Educators are in urgent to prepare students to be ready for workplace of the 21st century. Computer-mediated communication is considered as an effective tool, educators need to prepare students for their future workplace. It began with naïve assumption that it would be able to promote collaborative learning and working with their peers. Many learning management systems have been introduced in order to support this thought.
As we may know that Facebook claims that they have more than 800 million active users and it becomes one of kids’ lifestyles. Schoology.com, one of well-recognized learning management systems tries to replicate the success of Facebook by using the similar interface design of this famous social networking website. This would help both parties: teachers and students feel easier to embrace digital learning platforms.
Nevertheless, those computer-mediated communication or virtual world also has a dark side. Some researchers pointed out that Facebook users reported having lower GPAs and spend fewer hours per week studying than nonuser (Kirscher, P.A.; Karpinski, A.C., 2010). While this topic is in heated discussion between researchers, we could not deny about another pitfall of this virtual world, online bullying.
More than 160,000 students kids a day miss schools because they are too afraid to go. ABC News reported a scoop about bullying among kids, including face-to-face bullying inside the schools, outside the schools and also kids’ virtual worlds.
As same as other contexts, bullying from offline life is rapidly imported into digital platform. The area that parents and educators know too little. Computer-mediated communication (CMC) does require deep understanding in order to conduct rules and regulations for students’ interpersonal interactions.
A question has been raised “Who shall be responsible for online bullying: principles, teachers, educational technologists, or parents?” As Baym mentioned the computer medium is far more complex and diverse than first imagined (2006). I am not convinced that educators and parents are knowledgeable enough to work on this issue. We might need to call those influencers in Silicon Valley to work together.
bankcolumbia 
September 27th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
This is a very weird video…. -.-
I am assuming the students in the video are just acting…right?
It is interesting how the video points out that once cyberbullying is identified the parents should not take away the Internet usage privilege of the bullied child because that is the exact reason why children do not tell their parents….I am not sure if the video is focusing on the right thing there….
In any case, it is probably a good idea for the bullied child/student to take a break from technology anyways if that is the reason why they are being tortured and harassed….
September 28th, 2011 at 1:28 am
I find the “Cyberbullying” topic very fresh to me. Actually I have heard few about this. How do you know about this? Does any of your friend have this kind of problem?
I understand that when our information are out there on the social media websites, our private rights are facing the danger of be intruded. And this could also have a bad impact on one’s academic performance.
September 28th, 2011 at 1:36 am
I find the “Cyberbullying” topic very fresh to me. Actually I have heard few about this. How do you know about this? Does any of your friend have this kind of problem?
I understand that when our information are out there on the social media websites, our private rights are facing the danger of be intruded. And this could also have a bad impact on one’s academic performance.
September 28th, 2011 at 2:54 am
I personally have not experienced cyber bullying by myself. I have heard in the class discussion where most of my classmates are teachers. They seriously pointed out that it is somehow very difficult for them to reach every interaction/communication between students, especially online communication. As a result, they feel that it’s difficult to prevent/solve cyberbullying issues by themselves.
September 29th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Although bullying is a meaning totally unfamiliar to me, because in my country it does not exist, i find it hard that this phenomenon could be controlled at all times, especially cyberbullying, where anonymity dominates. It is easier for someone to harm and harass in the cyberspace without being penalized. I believe that the only solution to eliminate such incidents, is the guidance and the education, firstly, from the family and then school .The most important is that they have to understand and apply the meaning of respect in their lives and it can only occur with the right upbringing and the transmittion of empathy,from the parents side, who are the first and most significant source of our development.
September 29th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
Just as an aside, to “Fay,” I’m flabbergasted that your country doesn’t have bullying at all! In America, it is so prevalent…can I ask which country you are referring to?
~Lindsey Dixon