First Quarter Experience

WRIT 101 has been interesting so far. There have been some days filled with complete chaos, other days spent solely on working, and other days spent simply goofing off. In the past few weeks our class has written 4 papers, learned about commas, spent an entire week on citations, and learned ways how to become better writers.

The papers we've written have each shown ourselves a bit about who we are as people, and how we are individually as writers. In each of the papers I've written, I've found specific strengths and weaknesses that have helped to increase my writing ability. One of these strengths is my ability to reword things so that I don't end up using weasel words and I can paraphrase easily in research papers. However one weakness I've found is my conclusion....I can start and get through papers fairly well. However, the conclusions always seem to be a redundant mess. Luckily with the help of other classmates in our peer editting groups I am able to fix that and many of my other errors made.

I have enjoyed this class so far. It is at a pace that is comfortable yet keeps me busy. I hope it continues this way for the remainder of the year.

The Use of Social-Media and Social-Networking Sites in Education

Is the use of social media and social networking sites helpful for student learning in the classroom? In some schools, students and teachers use social media and social networking sites in classes for educational purposes. But is the use of these sites effective in learning?

Some teachers use social networking websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, as a form of communication between the students and themselves. “Many educators, including ourselves, believe that these tools offer new educational affordances and avenues for students to interact with each other and with their teachers or tutors” (Poellhuber). They create a group or a page and post assignments, references, lectures, and questions on it. This creates a way for the students to interact with each other, ask questions, and see upcoming assignments. There have been some studies observing students who use Twitter in class. Some of the students agreed that the use of Twitter in classes demonstrated its usefulness. Thus to enhance student learning, they advised its use permanently in all classrooms (Lin, Hoffman and Borengasser).

These teachers, along with others, also use social media websites such as YouTube in their lessons to teach students. YouTube happens to possess videos on nearly anything; so to assume that educational videos also exist on this website seems reasonable. Mr. Polk, a history teacher at Arlee High School, uses YouTube videos in his classes daily. He shows students in his Government class videos about the news and recent events that appear important. In other classes, he requires that all students watch videos on historical events to gain more knowledge of the past.

On the other hand, some teachers continue to argue that educational videos do exist on social media and social networking websites; but they question whether or not the use of these websites truly have a positive effect on students’ learning. “Incorporating Twitter in courses will require careful consideration of scaffolding, modeling, privacy and course design. Questions remain as to whether the informal social focus of Twitter may overwhelm attempts to use it in more structured educational settings” (Lin, Hoffman and Borengasser). Some teachers still remain concerned that these social networking sites will cause more of a distraction than they will an affective form of education and learning. They believe that students will not use the websites for their intended purposes in class; they will simply use them as they do outside of school (Lin, Hoffman and Borengasser). This may occur, however, students should also distinguish between whether the time and location calls for using these social websites in a social manner, and it does not. Students show responsibility as well as trustworthiness when they use these websites correctly. Teachers will know when students do not use the sites correctly through their performance, interaction in discussions in class, and the students’ response to questions directed towards them in class. If students become more involved in class activities the minimal confrontations due to the website’s misuse could potentially be worth the fight, corresponding to Page Abe and Nickolas A. Jordan’s findings.

I took a poll on Facebook asking my Facebook “friends” if they thought the use of social media and social networking sites used in education prove helpful in learning or not. Fifty percent of the people who answered believed these social sites proved helpful for them. Yet, the other fifty percent expressed that these websites could not be helpful. “…Alternatives to face-to-face teaching need to be explored. These alternatives will only work if they prove useful to students” (VanDoorn, George, Antoinette A. Eklund).

I personally feel as though social media and social networking websites have the capability to help both students and teachers in education. However, I also believe the effectiveness of these sites in student learning will vary between students. As stated by Liang, Commins, and Duffy: “The tools of social media must be tailored to foster engagement, authenticity, empowerment, and conflict tolerance even while the involved parties are connecting virtually and often asynchronously.” Thus if students use these social websites correctly, I see these social sites as becoming highly effective in learning. In the present day, young adults find more interest in technology and social connectivity websites, resulting in a necessity for change. There have been recent studies done in which a social connectivity website is created for school purposes and concluded the end result as a positive reaction from today’s youth (Liang, Commins and Duffy). This social connectivity web site created a constructive, dynamic, energetic, and secure place where teens could express their individual opinions and beliefs. Therefore, it may seem more suitable for all schools to consider using a technological approach that will appeal to students in this generation (Liang, Commins and Duffy).

Acknowledging both sides of the debate, social networking and social media websites could either result in revolutionizing education and teaching or it could end in students abusing them. Either way, we will never know if we don’t try using them for educational purposes. If students begin abusing this privilege, the school can easily take it away. If the use of these social sites has a positive result, the schools can continue their use. Regardless of the outcome, I have yet to find a reason why schools should not at least try using these social websites for educational uses.

