What's in a Status?

"What's on your mind?" That's the question that greets us each time we sign into our Facebook account. Most of the time our status updates are about the mundane tasks we do everyday but they can be very entertaining at times. For most of us we don't really think twice about answering that question or the power a simple status update can hold. But after the recent outbreak of riots in Egypt, we are beginning to see just how powerful social networking is becoming. Protesters used social networking sites like, Facebook and Twitter, to organize these riots.

So, what's in a status? Now we are able to find out about things as they happen instead of having to wait for the evening news. We can get first hand accounts of what is happening as the story unfolds. If you want to find out what's going on right now all you have to do is log on.

No More Textbooks?

The Webb School of Knoxville is a private school and teaches kids from grades K-12. Beginning next year things are going to be a little different for some students. There will no longer be textbooks. That's right, students will no longer have to crack open a book. However, there is an app for that. The school has decided to make iPads mandatory for all students and teachers in grades 4-12. The parents will either have to purchase their child an iPad they will have to rent one from the school.

The school looked at other alternatives such as laptops and digital readers before ultimately settling on the iPad. They believe that because of the wide variety of applications that are available it was the best fit for the school. At the beginning of the year the iPads will be loaded with the required applications and it will be the students’ responsibility to keep them synched and up to date throughout the year. Students will also be allowed to download other applications of their choice.

We are in a digital age but is this taking it too far? While an iPad may be a handy tool to enhance the learning experience for students, it can be very distracting as well. While the school will have sites like Facebook and Twitter blocked, it will still be easy for students to access games while they are supposed to be paying attention in class. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Some schools and Universities are encouraging the use of iPads in classrooms but it is hard to imagine a classroom with no books.

Sources:

http://www.webbschool.org/technology

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/21/tennessee-school-requires-ipads-of-all-4th-12th-grade-students/

So what's this all about?

Have you ever seen something in the media and asked yourself, "What's up with that?" Well, I have and for this blog I'm going to be looking at the world of media and asking that very question. Before I go any further, let's take a closer look at what I mean when I say media. I am referring to the way we get our information or entertainment. It can be anything from a newspaper to an iPod. You may be surprised by how much society is being shaped by media. Sometimes this can be a good thing but it can be negative as well. It all depends in how you look at it. That brings me to the basic purpose of my blog, to take a closer look at media and how it is affecting our everyday lives.
This blog comes from a class assignment from my Media Convergence class. I must say that since this is my first time to really be blogging, I'm a little nervous about. I am on Facebook and Twitter but this is much more than just a status update or tweet. I look forward to this experience and hope that you enjoy the journey as much as I do!