Book Review: The Cyber Effect A Pioneering Cyberpsychologist Explains How Human Behavior Changes Online by Mary Aiken

A cyberpsychologist, really.  Yes really, we have progressed in our world to the point where we need someone to explain the type of person who is online.  In this case the character of the psychologist in  CSI: Cyber, (i.e. played by Patricia Arquette) is based on the author, Mary Aiken.  I loved that show and I learned a lot about that field of cyber, this book explains more . . 

Synopsis

The author explains the behavior of people who spend a lot of time online or use online. Mary Aiken's  coins the phrase "cyberchrondria" to describe a whole suite of anxieties related to online search of real and imagined health ills.  In addition, she discusses why people develop relationships online as opposed to in person. 

Aiken has a number of recommendations to help avoid some of the pitfalls she sees in her research, for example, a separate Internet for children, which would be walled off from the dangerous Internet of porn and predators. Parents need to be vigilant, but unfortunately they don't have all of the information the need to adequate and informed decisions. 

Book Review plus 4. 6 stars:

This book is fascinating and, but not a quick read.  While reading the book does each you a lot about safety . y, especially what to look for when searching the Internet. It is an interesting outline of a world that most of us touch every day but know so little about.  

This ARC was provided to me from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review. 

Mentor Books: Good/Bad

"A mentor text is a written piece used in education as an example of quality writing used by an individual to illustrate a genre or text." (ehow.com/about_5324946_mentor_text.html (2016)

Artists use other paintings and drawings to learn techniques. Teachers follow other teachers around to learn their styles. People use models of like material or models that represent something that they want to create. Writers in and out of the classroom are no different, they need inspiration, a good model or just an idea so that they can make their  improve their manuscript

I spent a lot of time looking at webinars to find the best approach and presentation.  However, I noted that in one of my presentations, it wasn't very good and needed to understand the problem.  People who use mentor text in a similar method in order to help them correct a problem that they may be having with their manuscript.  I know that when I have attended trainings in the past most of the presenters encourage people to underline or take notes as they read a book.  I know that I have done that! I have found a passage or way the author has written a scene and wrote down my interpretation of the author's style. I DO NOT COPY IT!

Copying a style of writing, it is just copying.  When you see how a writer has written a manuscript in a genre or trying to find a good rhyme,  it is good to take notes and use it for future or  current manuscripts.  Ralph Fletcher encourages the use of mentor texts in his books, when teaching during writing workshop. Reading for research is a month long "challenge" to read various types of mentor texts and blog posts on all different kinds of genre and techniques.  I didn't really get into this year, but I will be going through it on my own at a leisurely pace.  What I really want to do is include the technology so that I can save my notes, the books and keep it handy for curriculum materials.

In the next coming months, I will be developing curriculum materials with one eye on educational technology and the other eye on working a skill or technique into a writing lesson.

Let's Salute the Week!!

April 3 is the first day back to school.   Spring break has been busy, our dishwasher broke and the new one we bought did not quite fit, so now we have to wait until Tuesday to get the other new one. However, my husband has been good about washing and drying the dishes.  

In addition, I have been active in my special education Face book group, which is great!!.  They are a wonderful group of people and we have really interesting discussions.  In addition, I have been brushing up on my Educational Technology skills by taking some courses

through Canvas: 

* Instructional Design Service Course: Gain Experience for Good

* Integrating CCRS and Literacy K-12

* E-Learning Environments and E-learning Design

* Copyright for Educators

* Accessibility: Designing and Teaching Courses for All Learners

* Instructional Evaluation Service Course: Gain Experience For (K-12) 

* BL-101: Beginning to Blend

My license is due in September for renewal and I want to add instructional design certification my teaching license.

In addition, we have been clearing out boxes from a family members house, beginning my round of doctors appointments and visiting people. 

The week begins, onward and forward!!

Starting a New Quarter

  

January represents, to many of us, a new quarter, trimester, to be soon followed by a celebrations of a 100 days of school. This year began with my husband recovering from a severe injury,  a funeral, debt collectors and a call from a bails bondsmen. 

Dear Past,

Thank you for all of the lessons!

Dear Future,

I am ready!

The year has started out with a bang! When I saw this quote, (worry don’t know who wrote it)  but this is how I am viewing the upcoming month, especially this year. The year began because of past decision, but it will change this year. 2016 had been a confusing year, to say the least.  I believe that I have followed my Lord, but I also know that I have not been obedient as I should be this year. Consequently  . . .

One of the most important lessons I’m taking into 2017 . . . 

If you can’t do anything about it, then let it go. Don’t be a prisoner to things you can’t change.  (Tony Gaskin)

In addition, a new quarter, many educators will be receiving an intent letter.  Will you be going back?  What will you teach? Then you have to return it by a February date. This does not mean that you will be asked back, but the powers that be want to know if you will be returning.

I haven’t made any decisions about this decision.  I know what I want to be doing this time next year.  I know what needs to happen in order of this to occur. 

When you reflect on the new quarter, keep all of these items in mind.  Remember, the students still need to be taught and the quality of your teaching will reflect your emotional state. 

Have a great quarter!!