Thing 12





I added this widgit because I like to read and reflect on quotes. I use them for journal reflections in class quite often.

Review the widget you selected. Are you getting comfortable with embedding code? Do you belong to other online communities? Are relationships formed online as meaningful as face-to-face relationships? Why do you think MySpace and other social networking sites are so popular with kids today?


I am getting more comfortable embedding code. I'm amazed how easy it was to drop this into my blog. I was also AMAZED at the variety of widgits I could add to my blog. I had fun looking through all the sites that offered choices. I hope I can find these same sites when I no longer have my 23 things page to click on!

I am not a member of any online communities so I have no personal experience with online relationships. Nothing can match the power of a face to face relationship, but writing is also powerful and can reveal one's deepest thoughts. I imagine these relationships could be very significant. I asked my daughter who does belong to online communities and she admits that she does have meaningful relationships with people. When these individuals do not communicate for a certain period of time, she gets concerned and misses them.

Many online communities like MySpace and FaceBook are not a community of strangers. Most of the connections are already face to face relationships. It's just a great way for these kids to keep in touch over long distances. Judging from my own children, however, they absolutely love their FaceBook pages. One younger child has a MySpace page which he mainly uses to communicate with kids from his school.

One thing is certain -- these online communities are here to stay and it's worthwhile for teachers to consider using them as a way to tap into a method of communication that students are already attracted to and comfortable with using.