I was just watching CNN, "Starting Point," and they had a fascinating guest where this person talked about how social media, Twitter most specifically, is really not as effective as people have talked about. He did say it was a very useful tool, especially for celebrities. However, for your average person, it really was not that useful.
This prompted some thinking on my part. First, I use Twitter myself. I follow some people and groups, and some others follow me. For my art blogs, and this blog, I usually tweet when I put up a new post. However, since I can track the traffic sources in my blogs, I see very little movement coming my way from Twitter. Now, I will say I lined up my next interview on my art blog through using Twitter first, but I also am in contact with Kiyomi (the musician) on FB and email because I also can message her through her website. (By the way, be sure to check out that interview when it comes up and check out her wondererful site, kiyomimusic.com) So, in this example that I use I would have to say, while Twitter in iteself has not been essential, it has been useful.
When you measure Twitter up against FB, I find FB more more useful. It gets information out on my blog much better. I find that people do not follow Twitter nearly as closely, at least in my case. Social media is a strange thing. You have to know where to target your efforts and how to promote your information and site. Things to keep in mind about creating sites is what key words you will have pop up when entered in search engines. How is it designed? What do you talk about? Is the site engaging? These are all things to keep in mind when using the internet and social media.
So, as far as Twitter goes, I like it. It does not move traffic as fast as I would like it to, but the interviewee on CNN said that many people who are on there just log in once a day and they are not the "power users" like many of the celebrities are. So, therefore, it is to be expected and it is just another aspect that you have to understand. Also, it is a tool that most artists are expected to have if they want to be successful. networks take time to build. So, it is wise to be patient as you build a network and expand your online presence. Artists need to be more aware of the tools out there and make use of them. In my final conclusion on this for this particular entry at this time is to have patience when building a network on any social media and know how to target it and it should be successful for you.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Internationalism
As many of you that are on my FB page, you know I have a very global view of the world. It is hard for me not to, since my wife comes from Panama. I have found that talking with my friends around the world I have learned a great deal about the world, and where I live, just by processing the different things people have to say in other countries. Even more than that, it is just an adventure to see new places and meet new people. I am always refreshed by how friendly people are when I go to new places. It really restores my view of people and humanity.
Above is a photo from Old Panama. They have some old Spanish ruins that are much older than anything that we have in almost any part of this country. It is interesting to walk through so much history. When I go to Panama, I have not really become to used to it yet. I am used to it because it is quite familiar now, but I still learn so much every time I go, and I am still learning the language. My Spanish is getting better, but I seriously need some practice.
When I go to Panama, I could be in the rain forest one morning and back in California by the next morning. I have done that before and it amazed me to think I could change so quickly from one locale to another.
After I went to Italy years ago, I thought what an experience it was to travel to another country. I thought that it would be so good for every person to leave the continent at least once to give them a perspective of being away from home and seeing the world from a different point of view. By traveling you allow yourself the ability to step outside your comfort zone and see things from other people's eyes.
Old Panama is unbelievable in summer. I was out there one time during their summer months and it was a full sunny day without clouds and heat blasting away. While the temperature was not nearly as high as 115 as I felt growing up in California, it was a different kind off heat. It was humid, and the sun was so direct being close to the equator. My wife, who is from there, even wears sunscreen and is much more resistant to the sun than I am. I don't think anyone can understand the difference in intensity of the heat unless they have travel in the tropical zones.
As a whole, travel is invaluable and I highly recommend anyone who has a chance to get out and see the world to take that opportunity. It is a great experience for me each time I leave the country to travel, or even leave my state or town. Travel brings new knowledge and a great chances for new friends and opportunities.
Knowledge is so much more effective when there is experience to back it up, and travel is one of the best forms of experience!
When I go to Panama, I could be in the rain forest one morning and back in California by the next morning. I have done that before and it amazed me to think I could change so quickly from one locale to another.
After I went to Italy years ago, I thought what an experience it was to travel to another country. I thought that it would be so good for every person to leave the continent at least once to give them a perspective of being away from home and seeing the world from a different point of view. By traveling you allow yourself the ability to step outside your comfort zone and see things from other people's eyes.
Old Panama is unbelievable in summer. I was out there one time during their summer months and it was a full sunny day without clouds and heat blasting away. While the temperature was not nearly as high as 115 as I felt growing up in California, it was a different kind off heat. It was humid, and the sun was so direct being close to the equator. My wife, who is from there, even wears sunscreen and is much more resistant to the sun than I am. I don't think anyone can understand the difference in intensity of the heat unless they have travel in the tropical zones.
