How does the internet filter what we see?

This is a great TEDTalk about how the internet gatekeepers filter the searches that we make and why we need to make sure that searches are under our control and not some electronic coded control. As educators we need to make sure that as we are teaching critical thinking, we understand that not everything is as we think it is.

Take a look.

http://edupln.ning.com/video/eli-pariser-ted-talk


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Be careful in the social network world and in blogging!!

Please check out the article below and the link back to it regarding the information that is stored on your Facebook, MySpace and Twitter accounts -- EVEN IF YOU DELETE THEM!

From the Miss Techs website: http://www.misstechs.com/2011/06/social-network-slipups-stored-7-years.html

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Your social networking slipups to be stored for 7 years

In a world where potential employers will almost certainly toss your name into a search engine before considering you for a job, we should all be very careful about what we put online. However, sometimes we slip up, leaving a nasty smear on an otherwise pristine social networking persona. Now, thanks to a ruling by the FTC, background checking services can store those unfortunate moments for up to 7 years after you've deleted them from the web.

A company called Social Intelligence - which provides background checks for companies during the hiring process - recently drew ire from would-be employees due to its practice of building detailed files on applicants. The company keeps these records, which can contain embarrassing pictures or comments that have long since been deleted, in case they are requested by other potential employers in the future. The FTC, after taking a microscope to Social Intelligence's information gathering methods, declared that the company fell within the guidelines of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Individuals who believe their social record is tarnished through no fault of their own are welcome to dispute the firm's findings. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people affected have no idea what information Social Intelligence has on them until they are denied a job. So before you update your Facebook, Twitter or other social networking status, remember that the information you put forth can come back to haunt you, years after you've wiped your web slate clean.

In other words, think before you fire off, spew off or write something done that will be retained forever. 

Remember we are always saying, "If it isn't written down, it didn't happen." So the reverse can also be true -- "If it's written down, it DID happen," even if we delete it right away. 

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The SLA Slam Poets presented this beautiful poetry 

at the ISTE 2011 closing address last week in Philadelphia, PA. 

This is where we need to be as teachers. Listening to the students. 

I want to thank them for the inspiration they brought to me as they

challenge each of us as new teachers or teachers that need to have the passion rekindled.    

Thanks to each of these young people for making it real1