How does one use social networking in education? Have you thought about it? How are you using it? Do you embrace it or are you avoiding it at all costs? I've been surprised by how many people are scared of using technology in their classrooms. It's coming people. There is no denying it!
As educators it seems like we are constantly battling students and their cell phones and other devises they seem to always have on them. Instead of spending our time and energy battling those issues, why can't we look for ways to embrace the technology? It doesn't have to encompass every thing that we do.
In my high school we have 1-to-1 laptops and use a program called Edmodo, which is like Facebook for education. Our students were resistant at first, as no one seemed to want to embrace the sweeping, new changes that required students to use less paper and pencil and spend more time on their one-on-one laptops. It took some time for students and staff to get used to it, but it is now used daily throughout our school. While it is a great addition and adds value to our learning environment, it in no way takes the place of teaching. It simply enhances the way we can distribute and gather information while we teach. Students will now tell you they enjoy the laptops and the networking website, but still desire the one-on-one attention they receive from the teachers and the opportunity to participate in true classroom debates and discussions. It stands to reason that if we want to make true connections with our students, then we need to go where they are. That means embracing social networking and other online tools that are popular as a way to enhance the way we deliver our messages. But I also don't think it means that we abandon other methods of teaching and learning. While technology is amazing, our students still look to, and need, our personal interactions. Below is the link to the article:
http://www.ijikm.org/Volume7/IJIKMv7p063-090Buzzetto611.pdf
Make it a great day!
DG
As educators it seems like we are constantly battling students and their cell phones and other devises they seem to always have on them. Instead of spending our time and energy battling those issues, why can't we look for ways to embrace the technology? It doesn't have to encompass every thing that we do.
In my high school we have 1-to-1 laptops and use a program called Edmodo, which is like Facebook for education. Our students were resistant at first, as no one seemed to want to embrace the sweeping, new changes that required students to use less paper and pencil and spend more time on their one-on-one laptops. It took some time for students and staff to get used to it, but it is now used daily throughout our school. While it is a great addition and adds value to our learning environment, it in no way takes the place of teaching. It simply enhances the way we can distribute and gather information while we teach. Students will now tell you they enjoy the laptops and the networking website, but still desire the one-on-one attention they receive from the teachers and the opportunity to participate in true classroom debates and discussions. It stands to reason that if we want to make true connections with our students, then we need to go where they are. That means embracing social networking and other online tools that are popular as a way to enhance the way we deliver our messages. But I also don't think it means that we abandon other methods of teaching and learning. While technology is amazing, our students still look to, and need, our personal interactions. Below is the link to the article:
http://www.ijikm.org/Volume7/IJIKMv7p063-090Buzzetto611.pdf
Make it a great day!
DG