My paper if anyone cares.

Here is my paper if anyone cares. But it explains my use of Berners-Lee.

Done!!!!

I really do hate long papers. I have such trouble with communicating the thoughts that are going through my head. It would take a book series to completely express all of the information that I went through for this paper. I have something like 60 articles, and 9 books on my dining room table. The problem is I couldn't add them in, without sounding like a brainless moron. There is so much stuff out there. Much to my chagrin I didn't feel like it worked to add in hardly any of the philosophers but Berners-Lee. (Odd, I wanted to add this one Lessig comment dealing with the Kindle so badly, so I will leave it here.

Lawrence Lessig: I have been doing this for about two years--more than 100 of these gigs. This is about the last one. One more and it's over for me. So I figured I wanted to write a song to end it. But then I realized I don't sing and I can't write music. But I came up with the refrain, at least, right? This captures the point. If you understand this refrain, you're gonna' understand everything I want to say to you today. It has four parts:

• Creativity and innovation always builds on the past.

• The past always tries to control the creativity that builds upon it.

• Free societies enable the future by limiting this power of the past.

• Ours is less and less a free society. 1
  

I just couldn't seem to add this without going off on some completely random tangent.)

Dr. Shulman, I do believe in Service learning, I am a convert, but doing it for one class I think is the problem. I think I am more of a advocate for it as a whole year or program long activity. I am only starting to receive back answers from a couple of the organizations I sent inquiries to now. Slow response time.

Okay I am off to work on some Christmas presents. Have a lovely Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

1. http://dig.csail.mit.edu/breadcrumbs/node/214

Mad as Hatters

Where things stand now.

++ what is the central question you paper speaks to?
The central question or observation is that there is indeed a divide, but the divide is different depending on your audience. Some of the questions being asked are "What can Service learning or Web 2.0 do to lessen these divides. Do student's or senior citizens acknowledge the divides? Is access the problem or is it more psychological?

++ what are the most relevant theories?
This is what I am currently working through. Rawls and Mills are two that I am currently working on. I also want to include Berners-Lee and Lessig.

++ who are your straw people?
Ignorance, Mis-communication, still working on it.

++ what are your tentative findings?
There is a digital divide, it has levels, and it will only get worse if something isn't done now. the best way to work on the digital divide is to be proactive, access is important, but so is early training. If you want your citizens to be digital you need to have additional benefits for those people who can't afford it. As you can see they aren't clearly defined yet.

It didn't post for some reason.

Sorry my outline and bib didn't post, not really sure why.

I am not sure of all that I will write. I haven’t finished yet. I am a former psychology major, so a reflection paper is something of a personal thing to me. I have never before achieved a 15 page reflection paper, let alone one that involves theories and other students opinions. So this will be my first time, and hopefully my last. Long papers are not my favorite thing, it is one of the reasons pursuing a doctoral degree holds so little interest for me.  The other reason is that I do not ever want to be called "Dr. Laura".  

1. Introduction/Thesis
a. What is Service Learning
b. What is Digital Citizenship
i. Theories
ii. Digital Divide
2. My interactions
a. Work
b. Margaret Grundy Library
3. Web 2.0
a. Effects on Libraries
b. Effects on Citizenship
4. Conclusion/ Lesson’s Learned

Bibliography (Not complete, still working on)

Halahoan, C. (2007, November 14). Hip-Hopping the Digital Divide. Buisness Week Online, Retrieved November 20, 2007, from Academic Search Elite database.

Dervarics, C. (2007, October 18). High-tech Help on the Way. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, 24(18), 14-15. Retrieved November 20, 2007, from Academic Search Elite database.

Nicholson, P. (2007, March 9). The Intellectual in the Infosphere. Chronicle of Higher Education, 53(7), B6-B7.

Galuszka, P. (2007, March 8). Digging Out of the Digital Divide. Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, 24(2), 20-22.

Metcalf, D. (2007, February). Reducing the Digital Divide. American Libraries, 38(2), 29-29.

Lewis, A. (2007, January). Digital Divides the Poor. Education Digest, 72(5), 71-72. Retrieved November 20, 2007.

Swaminathan, N. (2005, November). The Making of a Good Samaritan. Psychology Today, 38(6), 33-33.

