Networked Classrooms Endless Possibilities

Social networking is changing the landscape of education. The role networking plays is increasing at a rapid pace. Networked classrooms are paving the way to fit the needs of diverse learners. Chapter 3 of the book Professional Learning Networks states that a networked classroom is transparent, collaborative, learning centered, accessible, community based, supportive of inquiry-based learning, and driven by authentic assessment.

This website highlights some of the pros and cons of social networking (http://campustechnology.com/articles/2012/01/19/pros-and-cons-of-social-media-in-the-classroom.aspx). For me, I think the biggest positive of social networking is education is that it gives every student a chance to collaborate and participate. Not every student gets a chance to participate in class. With social networking, every student is giving the opportunity to contribute and voice their opinions that might otherwise go unheard.

While some of the negatives of social networking include it being a distraction and cyberbullying, I think the biggest negative is that it takes away the face-to-face interaction. As a student, I do better in a traditional classroom setting. I have an extremely hard time in an online class losing the face-to-face interaction. Additionally, as a teacher, I really enjoy being able to have conversations with my students and seeing the expressions on their faces and hearing the tone of their voices.

Social networking can be utilized in the classroom in a variety of ways. I currently do not use a whole lot of social networking in my classroom, but I am looking at more ways that I can incorporate it. I have used a classroom management system called Schoology. Students can view and submit assignments, have class discussions, and take quizzes on it. Students can also view all of this from their home or anywhere else they have an internet connection. This transformed my classroom into a more blended classroom as opposed to a traditional classroom.

I would also like to start having my students display their work through the use of social networking. So many students are already on Twitter or have a YouTube account. I think this would be a good way for students to get a more authentic audience. This website gives some other ways teachers are utilizing social networking in the classroom (http://dailygenius.com/social-education/).

Diverse learners can greatly benefit from social networking. Students will all be able to voice their opinions and use the tools that best fit their individual needs. These students will be allowed some flexibility and be able to work at their own pace. Social networking will let students choose the program that is in their best interest and what they are comfortable with.

As I read on this website, (http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/blogs/edutopia-finley-tips-help-all-learners-succeed.pdf), the aspect of social networking I like the most for diverse learners is that it allows them to create their own network. So many of these students struggle socially and have a hard time interacting with their peers. Social networking puts these students on level playing ground and allows them to establish their own personal network.

The possibilities are endless with a networked classroom!

Twitter-Outside My Comfort Zone

Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Yes, I have an account for all of them. However, this week’s assignment with Twitter made me feel pretty uneasy. While I am fairly tech savvy, I do not like social media. I can go days without looking at any of my social media accounts. I can't remember the last time I was on my Instagram account. I check Facebook because I get irritated seeing a bunch of notifications on my phone. Then there is Twitter, or as I call it, my “sports app.” I have had a Twitter for approximately a year. I follow a handful of sports writers because I love to get the latest sports updates and breaking news. Yet, I have never tweeted!

One of the main reasons I do not like social media is because I do not like to see the mundane details of people’s everyday lives. More importantly, I am an extremely private person. I do not like to be the center of attention, share my opinions, or put any aspect of my life on display. As you can imagine, hearing I was going to have to actually use my Twitter and start tweeting was quite unsettling for me. Having to share my opinions on a discussion board or blog is difficult enough. But, to have to actually start tweeting for the public to see…yikes!

I decided to create a new Twitter account that I could use for educational purposes. I was shocked at how easy it was to find educators who teach in the field I teach in. As stated in the text book, Twitter is popular with educators. I have heard this before, but I clearly had no idea about all the resources Twitter has to offer.

I teach technology and have a hard time finding new programs, tools, and lessons to keep up with all the changing trends. I am constantly looking online and exhausting every resource I have available to keep my class up-to-date.To say I had low expectations for Twitter would be an understatement. However, I was amazed that I found technology teachers who teach the exact same programs and courses that I teach. I am starting to realize that this may become a huge asset to my technology courses. As this graphic organizer states (http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/08/10-reasons-why-teachers-use-twitter-as.html), I can collaborate with experts in my field and find out what makes other teacher's classrooms effective.

I realize students today are changing with tides of technology. If I am going to be an effective educator I am going to have to change and adapt my practices too, starting with Twitter. I know this will not be easy for me. There will be a transitional period where I have to get accustomed to the different routines of Twitter and other social media. But above all, I know that once I step outside my comfort zone and get settled in, I will be able to take this resource and run with it.

Twitter Username: KDecarli

Fighting the Online Monster

But, it really is not so much of a monster as it is a convenience.  While some teachers grew up with a rotary phone, the transition from the quill and ink was a lot slower. We are now faced with a more rapidly advancing technology.

One of the biggest sticking points from the reading was when it mentioned that technology is not scarce anymore. Any resource we need is at our fingertips. Web browsers are free. We are not even limited to our computers anymore. There are tons of free, open-source, software available for anyone to use. Beginners can look online and find tutorials to teach them how to use and utilize a new program.

As I am constantly talking to other educators in the district I work in, I am amazed at how often I hear Twitter being used as a resource. I often hear that it is the “go-to” resource for many teachers. I started to ask myself, “ How can I use Twitter in the classroom?” Here is a video that I watched about how to use Twitter in the classroom and how it works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQv1PR2BKk8

In order to keep students engaged, classes need to relate to them in the world they live in. Not only can we include resources that are free to us, peer learning networks can also be used to improve classroom collaboration and facilitate group learning as well as extending the classroom beyond school. In order to do this, teachers need to be willing to adapt their instructional strategies to meet the needs of every student.

While face-to-face interaction is still important, social networks and online communities are becoming the go to way to connect to students in a new way.  Group assignments are no longer as limited by the time that class provides.  Social media can give each student more of a voice in their own learning and helps ensure participation.   

The flip side to this coin is teaching students about credible knowledge sources. While someone on Twitter may be entertaining, the posters opinion may not be based on many facts.  Luckily, there are much more beneficial ways to utilize those resources.  For instance, you can look up the latest and greatest products on Twitter and research them on Google.

Don't fight the monster, write it.

(Professional Learning Networks Chapters 1 and 2)