Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Links from my comment in Lisa's post
Hi all! So I tried to include links in my comment on Lisa's blog post this week, but apparently I didn't do it correctly. Sorry about that. Thought I would post them here in case anyone wanted to take a look.
Here is the youtube video
And here is the link to the article from our reading for this week
Here is the youtube video
And here is the link to the article from our reading for this week
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Feedback for digital story...
Please click here for the link to the feedback form for my digital story! Thanks for your opinions!
Monday, November 28, 2011
This Week's Readings
So... I decided to mix up the order a bit...I am going to answer question # 2 first! : )
2) What should a teacher's professional online presence look like and how should they separate their online professional lives from their online personal lives?
It is my opinion, that a teachers online presence should really be kept to a minimum. It is difficult to separate our online professional lives from our online personal lives. I have a Facebook account, but I don't go on it much. Right now it will be used as a way of communicating with my brother-in-law (who is leaving for Afghanistan at 11:30 tonight).
Most of us, if not all, have a Facebook account. I never accept friend requests from students, current or former. I am also not friends with parents of any students. Sure, they (kids and parents) find us eventually, but I have no qualms about declining a friend request. I may send a message back explaining why, but that is the extent of my communication with students and parents via this type of social media.
I also make sure I don't post anything negative or specific about school. I know we have the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, but that hasn't protected teachers, or superintendents, from being fired or forced to resign over comments they have made on Facebook. Sure I felt for Dr. June Talvitie-Siple - she lost her job over a few posts on Facebook (as linked previously) (Boston News 2010). She may have been joking or the post may have been taken out of context, but that doesn't change the fact of how the comment was perceived by parents and by students. I honestly don't think I would have been too happy to read that comment if I were a student or parent in that district. We are public figures, whether we like it or not. Every move we make is scrutinized, whether private or professional. We are roll models to our students. We should know better than to post negative comments about our jobs or students - it's just not a professional thing to do...also, you never know for sure who is going to see it. Just because you only share posts with friends, doesn't mean that other people won't find out what you have written. How can we be assured that a friend reading our posts doesn't share them with someone else? Bottom line is, you can't. I think it sucks, but that's the way it is. The precedence has been set...we can be fired for what we say on Facebook. I don't agree with it, but what can I do about it?
As for separating our online personal and professional lives, it is a very difficult thing to do. As I am sure you have already figured out, I do not believe in friending students or parents on Facebook. I think this can lead to nothing but trouble. However, I do completely understand what Mallory was saying in her blog this week. She has been friends with a parent since high school and now she has been advised to de-friend her because she now has the woman's child in class. That is a difficult situation and I feel for her.
I currently use a blog and email to communicate with my students. I am also working on a website which I am hoping to begin using with my class after the new year. That is the extent of my professional online life. I want to keep it simple - nothing too complicated. I don't want to overwhelm myself or my students. It is also difficult to communicate with my students online as many of them do not have access to the internet or computers at home. Most of our online communication is done within the classroom (they post on the blog during class and I respond).
Question # 1:
1) Identify at least two ways that social networking and/or social bookmarking can be used in the classroom for collaborative purposes.
There are so many ways that social networking and/or social bookmarking can be used in the classroom for collaborative purposes! And as Kessler (2010) write in her article, "Social media is not going away." Since it seems to be here to stay, we may as well try to embrace and use it. In fact, many of our students are probably more familiar with social networking media than we are.
Here are some ways I think social networking or bookmaking can be used in the classroom:
1) I am already using a blog (http://kidblog.org/SawickisSuperstars/) as a tool in which my students communicate about what they are reading. The absolutely love the sight. They can't wait to get on the blog and post about what they have read. Sometimes I have them answer a specific question, while other times, I simply ask them to share their thoughts about the book. It is also free and easy to use - plus, I get full control over postings and comments, so if a child is misusing the site, I can head them off at the pass and keep it from being posted.
2) You can use social bookmarking as a way to bookmark pages for students to use for research. For example, if I were going to ask my students to do a report on a specific topic, I can go onto the computer and create a list using a social bookmark that my students can then use. I can use the list to focus my students on reliable and appropriate websites, rather than just having them go to Google and do a keyword search.
3) Students can also email penpals from around the world. I may also allow select students to email my brother-in-law as he serves in Afghanistan.
4) You can use Edmodo to network with students.
As I was researching sites to try to answer this question, I came across http://www.edmodo.com/. It is a Facebook-like site for education. It allows teachers to communicate with students online. It's basically Facebook for education. Teachers can use it to poll students, post assignments, share grades and updates, and hold conversations. It seems like a site worth looking into. I am certainly going to take some more time to look it over. You can also read more about it here.