Brescia, W., & Daily, T. (2007, Winter). Economic Development and Technology-Skill Needs on American Indian Reservations. American Indian Quarterly, 31(1), 23-43. Retrieved on November 20, 2007, from Academic Search Elite database.

Paper outline and bib (so far)

I am really rather sad at the moment (we have been nursing some orphaned guinea pigs) and after having force feed it for the last 4 hours, it just died.  One of the other sicker guinea pigs basically killed it.  Survival of the fittest my foot.  It has been a very bad week for pets.  

Intro computer class

Last Saturday I went to a public library in my area that hosts Computer and basic internet/programs classes. There were 4 students for this class which was the first in the series. It was rather basic and to me, rather more than basic. However as we went through the syllabus which started literally at the very beginning, it showed me just how much of a gap there truly is in computer technology.

The students ranged in ages from mid-forties to late 70's. They all came for various reasons, wanting to apply for jobs, basic knowledge sake, and some just to be there. One of the older gentlemen had taken a similar class, back in 1980. However he was aware that things had changed significantly since then, but as he needed a job he wanted to be able to fill out the online applications by himself so he wouldn't have to bother the librarians.

As amazing as it seems, and while we have talked in class about just how large the digital divide actually is, I was still amazed by it. These students didn't know the most basic items; where the power button is located, how to handle a mouse, where the close button is located in a program. I had to evaluate once again how very much I take for granted when I use a computer. To me it is just another necessary tool, one that I use frequently and when the electricity is out, something that is deemed critical for most of my work. But to these individuals it was a new territory, they had used typewriters and knew about typing, but computers and all that goes through that filter was a complete new territory of learning.

This new territory of learning was a struggle, there was this underlying filter of not exactly fear but of apprehension, the one woman who came had a sort of dementia and everything had to be explained to her in a certain way or she would feel completely overwhelmed. We talked about other electronics, cell phones, TV's, DVD players, and even Tivo. This computer/internet apprehension didn't extend to those technologies, in fact they were embraced. But there was some sort of mental block where the computers came into play.

I think the thing that got to me the most was that using a normal optical mouse was such a hard thing. It definitely reminds me of that cartoon one of you sent out. There was this essential need to press on the buttons while moving the mouse. This always meant that we had to try the exercise again, and sometimes several times in a row. One of the outside class exercises that the syllabus used was having the patron play solitaire so they could develop a more natural response to using the mouse.

I think this was an interesting experiment. I have problems understanding the online behavior of the students at my school, and many times I am shocked at the lack in there online skills. But this was an excellent example of just how needed programs like this are to a community, especially the older community.

However I am also very much surprised by the younger community at my school. Admittedly my school does not have a technology track, but with all the discussion of Web 2.0. Out of the 20 students I asked about it, not one has ever heard of "Web 2.0". Indeed the look of blank comprehension will stay with me for a long time. After I asked if they have ever heard of the term, I then asked them if they had heard of Flickr, Technorati, YouTube, and several others, they had heard of them, as well as being registered users.

Most our students also do not like the idea of Electronic books. This is fairly wide-spread. We had a discussion about Kindle they seemed a bit intrigued but mostly put off by it. For them information is still most viable option. Mostly because there is a sense of ownership, if the electricity goes out you still have access to that copy.

So I don't think that librarians or their charge of books will go away any time soon. Just check the reviews of the Kindle on Amazon. :-)

The Millennials are Here?

I am supposedly a member of the Millennial generation. However I am confused by this to a certain degree. I believe myself to be more of a "border-line" millennial. Why would I believe this? The foremost reason is that I am helping to train "true" millennial as part of my job. Recently I have been given the opportunity to start doing more Library Instruction as part of my job. This has provided many new challenges. One of these challenges is how to give a presentation that challenges and yet meets the students needs. At times this is a paradox. These students have all the gadgets, and automatically seem to "get" technology. However they also don't seem to have the ability to problem solve or to take disappointment well.

This provides many opportunities for new technologies, however it also means that most library OPAC's annoy the heck out of them. Within the realm of the Internet they can always find an answer, it may not be verifiable, but it answers their question. Most library OPAC's don't answer these questions. There isn't that wonderful basic search that covers everything. It isn't Googlized. This is a problem for this new narcissistic generation. Everything is about them, and when they don't succeed as well as they feel they should, it isn't their problem. Their parents haven't allowed them to feel the effects of falling on their butts. Instead they/we have butted in and given explanations to teachers and other adults with the understanding that we can't harm the Millennial's psyche.

