When I was 17 I was fortunate to visit Disney Land with my family for the first time. I don't actually remember too much, however this I remember. My dad was going to go on a ride called "Space Mountain". Now in my time (That was 1977), this exhibit was really considered cutting edge modern "Space age" technology. I wanted to be there for my dad to help him, if the ride was rough. When we entered the ride, there was a moving sidewalk that transferred you to the ride, and I had the strange sensation of going in the direction of scary stuff without being able to go back or get off the moving sidewalk. There were signs every few feet cautioning riders to put away hats, glasses, and hold onto your children. That's when I knew that I was in over my head and that I needed to start praying right away for a miracle that we would both survive.
Getting on a moving sidewalk that is going, going going when you want to stop and think about it more, and you can't get off or go back is what using social media sometimes is for me, but not as bad as Space Mountain. The main thing is that you can become alienated from people if you don't get on that sidewalk.
This happened to me when I immersed myself in work and didn't use social media really that much for 10 years. It made me alienated from my family and friends and I regret that. So now for me, getting the courage up to use facebook, linked in, twitter, and other medias is putting me back in touch with long lost friends and family members, not to mention the whole rest of the world!
I think my perspective as a person who didn't grow up with, but is now embracing these powerful tools can be helpful for me in helping young people. Even though most young people have grown up with it, they may not have harnessed its power for themselves. So, in that sense I see the similarities for them and me. The blogs, chats, webinars, articles I have been reading about learning and literacies in a connected world may as well be about me also. Once I have made it down from the mountain, (I know there will be the next one) I will be able to be a great mentor, teacher hopefully to Philadelphia youth.
Getting on a moving sidewalk that is going, going going when you want to stop and think about it more, and you can't get off or go back is what using social media sometimes is for me, but not as bad as Space Mountain. The main thing is that you can become alienated from people if you don't get on that sidewalk.
This happened to me when I immersed myself in work and didn't use social media really that much for 10 years. It made me alienated from my family and friends and I regret that. So now for me, getting the courage up to use facebook, linked in, twitter, and other medias is putting me back in touch with long lost friends and family members, not to mention the whole rest of the world!
I think my perspective as a person who didn't grow up with, but is now embracing these powerful tools can be helpful for me in helping young people. Even though most young people have grown up with it, they may not have harnessed its power for themselves. So, in that sense I see the similarities for them and me. The blogs, chats, webinars, articles I have been reading about learning and literacies in a connected world may as well be about me also. Once I have made it down from the mountain, (I know there will be the next one) I will be able to be a great mentor, teacher hopefully to Philadelphia youth.