Social media is like the elephant in the technology driven classroom. We all know it's there, most of us use it, yet somehow it's not quite being used within the teaching realm yet. It's a fine line of inappropriate and useful. The use of social media within the classroom would have to be monitored closely not only by the educator but also by parents and administration.
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
Email, teacher or classroom website, Blogs, Online Discussions, and Wikis are just a few ways to utilize social media within the classroom. The first thought that comes to my mind when hearing this is how students would be able to communicate with the teacher after school hours, this leaves little opportunity for excuses to not have things done. Assuming that the teacher was able to check this at least within specific hours each night, they would be able to communicate to answer any questions the student may have. However, it also leaves little time for the teacher to unwind after an already hectic work day.
While teachers would be able to communicate with students, they would also be able to communicate with other teachers they would not normally have access to. In one of my observations the teacher asked if I would be interested in joining a closed Facebook group of elementary school teachers, they share lessons, ideas, what works for them, what does not work for them, and also the occasional moral support.
SHARING INFORMATION WITH FAMILIES
This is a concept that I like, and will most certainly use within my classroom. Being able to communicate with families instantly is to me a game changer within the classroom. One of my core beliefs is that education is a full circle, I can only do so much as an educator if I do not have the help of the family at home. By using a form of social media within the classroom, we can engage parents in the students classroom. I was at lunch with a mom friend of mine the other day and her daughters preschool class has a private instagram for the parents. They are able to see photos, lessons, activities, a sort of 'behind the scenes' look into her daughters preschool education. I thought this was such a neat idea. Another potential benefit is that while it would be great if students could be in school everyday of the year, it is not a perfect world and sometimes life and emergencies happen, By being able to communicate with parents, the student could continue to stay in the know and keep up with lessons, even if they are not able to make it into the school.
WEBSITES AND BLOGS FOR TEACHERS
Just like this website, 'Blogger', it is an excellent way for students to reiterate and discuss in their own words what they have learned. What I find particularly beneficial in these lessons, is that is is more laid-back than a normal assignment. Instead of being hung-up on formatting, grammar, every little detail, I feel like I am more able to speak freely and communicate with the professor. In return, I learn far more than if I were writing a formal paper on each chapter. The other aspect of a blog for students, is that many students can contribute. In fact, everyone can log on to look at their blog. Parents can simply check-in to see what their child is learning, Teachers can keep up with progress, Administrators can monitor for efficiency, and see what the teachers and students are up to. Blogs are an excellent way for everyone to stay engaged in the learning environment of the student.
No comments:
Post a Comment