This change in perspective has changed how education, and other jobs are preformed. We cannot confront, we must coax. We have to be as the CBS article puts it "a manager must be half shrink and half diplomat". This poses a problem even within Library instruction. You have to cleverly work with your audience to shut down their automatic defenses when someone implies that they may not know everything. This is a necessity. Most of my students cannot use basic searches within the library databases or catalog. While these students have grown up being connected to each other over the Internet, they have no idea how to actually search for valuable materials within it.

There are some student obviously who can find their materials, but it is one of those things that needs to be taught and learned. But Millennials don't necessarily take well to being told that they don't know everything or have to work to have the best results. This is one of the reasons why Google has taken so well. Working hard to have to earn a grade is not really one of the things we have taught our children. We give them awards for everything, we don't allow winners or losers, we are all praised just for participating. This is frankly a load of B.S. But it is what we are encouraging. So when conducting L.I. sessions, we have to be remarkable, we have to prove that we can find something that they wouldn't have been able to find. We have to overwhelm them, while having to back off from all the information we could give them.

Let the conundrum continue.

(P.S. the reason I believe that I am on the edge is that I am only 1-3 years within the Millennial age group, but also it was that I have not grown up with this extra parental involvement, my Mom raised me like she was raised. I was allowed to fall on my butt, and learn from the experience. However I also grew up with a computer, and remember teaching my 3rd grade teacher how to use basic application on it before allowing my fellow students to work on it."

Grand plans

I keep having these grand plans for writing these blogs, I have decided to give up that and instead have shorter blogs more often. This will hopefully allow me to actually upload my posts.

I can actually start my Service learning outside of my job until November. There were entirely too many schedule conflicts. I have gone to the Library and just need to let them know what dates I can show up.

Even though I haven't started there, it doesn't mean that I haven't started on my service learning. Every question I receive on the reference desk becomes an opportunity to help people discover the resources available to them either at home, school or work.

I am always somewhat surprised by the questions that come to me at the reference desk. The Undergrad students are often surprised by the information available to them, also I've come to see that they aren't nearly as competent on the internet as they believed themselves to be. Sure they can use HTML to change their MySpace pages, however they have no clue on how to use the educational resources that are available to them through the library.

We also have Graduate and Advance (adult degree completion) programs. These are mostly returning students, many of which haven't written a college paper since they finished college. They seem to know only the most simple computer applications. The OPAC completely freaks them out. And forget about online databases, they are completely demoralized by them. Each day I have to answer questions that for me are every day matters. They don't know about short-cut keys, they don't know how to problem-solve at all in fact.

Every day I have a chance to walk someone through the in's and outs of basic computer science. I am having to learn that certain things are not obvious to most people. Patience is once again rearing its head for me to relearn and practice. It also reminds me of all the readings we are working through. How can the government be so clueless about it's people and their so called "knowledge or proficiency" on the internet. I talked to my grandparents about the possibilities of voting online, their response was that when that happened they would stop voting. I believe that is a sentiment that is wider spread than the government realizes.

But for now I am working with people who are getting excited about the possibilities open to them concerning the internet and its resources.

Found something

So I am sorry it has taken me so long to write back, but life has been insane. I have had a pet die, and another one run away [it has since been found]. I also went home to visit my parents and that generally means I am so busy having to go places, and see people I can't breathe. My other class has also had something due every week this last 2 weeks.

Enough of my complaining, I have finally found somewhere other than my job to conduct my Service Learning. I am going tomorrow to see them and sort out what my part will be in their program. Yippee!

Now onto the question we were asked about the importance or "uniqueness" of ICT. I suppose that for me the most unique aspect of ICT is the ability a person has to relate to persons from around the world. We have a chance to communicate and collaborate with persons and groups from around the world. Take a look at the Myanmar conflict. This isn't the first time that the Burmese people have had their monks or their police kill their people. I have a co-worker who is Burmese and her parents live next to one of the temples. She was telling me about how the 1984 raid went, how the majority of monks were killed back then. However, there was not at that time the means for the world to experience with them the terror. The didn't have a way for the world to become involved. It took years for people to hear about the atrocities that took place during that particular protest.

