EDU651 Week 5

This was a great week in class. We all created and shared our links on all of the different social networking sites we have studied and analyzed through this course such as Facebook, Blogger, Twitter and Delicious to name a few. My favorite project was creating a learning event in PBWorks. I am writing an email to our Design team to propose that we use this site as a fun and collaborative activity that might be shared between a few classes in the region. The activity might address some of the social skills that some scientists argue are lacking in our young people who primarily use social networking sites to communicate.

In an article entitled, "Scientists ask: Is technology rewiring our brains?" published in USA Today in 2008, Dr. Small argues that technology takes us away from being exposed to people. He said that the brain, "…drifts away from fundamental social skills like reading facial expressions during conversations." In my role as corporate trainer, I have seen some of the younger employees struggle with face to face communication. As a sales consultant, lacking these skills can derail their careers. We teach skills that will help them recognize non-verbal cues which speak volumes. There are various customer conditions that sellers must be able to identify and address in order to be effective. Repetitive activities in the form of role plays help to develop these skills.

In my opinion, it is not the technology that is creating a lack of social skills. Since being exposed to Facebook, I have received positive messages of support and affirmations from others. People share their photographs; we laugh and learn from each other. It is a great way to socialize with others and receive immediate gratification. What Facebook lacks is, of course, the face to face interactions and I think those of us who are educators, mentors and parents need to teach those face to face social skills that complete us. No matter how much technology is out there, people still have to work together in groups and collaborate on strategies that make businesses successful. Even the founder of Facebook has to meet with his staff and collaborate to make Facebook innovative and successful.

Mizuko Ito of the University of California, Irvine concluded that, "hanging out online with friends…teens learn valuable skills they'll need to use at work and socially in the digital age." (USA Today, 2008). So, there may be some validity to a rewiring of our brains as we continue to use technology, but we should not abandon our ability to pass on those valuable life skills such as face to face, non-verbal communication skills to others. Our young people deserve that much from us. It is the very fabric that makes us who we are as human beings.

Dovarganes, D. (2008, December 3) Scientists ask: Is technology rewiring our brains? Usatoday.com. Retrieved January 19, 2011 from http://wwwusatoday.com/tech/science/2008-12-03-digital-brain_N.htm.