References:
Kessler, Sarah (2010). The Case for Social Media Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2010/09/29/social-media-in-school/
2) What should a teacher's professional online presence look like and how should they separate their online professional lives from their online personal lives?
It is my opinion, that a teachers online presence should really be kept to a minimum. It is difficult to separate our online professional lives from our online personal lives. I have a Facebook account, but I don't go on it much. Right now it will be used as a way of communicating with my brother-in-law (who is leaving for Afghanistan at 11:30 tonight).
Most of us, if not all, have a Facebook account. I never accept friend requests from students, current or former. I am also not friends with parents of any students. Sure, they (kids and parents) find us eventually, but I have no qualms about declining a friend request. I may send a message back explaining why, but that is the extent of my communication with students and parents via this type of social media.
I also make sure I don't post anything negative or specific about school. I know we have the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, but that hasn't protected teachers, or superintendents, from being fired or forced to resign over comments they have made on Facebook. Sure I felt for Dr. June Talvitie-Siple - she lost her job over a few posts on Facebook (as linked previously) (Boston News 2010). She may have been joking or the post may have been taken out of context, but that doesn't change the fact of how the comment was perceived by parents and by students. I honestly don't think I would have been too happy to read that comment if I were a student or parent in that district. We are public figures, whether we like it or not. Every move we make is scrutinized, whether private or professional. We are roll models to our students. We should know better than to post negative comments about our jobs or students - it's just not a professional thing to do...also, you never know for sure who is going to see it. Just because you only share posts with friends, doesn't mean that other people won't find out what you have written. How can we be assured that a friend reading our posts doesn't share them with someone else? Bottom line is, you can't. I think it sucks, but that's the way it is. The precedence has been set...we can be fired for what we say on Facebook. I don't agree with it, but what can I do about it?
As for separating our online personal and professional lives, it is a very difficult thing to do. As I am sure you have already figured out, I do not believe in friending students or parents on Facebook. I think this can lead to nothing but trouble. However, I do completely understand what Mallory was saying in her blog this week. She has been friends with a parent since high school and now she has been advised to de-friend her because she now has the woman's child in class. That is a difficult situation and I feel for her.
I currently use a blog and email to communicate with my students. I am also working on a website which I am hoping to begin using with my class after the new year. That is the extent of my professional online life. I want to keep it simple - nothing too complicated. I don't want to overwhelm myself or my students. It is also difficult to communicate with my students online as many of them do not have access to the internet or computers at home. Most of our online communication is done within the classroom (they post on the blog during class and I respond).
Question # 1:
1) Identify at least two ways that social networking and/or social bookmarking can be used in the classroom for collaborative purposes.
There are so many ways that social networking and/or social bookmarking can be used in the classroom for collaborative purposes! And as Kessler (2010) write in her article, "Social media is not going away." Since it seems to be here to stay, we may as well try to embrace and use it. In fact, many of our students are probably more familiar with social networking media than we are.
Here are some ways I think social networking or bookmaking can be used in the classroom:
1) I am already using a blog (http://kidblog.org/SawickisSuperstars/) as a tool in which my students communicate about what they are reading. The absolutely love the sight. They can't wait to get on the blog and post about what they have read. Sometimes I have them answer a specific question, while other times, I simply ask them to share their thoughts about the book. It is also free and easy to use - plus, I get full control over postings and comments, so if a child is misusing the site, I can head them off at the pass and keep it from being posted.
2) You can use social bookmarking as a way to bookmark pages for students to use for research. For example, if I were going to ask my students to do a report on a specific topic, I can go onto the computer and create a list using a social bookmark that my students can then use. I can use the list to focus my students on reliable and appropriate websites, rather than just having them go to Google and do a keyword search.
3) Students can also email penpals from around the world. I may also allow select students to email my brother-in-law as he serves in Afghanistan.
4) You can use Edmodo to network with students.
As I was researching sites to try to answer this question, I came across http://www.edmodo.com/. It is a Facebook-like site for education. It allows teachers to communicate with students online. It's basically Facebook for education. Teachers can use it to poll students, post assignments, share grades and updates, and hold conversations. It seems like a site worth looking into. I am certainly going to take some more time to look it over. You can also read more about it here.
