My prezi is ready to be viewed http://screencast.com/t/jkfNdhehG
This will allow you to see the opinions I have made through what my online identity means to me.
My Complete Module Project
This is the link to my complete module project: click. I share my views on what makes up identity as a whole, both online and offline.
Are Copyright Laws Too Lenient?
When listening to music or watching movies or vides, I realize there is a fine line between taking past ideas, remaking or repurposing them and outright plagiarism.
Before watching the three “Everything is a Remix” videos, I never realized just how widespread the practice of recreating new works like movies, television shows, songs, electronic devices, toys, etc. are some sort of a recreation of past innovations and ideas. The narrator of the video mentions a few interesting points about why most of the things we make are a remake of existing creations when he states that “creation requires influence” and that “we need copying to build a foundation of knowledge and understanding.” The video also illustrates that the three basic elements of creation are to copy, transform and combine.
However, if no one starts out original and we need influence from other works to create new and improved works, when does copying become violations of copyright laws? The blur between the two brings up the question of whether or not copyright laws are too lenient.
First, what are copyrights and their purpose? Copyrights give a balance between the rights of authors and the rights of the public domain (those of whom wish to gain new knowledge and create new work based on other works). Copyrights allow for the copying of an expression, but not someone’s idea. Sampling of music and quoting of written works require citations and are also a source of income for the original author. Fair use and the creative commons protect the public from any copyright infringement.
Perhaps with today’s digital media it has become too easy to copy someone else’s idea and we should rethink existing copyright laws which came into existence in 1976, long before technology made it easy for someone to copy another artist’s work. Without use of citations, fair use, or creative commons which are sometimes lacking on the Internet many artists would not get credit for their original work.
It is Time for Early Childhood Education to be Mandatory
It has been documented that American students are falling behind children from other countries in academic performance and career readiness. The time has come to tackle this persistent issue by introducing early childhood education centers across the nation and making them mandatory to attend.
Early childhood education (ECE), the education a young child receives in his or her early stage of life, is known to have many benefits for children that continue into adulthood. These formative years are an essential time period for the development of mental functions, abilities, and skills “in areas such as language, motor skills, psychosocial cognitive and learning” (REAP). The development of these crucial skills depend on factors such as parenting, environment, and education. It’s the latter that we can have the most control over.
Many studies have linked proper ECE “to increases in school readiness for primary school, and it has been shown that school readiness is an important predictor of early school achievement” (REAP). Children enrolled in early childhood programs are more likely to be well-behaved and learn more quickly than their peers who go without formalized education prior to first grade. Other benefits to teaching children at an early age include: “improved social skills, less or no need for special education instruction during subsequent school years, better grades, and enhanced attention spans” (Education Corner). Researchers have even concluded that adults who have been educated in their early years are more likely to have fewer behavioral problems, less involvement in crime, graduate from high school and go on to college. We have the power in this country to make a positive change for society. The time is now to implement ECE as an educational requirement.
If you are eager to learn more on this topic, watch this short yet informative video on developmentally appropriate practices.
Prezi Rough Draft
What is identity? Are our identities defined by the social networks we frequent and the information we put on those networks? (facebook, twitter, youtube, google, pintrest, instagram, linkedin, blog) Or are we defined by who we are offline? Our experiences, our friends, our family, location, third party issuers. (personal pictures) Perhaps the answer is both play a major role in who we are identified as. But, are our online and offline identities the same?
If you search my name on Google two of my online profiles will appear. (show google) My Facebook page and my Twitter page. (show my pages) Other online profiles I have are my class blog and personal and school related emails. (show) My first online identity was created only three years ago in 2009 when I joined Facebook. But, the question is would I exist without having ever created these online accounts? Facebook seems to think I wouldn’t. After going approximately 5 days without logging into my Facebook for our class experiment Facebook sent me an email saying I was missing out. (show tweet) And it is true because through social medias we are all connected. On Facebook and Twitter we can be friends with or follow people from all around the world and people all around the world can be friends with or follow us. (show maps) Social media gives us to tools to connect with people. We are now linked in ways we have been before.
Prezi: http://prezi.com/4y6s_csvdzca/intro-to-writing-arts/
Facebook Personalities
After not being able to do on Facebook for a week; I found myself looking up articles about Facebook and how they relate to our personalities. A found an article titled Study Finds That Your Facebook Profile Is Truer To Life Than People Think. The study found that “your Facebook behavior closely mirrors your real-life personality.” So how does Facebook really capture your personality? Facebook allows you to edit which pictures appear and captures a diary of all your status’.
The study is looking at where your behavior fits in with how you are in the ‘real world’. Facebook allows you to interact with your friends and look at things that interest you. This is a way that your showing the ‘real’ you while your online. People are comfortable with their online identity and use it as a way of expressing themselves.
I know when I first meet someone I go to their Facebook page. This allows me to get a feel for what this person is interested in and how the represent themselves in pictures. I judge this person by what they show on their Facebook. Facebook is a space to express your self and I believe people use their ‘real world’ personality as their online identity.
http://www.simplyzesty.com/social-media/study-finds-that-your-facebook-profile-is-truer-to-life-than-people-think/
Following on Twitter
I decided to investigate the Twitter page of Chris Christie. I am not a fan of his, but I was interested in seeing who follows him and who/what he follows. Christie follows a lot of democratic party affiliates, which did not surprise me. He also follows a lot of campaigns, educational, democratic, etc. I also noticed that Chris Christie follows news updates about the Phillies, which makes it clear that he is probably a fan of the Phillies. He is only following 43 people but over 8 thousand are following him. Christie also follows a lot of pages that are devoted to young people and politics. He has only made 41 tweets. I do not think this is his authentic page. I always was curious to know if celebrities and government officials really do update their own Twitters and Facebooks.
