Applying 2.0 to Life

Well this whole week I have learned about Google Reader and the importance of creating a positive digital identity. I can use the Reader to save time and it allows me to stay up to date with my current events. I no longer have to go to a plethora of sites to get my daily updates. The reader will help me be more in tune with my own world and interests. Creating a positive digital identity is something that my teacher stresses because colleges can now view your digital identity more thoroughly. If I created a digital identity that is filled with crap, colleges will see that, however if I create a positive digital identity hopefully I will be more attractive to colleges. The most important thing I learned this week is building a positive identity that will benefit me in the future.

iPads More Than Just a Textbook

Morristown-Beard School in New Jersey is currently experimenting with the iPad with a small group. The article can be found here http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/nj_schools_explore_using_ipads.html
They instantly found the benefits of using the iPad. They use it for current and up-to-date information. The advantage they found is that textbooks are outdated and need to be updated regularly, whereas iPads have current information that can be applied to school. They also found that they spent as much on the iPad as they did with books per student. The downside to having the iPad is that there were twenty two broken iPads. iPads are also not an option for cash-starved schools because they are too expensive for many schools. Because iPad use in schools is in its early stages most schools like Burlington High are mainly using it as an online textbook even though it has greater potential. We are currently using it as a replacement to everyday school items such as calculators and books, but it can be so much more. Are we using it incorrectly at the moment? Maybe, but the reason why we are using it "incorrectly" is because we have yet to tap into the enormous potential the iPad has to offer.

Monitoring Students for Recruiting Purposes is Inaccurate

Colleges using the TargetX CRM Tool will not get the student they are looking for. The reason why I say this is because people act differently when there's a monitor in front of them. People will say things they would not normally say on the internet because there is a monitor protecting them. Colleges will not be able to see the growth of their recruits. For example people will say immature things on Facebook or Twitter at an early age, but they could change the way they use social media and networking as they grow older and are more aware of the power and the effects of social media. The TargetX CRM Tool is a great for recruiting, but ultimately it has its flaws. A college using the tool for all of their recruiting will miss out on great students that they overlook due to a mistake on the student's part, but at the same time they could potentially have a greater chance of getting the student they want.