Now we have a world in which we have the opportunity to see within minutes to hours about the protests and their end result. The government found out to their consternation that the internet is power and it can be powerful. They had to cut off all electricity and cut the lines of communication even among themselves to try and contain this tool. However the students found a hole, they aren't sure how. But they found a way to still get certain pictures to the press calling for aid. This is one of the reasons why it is important for us to continue on with our studies and our teaching of ICT. It is a way for people to speak for themselves. It is part of every American's personal right of Free Speech. In Great Britain, ICT is worked into the national education curriculum. They know that their students need to be aware of their personal rights, as well as participation in government. To try and get students more aware of their political obligations they are working on the technology to vote by text messaging.

So there is my first response to why ICT is unique and important.

http://www.nc.uk.net/webdav/harmonise

Unanswered emails

I am having a hard time finding a place to do my Service Learning project. I have emailed several centers and libraries but haven't received any word back. I have done about 5 hours so far at the school I work for, but I really wanted to go to work with senior citizens. I love working with them, they have such great stories.

I will get back to the "uniqueness" of the need for ICT later. Right now I have to go and make brownies for my Student worker meeting tomorrow.

Still looking

I am still looking for an opportunity in my area. There really isn't anything within a 45 min. distance of travel. I have looked into a couple of places and sent some emails but haven't yet heard back from anyone. You would think living this close to Philly there would be more volunteering that had to do with computers and technology. I was a shift supervisor at a crisis pregnancy center for 5 years before Grad school, but due to changing shifts at work and changing discussions times for class, I haven't been able to participate with them.

I would love to work with them again, but due to money problems they don't have the facilities to support a class. In a lot of ways it is a digital divide. Other than the main computer that houses all of the client files there are no other computers. The people in the community are poor, many of the girls we see go to a special school so they can finish their classes while they are pregnant. But due to funding they still come over to use our 1 computer to learn computer skills.

I obviously grew up as a technical "have". My parents purchased our first computer when I was 5. It was an Apple computer that was still amazingly portable for it's time. I would take it to school with me in 2nd grade so my teacher and fellow classmates could use it. I still remember explaining how to use this computer to my teacher, she had never personally used one before. I was amazingly lucky to have a computer in the late 80's, early 90's. But there are still a great many people that cannot imagine the possibility of owning a computer or at least having a new, internet accessible computer.

However we live in a time of change. I am really enjoying the Inequality.com book. It is amazing to think that when Alexander Graham Bell first invented his telephone, it was not just novel, but practically useless due to the fact that no one else had one. It took many years before telephones became standard in a house. We could be in for the same changes in internet accessibility. You no longer need to own a computer to access the internet, there are PDAs, iPhones, and even the iTouch. As long as you have access to a computer you can download music and other items to your phone or device. You don't necessarily need one of your own.

There are possibilities, but they all are all centered on the next administration's policies. We will have to wait to see our future.

It's a new day

I spent over an hour looking for open opportunities dealing with this classes topic. I found one, but the timing doesn't work with my work schedule. They need someone while I am still at work. So now I am contacting various community centers and senior centers. I know there used to be a program similar to this at my ministry (crisis pregnancy center), but it has been years since something like this has been done there. Mostly due to the lack of access to computers with internet.

And I have to say, my schedule spoiled me this Summer. I am so busy this semester that it reminds me of our first semester Summer course. I wonder how many of the hours I can use in my library. Even my student workers who have grown up in the digital age haven't the foggiest idea about databases, government documents, and business dealings they have access to on the web. Then I have the graduate students who are returning to school after 25-40 years. They are stunned that there is no card catalog. They are only truly aware of email. Anything else is beyond them.

There are plenty of opportunies, it is just figuring out where to move with it.

Resurrecting an old blog

I have re-set up this blog for my new class Digital Citizenship. I haven't used it since my first semester with Dr. Tomer. Therefore let me say, Thank you back everyone.

Laura

Good golly

I haven't used this account in about a year. I have to admit that I only got it for class. And then I forgot the password. But now I have it back so I will compose once again.

I read the new Harry Potter in about 8 hours, it was a good final book, though it did leave me with questions. And for some reason it reminded me very strongly of the "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." There were some amazing parallels. Well, I will talk later.