Using social online networks in teaching
Personal reflection:
Step 1 (Descriptive stage): Looking at this topic, the first thing I did was panic because I felt 'hang on! I don't even use social networks in my classes! I am not supposed to!' Then I went back to the survey we had undertaken previously and looked at the readings and discovered that I am an idiot! Social online networking DOES NOT only mean Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. Hallelujah!
As such, I have used the following digital platforms in my classroom:
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| (CartoonStock, 2018) |
As such, I have used the following digital platforms in my classroom:
- Google Classrooms: For all teaching and learning sessions. All classroom activities.
- MHJC Online: All teaching and learning plans are available online; all assessments etc are online.
- Blogger: Digitally collaborative writing activities
- Google Maps: Part of literature class: settings, history, etc.
- Pinterest: Idea search for creative activities, etc.
- Netflix: Videos/ Films for analysis, learning, etc.
- YouTube: Videos/ Films/ Music for analysis, learning, etc.
- TEDEd: Videos for analysis, learning, etc.
- Google docs: Digitally collaborative writing activities
- Prezi: Digitally collaborative presentations for learning and creation of slides.
- GoogleSlides: Digitally collaborative presentations for learning and creation of slides.
- GoogleSheets: Digitally collaborative sheets for learning and creation of sheets.
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| When I see what social online networks I use in my classrooms- mind blown! (Imgflip LLC, 2018) |
Step 2 (Comparative stage):
Kathy Cassidy (TedEd., n.d.) in "Using Social Media in the Classroom" discusses how she uses social media in the classroom and whoa! Talk about a-mazing! I would be afraid to use actual social media media in my classroom because it expects so much policing from teachers. I did not think I wanted to add that much to my already overtaxed responsibilities but the level of engagement from Kathy's kids does raise the question of whether this would work as well with older kids who are more susceptible to the dark side of the internet.
But as Whittaker, Zoul and Cassas (2015) state: “The global society in which we live has changed dramatically in the past few decades and we must be prepared to model for our students and for our colleagues a willingness to embrace this change.” This means I should not be afraid of using social media in my classroom more expansively because of some long held traditional belief that "technology spoils educative experiences".
Step 3 (critical reflection):
- What are the implications for using social media in teaching?
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| (Concordia University, 2018) |
As far as I know, we are not encouraged to use social media much in our schools because our students are under 15 and cannot (legality) or are not allowed have such accounts (by parents). But using Cassidy's example and information from Whittaker, Zoul and Cassas (2015), I feel like I am missing the boat.
- In what ways does this reflective process inform and change your perspective?
Reading Douglas Price's article on Friday Institute (2017) also pointed out how social media could be used to connect students to the world (turn it into a global village), make them feel like they are a part of a community (physical and digital) as well as help me (the teacher) and the learners create meaningful relationships with other stakeholders.
This particular reflective process has has changed my perspective about the role of social media in the classroom. I still believe that Social Media is a sleeping monster that can destroy a lot and needs to be closely monitored and managed in the classroom so as to minimise issues that can arise. "To prevent these issues from arising, school boards, teachers, and administrators should develop a code of behavior that extends to visible social networking sites." (Concordia University, 2018).
I believe I will be looking at ways of increasing the use of this in my classes (but with a safety net) and I am happy that I can do better today than same time last year, all thanks to this MindLab course.
References:
CartoonStock. (2018). Mclassroom Management. Retrieved from: https://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/m/mclassroom_management.asp
Concordia University. (2018). Social Media In Education: Benefits, Drawbacks and Things to Avoid. Retrieved: https://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/leaders-link/educational-social-media-use/
Imgflip LLC. (2018). Mind Blowing. Retrieved from: https://imgflip.com/i/1odwq2
TedEd. (n.d.). Using Social Media in the Classroom. Retrieved from: https://ed.ted.com/on/LY83ADUs
Whitaker, T., Zoul, J., & Casas, J. (2015). What connected educators do differently. New York, NY: Routledge.
I believe I will be looking at ways of increasing the use of this in my classes (but with a safety net) and I am happy that I can do better today than same time last year, all thanks to this MindLab course.
