15- Response to "Five Essentials to Create Connected Students"

In this article, Vicki Davis describes 5 ways to help students become connected, even if they do not have a lot of experience in using social networks and things like that. She says that is is essential for students to be connected authors. It is important for them to know how to write formally or informally depending on their platform. They should realize that you write differently on Twitter than you do on Wikipedia or a professional blog. Another essential she mentions is becoming connected publishers. She says that students need a place where they can store all of their professional items online for the world to see which should include their full names once they turn 18. The third essential is becoming a connected conversationalist. She says that students need a voice and should be encouraged to speak out about education and other things, even if they are doing so on Twitter and using certain hashtags. The fourth essential is being a strategic disconnector. Davis claims that students need to know when to turn off their notifications and electronics and interact with the world around them. This includes study time, dinner with a relative, etc. The last thing she talks about is being a curious, lifelong pursuer of ingenious solutions. She says that the students should have a more proactive role in the technology they use. She also suggests that the students themselves should create apps. She says that technology is everywhere so we need to prepare our students to use it in the classroom and beyond.

I found this article to be interesting. I wish there would have been more information about what to do if the students we are teaching really don't have access to the technology that others do. I also like how Davis acknowledged the need to turn off electronics at some points, because I feel as if people are just on their phones all the time, and are losing the ability to really socialize. I think that it would be a good idea to let some students create their own apps. This would show that they have a grasp on what is being taught as well as what is important to them.