Internet Use-- post #3

Here we are again, another post for my marketing class. Today’s post is regarding teachers and how they are using the internet.

We all know, whether we are, or have been, in school over the past decade, or if we have kids in school, that there are computers in almost every classroom today. But who’s using them more, the teacher or the students? I can’t really answer that question but I can answer how frequently the teachers are using it, whether it is in the classroom for a hands-on lesson or if it is at home to conduct research for a lesson.

On a website that is provided through the U.S. Department of Education, the National Center for Education Statistics came across some interesting facts.

• About 40% of teachers use computers or the internet a lot to create instructional material for a class
• About 35% use computers for administrative record keeping
• Less than 10% of teachers reported using computers, or the internet, to access model lesson plans or to access research and best practices
• When comparing newer teachers with older teachers: of those who have less than 3 years of teaching experience, 30% use the internet to communicate with colleagues and gather information for lessons; 30% of teachers who have been teaching for 4-9 years use the internet for the above reasons; and about 20% of teachers who have taught for more than 20+ years find that they use the internet to communicate or create lesson plans.

(Click here for more facts)

The only thing that surprises me here is that the numbers of those using the internet, especially the newer teachers, aren’t higher. However, I am not surprised that the newer teachers are using computers and the internet more frequently than older teachers. It’s probably because the older ones use “historic” methods of teaching—before technology came around—whereas the newer ones have adapted to technology and are therefore more prone to use it.

I don’t blame the older teachers, though, because there are some methods of teaching that should be continued to be taught the old-school way without computers; such as writing and reading. But that is a whole different issue on a whole different topic.

JAMIE LYNN SPEARS & BABY

Could it be possible that one of the Spears children is doing something right with her life? Well, I wouldn’t go that far, but I do give her a little credit.

Jamie Lynn has been spotted registering for her baby shower, and not only that but she is now engaged to her boyfriend. I’m not sure how I feel about this. I mean, yea, she should definitely register for baby things, as she is pregnant and regardless of the age, I think a baby shower is most appropriate. But engaged… hmm… that’s another issue.

Sometimes I think that it’s the right thing for a couple to get married if they become pregnant, but they are still so young and immature. Can they actually commit to one another and handle a baby AND a real relationship? Come on kids, this isn’t high school now, we’re talking real life!

DRAMA IN POLITICS!!!

Here we go another sex scandal.

If you haven’t already heard, the Governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer, has been recently accused of having sexual relations with a young prostitute nearly a month ago.

It’s funny, though, rather than denying the accusations and trying to make amends, Spitzer resigned his position on Wednesday, and will officially be removed from office on Monday at noon.

I’m not sure who I feel bad for in this situation, or if there really is anyone at all to feel sympathetic for. There is, however, Spitzer’s wife—the innocent person in this case—who we have to sympathize for and feel her pain. For goodness sakes the woman gave up her dreams to help her husband follow his.

As for Eliot and this 22-year-old girl, whose real name is Ashley, not “Kristen,” I’m not sure I feel bad for either one of them. Spitzer made a huge mistake. Hello, the man cheated on his wife! That’s no-no number 1! Number 2 would be that he tried to hide this situation. Did he actually think that he wouldn’t get caught? When you’re in politics, the worst thing that anyone can do, in my opinion, is try to hide anything that may be illegal or hurt one’s reputation, because in the end, it WILL come back and bite you in the ass.

As for this girl Ashley, AKA Kristen, she’s absolutely pathetic. She’s basically blaming her actions on her past personal life; she came from a broken home and did drugs, and lost everything she had, etc. etc. But that’s no excuse because there are ways to straighten yourself up and there are more than enough people who are willing to help people, like Ashley, get back on track financially and mentally.

'It's complicated'"I just don't want to be thought of as a monster," Dupre told the Times. "This has been a very difficult time. It's complicated." (see the full story at MSNBC.com)

I still don’t feel bad for her, not at all. She knew exactly what she was doing. I mean, number 1: she was a prostitute; number 2: she fooled around with the GOVERNOR of NY; and number 3: she’s looking for attention. I’m not sure when or where this whole thing came about or who started the rumor—which isn’t a rumor, it’s a fact. But she’s just like all the other cases that we’ve seen in the past, the ones that deal with young girls—mainly prostitutes or strippers—who get themselves caught up in such scandals with political men or even college students (the Duke case). All of them have either expected to win the case, or they’re in it for attention and then drop the charges, or they’re doing it to get the other party in trouble. Whichever the reason, these cases are stupid. But then again, if these men would keep their hands to themselves and know the difference between right or wrong, we wouldn’t even hear about these speculations.

I’m interested in seeing the end results of this case.

Check back soon for updates.