, "What happens with the professor happens to be a newly minted alumna/alum of an institution and is an active member of facebook?

Today, the New York Times released an article titled, "The Professor as Open Book". I received the article this morning via Google Reader (RSS feed). This article touches on the following topics:

• Ratemyprofessors.com -> Professors Strike Back (A television show that allows professors to verbally refute their students' negative comments on ratemyprofessors.com)
• Professors' Personal Decisions to Divulge Their Personal Information on Social Networking Websites.

My Analysis - I have a facebook profile that is private (my students cannot search for me). This profile affords me several benefits: (a) I can communicate with friends from my college years, (b) I can conduct research on facebook with students from other institutions, and (c) I am able to post pictures of family/friends without having undergraduates viewing them.

However, I think that professors should have a public profile that their students can access. Research has proven that professors who have public facebook profiles are more likely to have a positive relationship with their students. In addition, I strongly urge professors to practice professional demeanor on facebook.com.

Sometimes it is hard to do because there are so many features that jeopardize academic professionalism. For example, facebook users can take quizzes on their profiles that may not be very professional (Test Your Sex in the City IQ) or they also have to option to add applications (Send a Drink - alcoholic, non-alcoholic, water). I recently read an article about student affairs professionals and facebook.com - Best Practices Among Student Affairs Professionals Using Social Networking Websites.

Question of the Week - Should professors have profiles on facebook?

Millennial Professor