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)
(Professional Learning Networks Chapters 1 and 2)
Twitter is a resource that I am not as comfortable with. I never got into Twitter like I did Facebook or some of the other PLNs out there. Twitter is very intimidating! The video you posted though, was very helpful! I had no idea that they had Twitter chats. Understanding the lingo of Twitter was helpful, too. My students talk about Twitter, and I feel out of the loop. I was able to see ways in which Twitter could be used of professional development and as engaging classroom activities.
ReplyDeleteI liked your point about group assignments. We are no longer confined to the classroom or just posters. There is so much more available to us, and chances are that our students are familiar with the tools that can be used. Just last week, my students were helping me with Instagram and ways to post things! Our students understand this technological world, maybe even a little better than some of us do!
Jen,
DeleteI am not too into Twitter either. I have a Twitter, but I never use it. But, I keep hearing all these educators talk about how they are using it as a powerful resource. I’m definitely going to give it another try!
Students really do know a lot about technology. There are times that I don’t know how to do something on my phone or something little on my computer, so I just ask them! Students can at times be a powerful resource too. Technology changes so much that I always give students the option to use another program than the one we are using in my technology class. They have showed me some really need tools and resources that they have found.
I got 5 iPads for my classroom and have 50 different apps on them. That’s too many apps for me to learn. One assignment I am going to do is have an “appy hour.” They will learn about an app on the iPad, and then will present it to the class with a partner. One teacher in my district does this and says it goes over really well with the students. Very excited to try it!
I too am going to have to familiarize myself with Twitter....by asking my elementary ed students....haha! Not only am I amazed at how much kids know about technology, I am actually jealous by the sheer amount that they own! After Christmas kids were telling me about their new phones, ipad, etc. Sometimes I am actually embarrassed that I don't have the newest phone! I mean I don't have a flip phone for crying out loud, but I don't have the iPhone 6 either!
DeleteAlso, I LOVE the idea of "Appy hour" (I mean I would enjoy happy hour better, but....)! I don't have that many apps on my iPads in the classroom, but the ones I do have I know nothing about! I really have tried to play some of the games on there, but I just don't understand them like the kids do! Thanks for the great idea!
I like how you mentioned atht twitter gives students a voice. Wouldn't it be awesome if we did exit slips or homework assignments through Twitter? You can see the time it was posted as well as make a hashtag for the assignment. It gives all students a voice. I have has younger students who chose not to speak to people (only two close friends). She still talks in the hallway to her friends and then stop talking when she sees someone else (like me--so silly!)
ReplyDeleteAshley,
ReplyDeleteI never thought of doing exit slips on Twitter! Great idea! It is very frustrating to have students who you know talk with their friends, but then will not talk in class. Then again, I was the same way. Super shy and hated talking in front of people! I would have participated more in class if we had the same tools when we were in school.
Add me to the list of educators who believes that Twitter is THE go-to resource for all things educational! One thing that I like to do is to virtually attend a tech conference through Twitter. I simply discover the hashtag for the conference and follow the hashtag to discover all the resources and information that conference attendees are tweeting. I like to collect and organize all the resources then share those with my PLN. I get to "attend" the conference from my recliner :-) Here is an example of my recliner resources for ISTE11: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iAFbyHnyZWiaropMm4vqKBBAwBVl12utuNXOdTTIOWg/edit?authkey=CKKnzWo&authkey=CKKnzWo This document was shared and retweeted to thousand of educators.
ReplyDeleteThank you! What a great list of resources! I'm going to add that to my Diigo for sure.
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