As a whole, travel is invaluable and I highly recommend anyone who has a chance to get out and see the world to take that opportunity. It is a great experience for me each time I leave the country to travel, or even leave my state or town. Travel brings new knowledge and a great chances for new friends and opportunities.
Knowledge is so much more effective when there is experience to back it up, and travel is one of the best forms of experience!
The Leaders of Tomorrow
Being a teacher, there are many things that we have to do. We also have to endure many things as well. I recently read an article on CNN about teacher and is caused me to think some about where education and teaching stand at this particular juncture in time within our country. If you are interested to read the article, here is the url:
http://schoolsofthought.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/15/why-they-teach-despite-it-all/?iref=allsearch
I have sat back and watched this election with relatively moderate interest, as I am sure many of us have. However, something I see constantly is a misguided desire to help education that results in policy ideas that hurt more than help our situation within education. Experts in education who slog it out in the trenches of teaching everyday should be the ones to help create policy that influences education. There are too many people that sit behind a desk in a building far from any school and even further from any experience that students have, particularly the ones who have little money or family to support them as they fight to understand how to keep a positive outlook on life while friends and neighbors become victims of violent crimes. All the while, they are trying to figure out a way to survive themselves.
I ask myself, when was the last time one of our politicians sat in a classroom wondering how they would get food later that day or make it home in one piece. Do they ever think how that affects test scores? Most every teacher I know want a to make sure all of the students can achieve success in their education, but the task becomes exponentially harder when more and more students are jammed into classes and there are less materials to go around, sometimes not even enough books for each student to use while they are in class.
How many obstacles can be put in front of the youth of this country and expect them not only to achieve, but to excel as well? The problems that are facing students run much deeper and further than what goes on inside any school and classroom. Societies and communities as a whole have to implement changes that look at things as a whole. Looking at things in separate parts will not create greater change for the better, it will only stop something for a moment before it shows up somewhere else in a different form.
Sadly, while many teachers love what they do and remain extremely dedicated to helping others, there is a hopelessness that is starting to take hold sometimes. I have heard so many comments in so many places at so many different times that show the futility that teachers are up against. I remember someone in politics said that the youth of our country are our greatest resource. If that is true, then we need to have highly motivated and educated teachers teaching them. However, it is hard to stay motivated when the context of the teaching experience looks so bleak and futile at times.
Personally, I feel very optimistic about the field of education and teaching. I believe people have this unbelievable resiliency to succeed and overcome. The youth and the students of our country have amazing potential if we simply show them they anything is possible if they just allow themselves the one simple thing of believing in themselves. If we can show them how to believe in themselves, then amazing things are possible for the future for the students and this country who depends on the students becoming the leaders of tomorrow.
http://schoolsofthought.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/15/why-they-teach-despite-it-all/?iref=allsearch
I have sat back and watched this election with relatively moderate interest, as I am sure many of us have. However, something I see constantly is a misguided desire to help education that results in policy ideas that hurt more than help our situation within education. Experts in education who slog it out in the trenches of teaching everyday should be the ones to help create policy that influences education. There are too many people that sit behind a desk in a building far from any school and even further from any experience that students have, particularly the ones who have little money or family to support them as they fight to understand how to keep a positive outlook on life while friends and neighbors become victims of violent crimes. All the while, they are trying to figure out a way to survive themselves.
I ask myself, when was the last time one of our politicians sat in a classroom wondering how they would get food later that day or make it home in one piece. Do they ever think how that affects test scores? Most every teacher I know want a to make sure all of the students can achieve success in their education, but the task becomes exponentially harder when more and more students are jammed into classes and there are less materials to go around, sometimes not even enough books for each student to use while they are in class.
How many obstacles can be put in front of the youth of this country and expect them not only to achieve, but to excel as well? The problems that are facing students run much deeper and further than what goes on inside any school and classroom. Societies and communities as a whole have to implement changes that look at things as a whole. Looking at things in separate parts will not create greater change for the better, it will only stop something for a moment before it shows up somewhere else in a different form.
Sadly, while many teachers love what they do and remain extremely dedicated to helping others, there is a hopelessness that is starting to take hold sometimes. I have heard so many comments in so many places at so many different times that show the futility that teachers are up against. I remember someone in politics said that the youth of our country are our greatest resource. If that is true, then we need to have highly motivated and educated teachers teaching them. However, it is hard to stay motivated when the context of the teaching experience looks so bleak and futile at times.
Personally, I feel very optimistic about the field of education and teaching. I believe people have this unbelievable resiliency to succeed and overcome. The youth and the students of our country have amazing potential if we simply show them they anything is possible if they just allow themselves the one simple thing of believing in themselves. If we can show them how to believe in themselves, then amazing things are possible for the future for the students and this country who depends on the students becoming the leaders of tomorrow.
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