Works Cited

Abe, Paige, and Nickolas A. Jordan. "Integrating Social Media into the Classroom Curriculum." About Campus 18.1 (2013): 16-20. ERIC. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

Liang, Belle, Meghan Commins and Nicole Duffy. "Using Social Media to Engage Youth: Education, Social Justice, & Humanitarianism." (2010): ERIC. Web. 15 Oct. 2013

Lin, Meng-Fen Grace, Ellen S. Hoffman, and Claire Borengasser. "Is Social Media too Social for Class? A Case Study of Twitter Use." Techtrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning 57.2 (2013): 39-45. ERIC. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

Poellhuber, Bruno, and Terry Anderson. "Distance Students' Readiness for Social Media and Collaboration." International Review Of Research in Open and Distance Learning 12.6 (2011): 102-125. ERIC. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

VanDoorn, George, and Antoinette A. Eklund. "Face to Facebook: Social Media and the Learning and Teaching Potential of Symmetrical, Synchronous Communication." Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice 10.1 (2013): ERIC. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

Political Cartoon Essay

The government is issuing a new tax on the public; this tax was Obama’s idea. The tax requires the richer, or more well off people, to pay more taxes to cover the lack of taxes, or the small amount paid, by the poor people. In the political cartoon “The Oracle of Omaha Obama,” the artist is portraying how this tax may have come to be created. This idea is shown through the artist’s use of the seven features. However, the viewer must know background information about this new tax to fully understand this cartoon.

            The caption itself describes the cartoon and puts a mental tone in the viewers’ mind about how they will perceive the cartoon and its message. The caption “The Oracle of Omaha Obama” is intended to make Obama and the Government look bad and show how he is using the public to prevail in attempts to make new laws.

            By his use of visual irony, the artist states that Obama is taking what one man says and is using it to his advantage. He is taking “I’m not paying enough taxes…” out of context and using this to prove his point in the new taxation plan. Obama takes what the “Oracle of Omaha” says and uses it as well as saying the “Oracle of Obama” said it.

In efforts to make Obama more recognizable the artist uses caricature, and highly exaggerates Obama’s physical features. The artist gives Obama big ears, a big nose, and an exceedingly large chin. He also gives Obama an extremely happy expression, this expression is happy to the point of appearing foolish. His smile is so large it easily takes up half of his face. Obama is so happy, because he agrees with what the “Oracle” says about “not paying enough taxes…” and he can use this statement to his advantage as evidence for his new taxation law.

            This statement made by the man next to Obama; “I’m not paying enough taxes…” is highly exaggerated. No one would say they were not paying enough taxes. No one wants to lose more money to the Government no matter what it may be intended for. This statement was intended to be more sarcastic than serious, yet Obama took this comment out of context to use it in a campaign for new taxes.

            Although this cartoon is lacking three of the seven features, the artist does an amazing job of rendering his views of Obama and the Government. He effectively shows what is happening to the public through his political cartoon. It portrays the president, Barrack Obama, as using the public for his own benefit. This cartoon gives off a blunt, callous tone about the Government. However, it is what the public deserves to see; considering what decisions are being made by the Government, for the country. In which the outcome of these decisions may affect the entire nation as a whole.

Native American Mascots

Some people support hanging Native American mascots due to negative or offensive beliefs regarding the mascots. Two of these beliefs are stereotyping and disrespect. Stereotypical Native American mascots generally remain described as obnoxious. This, often times, is due to the people acting as the mascots. To get the crowd more enthusiastic they will often act in disrespectful and obnoxious ways, such as make fun of their or the other teams’ mascot or symbol. This almost always leads to a dispute about the race or representation of a people the mascot should be portraying, and whether or not it should be changed due to arguments had during the season.

However, there are also positive aspects of these Native American Mascots that deserve to be acknowledged. In some places, these Native American Mascots are based on culture. The mascot is a representation of strength, pride and honor. It is considered an honorable act to play a part in showing pride and lifting tribe or team spirit during the sport or activity. When and if a tribal elder thinks an adolescent has earned it, he or she gets special recognition and sometimes a token of their achievement and honor because the positive way they portrayed the mascot. An example of this is found in Browning; their sports teams have done this ritual for generations. When an Elder feels as though an athlete has earned it, he or she receives a war bonnet in honor of their performance in that sport.

 Another positive aspect to these Native American Mascots is tradition. Certain places have been using Native Americans as Mascots for generations. It has been that way for many years so changing one Native American mascot may lead to the change of all others, due to racial quarrels in other places. Change is not easily welcomed by some and is completely rejected by others. The change may only cause further chaos and disruption by the public; not to mention the cost of changing a mascot. It costs thousands to change only a single team mascot. To change all of the Native American Mascots would be highly illogical and without a doubt unaffordable for both community members and the government, or facility, being asked to make the changes. So instead of completely changing all mascots, why not have the community members take a vote on whether or not to change the mascot, keep it, or slightly modify it.

 A mascot is a symbol. Symbols are arduous to change because they are set in people’s minds. To change a symbol such as a mascot would lead to misunderstanding, and changing Native American mascots could produce oppositions. This would happen on a much smaller scale if we were to change all Native American Mascots. There would be excessive confrontation over the matter. And more than likely the majority vote would win, therefore leading to the change back to the original mascots.

So, to save money and minimize the number of altercations, I suggest leaving the Native American Mascots as they stand. We should ensue preserved and appreciated by all. Instead of finding negative aspects about Native American Mascots, people should see more of their positive impacts on community and culture. Embrace tradition and with it a race and their way of life. Rather than bashing on Native American tribes and the use of them as mascots, some may instead need to research this specific tribe and how having a mascot mirroring them affects them personally. Teams should find out whether or not Native Americans get offended by the use of mascots representing them of it others get offended by the use of the Native Americans as mascots, based on racial discriminations or insecurities. If more information place to explain the positive sides of Native American Mascots, more acceptance of these mascots would occur. Perhaps the mascots should not undergo change, but those who misinterpret the mascot’s deeper meaning requires modification.