+/- Homeschooling and Online Courses +/-

This week’s class focused around distance learning and the advantages and disadvantages of. In taking the in-class survey, it was revealed to me that I probably would not be too successful in online learning or, if I wanted to be, I would have to work harder and focus more. Hearing about distance learning from Dr. Corso and other classmates from their experiences or inquiries made me think whether distance learning and homeschooling were similar in their effects. I then read a couple of articles; one on the Pros and Cons of Homeschooling and the other, on the Disadvantages and Advantages of Online College Courses in which both articles posed reasonable stances on why students should or should not consider homeschooled and distance learning courses.

There was an overlap in some cases for both types of courses. In both homeschooled and distance learning courses, the advantages state that the courses allow for a wider range of learning or expansion of course options and also, more time flexibility. The biggest disadvantage both course types have in common would be the lack of socialization and interaction among fellow students. Though both have different ways of providing interaction, face-to-face interaction and experiences are hard to pass up. Those are the “meat” of memories and things that cannot be taught by a teacher.

On the other hand, to stay as non-biased as possible, some advantages of homeschooling do make this way of learning more appealing than general schooling. Such a pro as being able to sleep in and work at my own pace, alone, would be better than being up for school by 6:30 a.m.! Another advantage is being able to create your own schedule that works around other priorities. With general schooling, there is a set time that you HAVE to work around and sometimes this is not convenient to everyone especially for those people who have a family and a career, which brings us to the advantages of Distance Learning.

Distance Learning has advantages ranging from time flexibility to dress code to comforting timid individuals. The courses work well for those students who are already established but would like to continue on a life-long learning path. They also appeal to those students who are shy, would rather stay at or close to home, and are technologically savvy. Distance learning courses do come across to be more advantageous than I would have thought before reading these articles.

I still stand by regular schooling, that within the classroom, teacher at the chalkboard, a syllabus in hand, and notes to be taken and for more reasons other than that but we are not going to get into another blog; though, I do understand why students would consider online courses and distance learning. I feel that being in school I have learned more than I ever would if my mother would have stayed home to teach me or if I was e-mailing this person I’ve never met before back and forth. This is all just me, what do you think?

Business-to-Facebook?

Is Facebook good for the workplace? In reading an article that attempts to answer this question, I formed my own opinion of “Facebooking” in the Workplace. Though Facebook, and many other social networking sites, have proved to be very effective not only for social needs, but business needs as well, is it really professional to use it in the workplace I would like to ask. It is true, Facebook and sites alike have revolutionized into major marketing tools but its primary use is, and was originally, for personal social purposes.

When creating a Facebook, the main idea is to befriend as many people as possible, join as many groups as you can, upload tons of photos, send loads of bumper stickers, and let the world know what you are up to via status. There was not too much talk on how to create a Facebook that would sell products, ideas, and organizations until recently.

My concern is the unwritten rule we’ve created as a society that there should not be a mix of business, friendship, or family and how Facebook is creating an exception. While working, contacting anyone outside of your main objective for this particular job is a distraction. For a business that is a stickler of staff productivity, the usage of Facebook in the workplace, in addition to distraction, can be harmful for the workplace since there is no room for play. If there is a certain number of employees working a shift or on a project and there is a quota or deadline and half of those people have wasted time on Facebook, how much progress can be made?

This blog is not to bash businesses that chose to incorporate their marketing strategies into social networking sites but a line should be drawn where there is too much commercial in social activities. If people are interested in businesses, they will seek them. I’m afraid the extra room for business in the online social networking world has become too invasive.

Underneath it all, it's about time!

OH, FACEBOOK! How it does tell so much. And text messages too! I will admit that when initiating a relationship, I would rather send text messages or communicate via Facebook until I feel I am comfortable but now, I am beginning to realize that these two communication tools are almost a part of the determining factor. What I mean by this is, when I begin talking casually to someone (usually someone of the opposite sex who I may be interested in) and there Facebook profile is not as appealing as I would like it to be, already, their “points” are deducted! Same goes with text messages with only a slight difference, there may be way too many typos and the message is barely understandable because every single word, simple and all, is abbreviated; so right then and there, my red flag goes up! Sadly, before I have held a phone or face-to-face conversation with this person, I have already judged them.

Using these means of communication as a medium to learn of another’s intelligence and interests could be beneficial but in my case, I will admit it is unfair. For some reason when we use new technology for communication, all of our grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. goes out of the window and I know this! And as hypocritical as it may seem, I do judge based on what I see but hey; I just want to be sure that I am not investing time in a complete and total idiot! I feel that if finding out all that I can with social networking sites and text messages, if it saves a bit more time, I will use them.

I guess what I am trying to explain, indirectly, with this blog is how lazy we are becoming due to all of the technology we have on hand now. My first example was using Facebook and text messages to assume that these two accurately portray how people really are, intellectually. All we need to do is invest time in knowing a person, personally and all of those assumptions can be proven or disproven. The second example, abbreviations and text speak; it is all becoming a rush-job. Both of my examples lead back to time. We are beginning to worry too much about beating the clock and are becoming lazy and taking the short way out, even with relationships. So it just leaves me to wonder, what is happening with time?

Reaction to Buffy the Vampire Slayer

In a time period where electronic communication was not as prevalent as it is now, an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer still painted a picture of what can possibly become of our obsession and dependency on computer mediated communication and technology. During the hour-long show, I saw intrusion, obsession, dependency, manipulation, and most disturbingly, the desire to want to belong.


I put the emphasis on the desire to belong because naturally, I’d like to say that no one would want to feel as if they were an outcast. To be an outcast in just an everyday sense can take a toll on its own, but now as communication and technology revolutionizes, we all want to be a part of, and also take part in. Being left behind as technology progresses is probably the scariest thought, thus, I feel that technology, in a subconscious way, is mandated in our lives. Just as stated in the show, “if not in… you’re not alive.”


As the show went on, I saw how one character (computer genius) was so sucked into the computer that he almost sounded robotic when he socialized. I noticed how often the computer was used as a medium to tap into another individual’s personal information. I also watched Willow become more and more reliant on who was behind the computer screen to make her feel a certain way, and once again, belong.


Towards the end of the show, the only thing I could imagine was how much more dangerous it is now as CMC has become more a part of our lifestyle. I do know the positives of technology but there are still way too many negatives to match. We as people are not as resourceful as we once were due to computers helping us with most of the basic things we should already know how to do. We are not as personal because we chose to interact hidden behind a screen (cell phone or computer). And lastly, we have become lazy and useless. It may seem harsh but for example, if I can find a summary online, why read a book? If I can text message a question to avoid a long and drawn out conversation, I’d rather not use my minutes. And even if I can dodge a library visit by just Google-ing something than I’d rather do that.


Our usage of CMC and technology is becoming a bit ridiculous but just as the producers of Buffy saw this coming ten years ago and it has become worse, what can we do now as it may be too late?