References:
Kessler, Sarah (2010). The Case for Social Media Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2010/09/29/social-media-in-school/
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Week 1 Readings
New Literacies
Like most of you, when I heard the term "new literacy," my mind immediately went to technology (after all, we are taking a course on technology). As far as a definition goes, it seems that people cannot agree. I feel that new literacy encompasses the broad spectrum of technology-based reading and writing activites (internet, video games, email, cellphones, etc). As long as technology keeps changing, then so too will the definition of "new literacy."
It has had a profound impact on our students (How many of you have had students turn in papers containing "text-speak?"). As long as technology keeps changing, so will our teaching practices. So many of our students know more about computers and the internet than we do (as Lisa mentioned in her blog. I have had the same student help me with technology issues as well). How can we possibly keep up? On the flip side, we do need to educate our students about new literacies, yet how can we do that when we do not have the technology in our classrooms (especially those of us who teach in poorer districts)? Many of my students do not know how to properly compose an email, while students in my husband's more affluent district continuously correspond with their teachers in this manner.
NETS for Students
NETS for students outlines what students will be expected to be able to do with technology. It's purpose it to prepare them for the digital 21st century, particularly jobs. NETS for teachers outlines what we will be expected/required to teach or model for our students when dealing with technology. I have to admit that I was a bit overwhelmed when reading about NETS in general. I don't feel like I am prepared to help my students to meet all the demands that will be placed on them without more funding and supplies. I am not prepared to teach or model many of these things for/to my students since I have not been trained in them. Quite frankly, the NETS have got me feeling more than a little anxiety. I am sincerely hoping that this course will help out my mind at ease.
As for incorporating NETS into my classroom, I have already set up and begun to use a blog (kidblog.org) with my enrichment students. They are currently reading two different books and blog each day regarding their thoughts or in response to a question I have posted on my own blog. I have to say that the kids are really excited about using it. At first, they thought the site was lame when I modeled how to use it, but once they were able to try it out, they went wild. I am actually rather in love with the site as well, as it lets me as the administrator preview their posts and comments and then approve them before their fellow students can read them. I have already caught a few comments that needed to be removed as they were not pertinent to the conversation.
I have also shown my students how to create a power point presentation and will be teaching them how to research a topic on the internet. Not only will they have to research, but they will also have to be able to determine whether or not the site is a reliable one.
I am looking forward to learning new ways to incorporate new literacies into my classroom. ^_^
Like most of you, when I heard the term "new literacy," my mind immediately went to technology (after all, we are taking a course on technology). As far as a definition goes, it seems that people cannot agree. I feel that new literacy encompasses the broad spectrum of technology-based reading and writing activites (internet, video games, email, cellphones, etc). As long as technology keeps changing, then so too will the definition of "new literacy."
It has had a profound impact on our students (How many of you have had students turn in papers containing "text-speak?"). As long as technology keeps changing, so will our teaching practices. So many of our students know more about computers and the internet than we do (as Lisa mentioned in her blog. I have had the same student help me with technology issues as well). How can we possibly keep up? On the flip side, we do need to educate our students about new literacies, yet how can we do that when we do not have the technology in our classrooms (especially those of us who teach in poorer districts)? Many of my students do not know how to properly compose an email, while students in my husband's more affluent district continuously correspond with their teachers in this manner.
NETS for Students
NETS for students outlines what students will be expected to be able to do with technology. It's purpose it to prepare them for the digital 21st century, particularly jobs. NETS for teachers outlines what we will be expected/required to teach or model for our students when dealing with technology. I have to admit that I was a bit overwhelmed when reading about NETS in general. I don't feel like I am prepared to help my students to meet all the demands that will be placed on them without more funding and supplies. I am not prepared to teach or model many of these things for/to my students since I have not been trained in them. Quite frankly, the NETS have got me feeling more than a little anxiety. I am sincerely hoping that this course will help out my mind at ease.
As for incorporating NETS into my classroom, I have already set up and begun to use a blog (kidblog.org) with my enrichment students. They are currently reading two different books and blog each day regarding their thoughts or in response to a question I have posted on my own blog. I have to say that the kids are really excited about using it. At first, they thought the site was lame when I modeled how to use it, but once they were able to try it out, they went wild. I am actually rather in love with the site as well, as it lets me as the administrator preview their posts and comments and then approve them before their fellow students can read them. I have already caught a few comments that needed to be removed as they were not pertinent to the conversation.
I have also shown my students how to create a power point presentation and will be teaching them how to research a topic on the internet. Not only will they have to research, but they will also have to be able to determine whether or not the site is a reliable one.
I am looking forward to learning new ways to incorporate new literacies into my classroom. ^_^
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