CartoonStock. (2018). Mclassroom Management. Retrieved from: https://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/m/mclassroom_management.asp
Concordia University. (2018). Social Media In Education: Benefits, Drawbacks and Things to Avoid. Retrieved: https://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/leaders-link/educational-social-media-use/
Imgflip LLC. (2018). Mind Blowing. Retrieved from: https://imgflip.com/i/1odwq2
TedEd. (n.d.). Using Social Media in the Classroom. Retrieved from: https://ed.ted.com/on/LY83ADUs
Whitaker, T., Zoul, J., & Casas, J. (2015). What connected educators do differently. New York, NY: Routledge.
Hi Seema,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great, honest reflection. Social Media isn't that scary if you introduce it at your pace, with what is comfortable. A really great way is using Twitter, even if it's just a class account that you use and the students can use. It has the power to create great buy into learning. I believe a lot of social media has restrictions to the age of 13, where you are legally able to have an email account - unless you are under the GAFE umbrella. Another option would be to look into chapter chat. If you are at a high school, I'm not aware of one that caters for senior students - perhaps something you could begin! This is run by Twitter for feedback, ideas and sharing. It is also used on Facebook.
Best wishes and take the plunge - give it a go!
Thanks for your comments, Johanna. I will do this... next goal here we come! Class Twitter pages sounds like a small step in the right direction (I hope). And I will look at chapter chats as soon as I get some down time. My kids are 11-14 years old mostly which is why I am weary of social media.
DeleteBut... I hear you and I will take the plunge! 😀
A good read Seema. I thought I had used social media very little but I have used many of the tools you talk about too. I teach at high school level and would like to implement some kind of online discussion group into my classroom next year as part of a blended learning approach. My challenge will be to actually make it useful to my students and relevant to their learning, otherwise I suspect they will not see the point and be reluctant to participate. Johanna's suggestion of Twitter is an interesting one. I had been thinking about creating a Google+ community but the students might find Twitter more fun. I like your comment about SM being a sleeping giant. I too am concerned about the impact of digital technology on our students well-being and feel very strongly that teacher must use it judiciously to ensure we are not part of the problem. Good luck in your social media journey.
ReplyDeleteThat is a really great reflection Claire. The students are using social media at home and we have no control over their use of it. Part of our role as educators is to educate our students to use digital technology safely and to be excellent digital citizens. What better way to model this, and how to behave online, than via social media - within the safety of the classroom. Google+ and Twitter would be great avenues to pursue this.
DeleteHi Seema,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog and the refreshing way in which you reflect. I too thought, help !!, I don't really use social media myself let alone with my students. After taking the survey I realised that my definition of Social Media was a little skewed so I sought out this definition.
“Social networking sites have been seminally defined as web-based
services that allow individuals to:
(1) Construct a public or semi-public profile within a
bounded system,
(2) Articulate a list of other users with whom they share a
connection, and
(3) View and traverse their list of connections and those
made by others within the system (Boyd & Ellison,
2007, para. 4).
Taken from a great book Bower, M. (2017). Design of technology-enhanced learning : integrating research and practice. Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com
Created from unitec on 2018-11-24 20:01:53.
I was reassured that I too in fact use a number of similar digital tools as yourself but I’m still not quite convinced I’m maximising their potential or using them as a social media platform.
I have introduced Seesaw and intend to increase its use to include making more connections outside the classroom by including their parents and stakeholders.
With reference to the sleeping monster I feel in some way that is why I would like to pursue the idea of social media in my classroom further. Like Johanna I would like to provide the students an opportunity to learn how to conduct themselves in a safe and responsible way. It will allow discussions of appropriate use, language, images and will open the conversation about digital footprint and the lasting effects of what they post/publish now. The more conversations they have on these topics the better.
If you are looking for a a good social media platform as a training environment Edmodo is a great application. You can set it so you are able to moderate all posts and replies and therefore can talk with the student about their post before it is published. You can lock your class to prevent others joining and it works quite similar to Google Classroom in facilitating a flipped/ blended programme. Good luck on your journey.
Jane Wooster