Reflective Blogging Assignment #7

Should SMS be accepted as a new language and taught in schools?

Its amazing to think how popular SMS messaging has become in the last decade.  It has become so popular, that it is now causing huge problems with texting and driving.  So a big question is, where will texting go next? And will it be accepted or even taught in schools?

When I was in high school 3 years ago, SMS was NOT allowed in my high school by any means.  I got caught texting several times, and each time my phone was taken away. There was a rule that if you got caught texting more than 3 times, then your parents have to come in and get your phone.  I have a younger brother who is now in high school, and I asked him about the rules on texting in school.  You are now allowed to use your phones during class, only if it is to do something related to class.  However, he said that they aren't very strict.  He also said that they can text in the hallways and during lunch time.  This is a HUGE step from when I was in high school, and I am now wondering if the next step is to start teaching SMS in schools. 

I personally believe that SMS doesn't need to be taught in schools.  Kids are smart enough where they can figure it out on their own.  However, I believe the acceptance of SMS in schools will continue to grow, as long as it isn't a disturbance in classrooms.  

In the future, I plan on becoming an educator, and I will be curious to see the environment of SMS in the classroom.  Personally, I wouldn't want to teach it in my classrooms, but I plan on accepting it, as long as it isn't much of a distraction.  (Im sure not all teachers feel this way though!) 

Reflective Blogging Assignment #6

To what extent do relationships that are formed online and remain virtual differ from ones that are formed as a result of meeting in person?

As social networking sites have become more popular, so have online friends.  Before social networking, the only way to form friendships was by meeting in person.  However, now this is definitely not the case.  People can meet new friends in many different ways online: Facebook, Twitter, dating sites, and blogs.  When people meet online, it seems as though it is usually pretty hard to start meeting up in person.  For example, the new MTV TV show called CatFish explores this problem.  Many of the people in this show meet someone online, and one person is reluctant to meet in person.  Sometimes this is because they are insecure, or another reason is because it is actually a different person than who they say they are.  

Online friends differ greatly from friends that are actually formed in person.  When friends meet in person, then they generally spend there time together, in person.  Compared to when online friends meet online, they generally stay in touch online.  Another difference between the two is the ability to open up and share information.  Many times people are reluctant to open up and fully show their personality in person, especially if they don't know their friend very well.  In comparison, when people are behind a computer screen, there is a sense of protection.  People are then generally more willing to open up and share information and feelings.  This is one of the problems with online friends, because then when it comes to meeting in person, people may feel shy and not be able to build new connections or friendships.  

Skype is becoming significantly more popular, and this is a great way of combining both meeting online and meeting in person.  As social networking and online friends become more popular, I hope to see in-person friendships stay just as popular.  I personally feel that having an in-person friendship is much safer, and is the natural way of have a friendship.