Essential Question: Is there more to social networks than meets the eye? What is their role in education?
Social Networks are much more than you see on the surface. When social networks became popular we started with My Space and then it seems like everyone moved to Facebook and twitter. Facebook if you do not know what it is looks like just a fun site to post daily information or useless nonsence. But, it is more. On a pure social level it is a place to get back in touch with old friends, family and people you havel lost touch with over the years. In a business manner, it is a way to give information about their product or service in a way everyone of all ages could gain information. It allows peole to see there product or service and like it, dislike, comment and find out pertinent information about the company. When using a social network for personal social use or for business there is alot that if used correctly one can gain from these networks.
These networks seem to be changing daily in their uses. I feel that social networks are becoming more popular everyday in education. Something that was once taboo in schools like facebook is now being used. Some educators use it to make class sites. This allows the teacher to communicate with the students in an enviorment the students are using anyway daily and one they are comfortable. Some teachers post assignments, activities, creative projects, and they could even post the recognition of student accomplishments. After class this past week, I can even see how twitter could play a role in education. It seems that we much change with the times. Social networks are growing and have many uses. We need to be creative with the lessons and uses of the networks in education.
Only issue with using social networks in education is having the access to technology. Not every school or student has the ability to access technology. Some schools like ours has limited access and this could be challenging when trying to use social networks in a classroom. I would love to implement some of the cool activities that I have heard and read about, but being able to do them correctly without any technology issues may not allow this to happen.
I liked your point about social media is becoming more and more accepted in education where in the past it has been labeled taboo. One of the technology departments goals is to integrate technology. The goal is to offer support and tutelage to teachers who are wanting and willing to take on technology projects.
ReplyDeleteI also liked your point of view about Marketing and Social Media... It's a great way to target a particular audience.....
I agree with the concerns that Stacy raises in her last paragraph. A teacher is still going to have to strike a balance between traditional teaching methods and technology based methods.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Stacy about the need to use technology in the classroom incuding the use of social networking. Again, after researching my article "Using Technology as a Learning Tool, not Just the Cool New Thing," I believe that we need to use technology effectively and not just not just for the sake of just using it. For example, making sure that the technology we are using is fundamental to the lessons that we are teaching.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the importance of social media for business gain. It's a great format to get yourself out to the public and it helps build public relations. In a class like marketing I could see this working out well.
ReplyDeleteI concur. Social networking is an innovative idea for the classroom but we still have many barriers to fully embrace it- the lack of technology of ALL students and the fear of safety. This world has become fast paced so I think it is only a matter of time that we will laugh at how are archaic we used to be.
ReplyDeleteWhile doing Todd's Twitter scavenger hunt I heard a teacher state how lame we were for not all having i-phones. We may not all be able to afford them, but somehow our students do... even the ones that ask us to buy a notebook and writing utencil for them. Is the day of paper and pencil over?
I know your question about the day of the paper and pencil being over was rhetorical, but.... When I write assignments on the whiteboard, I now have a large proportion of students snap a picture of them on their phones. I'm pretty leery about the use of photography in the classroom (it's a legal issue), but I welcomed this use of it, especially in my many special education students. Those who have encoding issues are able to take pictures far easier than write assignments, and those with organizational issues or ADHD don't lose the assignment because their phone is always with them.
ReplyDeleteAdding a component in which we teachers are able to interact with the students is clearly coming our way. I'd like to be able to "invade" their texting world somehow.