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sgtpezzer

Modeling Constructive Online Behavior | Edutopia - 12 views

www.edutopia.org/...e-online-behavior-david-cutler

shared by sgtpezzer on 02 Mar 16 - No Cached
  • I model creating a positive digital footprint by making effective use of social networking and blogging. I owe my students that much -- after all, if they don't take control of their online identities, someone else will.
    • lgbeeson
      lgbeeson on 02 Mar 16
       
      This is so helpful and true, we need to model appropriate and responsible use to help guide our students properly when it comes to developing an online identity, and I don't think that so many educators should be so negative about social media when many of them do not really understand much about it at all, and only seek to demonize and limit students' access. - L. Beeson
    • minder410
      minder410 on 09 Mar 16
       
      I think this raises a good point. Someone can have an image of who you are without even a word; all they have to do is look you up on social media. I make sure that my Facebook and Instagram are appropriate in case parents or anyone searches for me. I am proud for what I put out in the social media world. I try to have a positive message and I believe others should too. M. Paul
  • More than anything else, I want students to share their passions and interests with the world.
    • lgbeeson
      lgbeeson on 02 Mar 16
       
      I hope to have a class blog that encourges collaboration helps to provide students with a positive model for understanding what appropriate and positive blogging is and how it can be use to involve others within that community, because we want to create inclusive communities to involve students and families in the thing we are doing within the classroom. I like the idea of having students blog as a component of their free writing, to share their work and knowledge with a larger audience than only within the classroom. - L. Beeson
    • jwhetzel
      jwhetzel on 04 Mar 16
       
      Sound like a great idea.  Students can learn from one another and use higher order thinking skills to comment on and evaluate others' work. J. Whetzel
  • I do not accept friend requests from students or recent graduates
    • shannon_alvarez
      shannon_alvarez on 03 Mar 16
       
      If social media isn't bad, why do we exclude students from becoming our "friends"? By excluding students from our page, aren't we inherently telling them there is something wrong with social media?
    • jwhetzel
      jwhetzel on 04 Mar 16
       
      We are protecting ourselves by creating a healthy boundary. Students need to see teachers as teachers, someone they can learn from and go to for advice and help, not as a friend. Showing students your Facebook page, models good web behavior, but maintains boundary. 
    • Kelly VandenBosche
      Kelly VandenBosche on 04 Mar 16
       
      I accept requests from graduated students. However, I do not send them requests or message them without them messaging me first. I have also carefully curated my facebook profile to be student-friendly.
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I never accept friend requests from current or former students. My private social media use is about my private life. Students should not know everything that I do outside of the school setting. C. Spina
    • juliawisniewski
      juliawisniewski on 05 Mar 16
       
      I think there is a fine line for teachers and social media. I agree that students should wait until graduation before friend requesting their teachers, and that a teacher's Facebook page should always remain student friendly! -Julia Wisniewski
    • wenwahl
      wenwahl on 05 Mar 16
       
      I have read different articles about this topic. The opinions pieces have all stated that there is a certain wisdom in drawing a line when you are in a professional position. These articles applied to many professions, not just teachers. I think there are certain relationships and situations that are exceptions though. It is for each person to make that determination. It is always a good idea to make proper content choices with what you are posting but even what you think to be proper content could be viewed in a different light  depending upon who is viewing it. (W.Kerr)
    • lgbeeson
      lgbeeson on 06 Mar 16
       
      I think that this is a personal decision that teachers need to make. The professional and ethical guidelines for teachers are quite clear. But you need to examine the example that your Facebook might be for your young students, and decide whether you feel it is appropriate to share it as as model that would make accessible for your students. If you have any concern about the way you utilize Facebook as a part of your digital and offline life, you might be better off keeping it private and not mentioning it to students. - L. Beeson
    • pilar_fradin
      pilar_fradin on 06 Mar 16
       
      I don't think my Facebook profile needs to be "student friendly" whatsoever because I am entitled to my private and personal life! We are not showing an example of Facebook being bad by not accepting our students, rather we are demonstrating how powerful privacy can be and that they should understand how to protect their privacy from certain people as well.  I love my students, I love my job, but I do not need every single corner of my life to be included in my teaching career.  I do however think our Facebook profiles need to be completely private so that only our friends can see what we post.  I have made mine so privatized that not even my friends list or location is visible to the public. -P. Fradin
    • sgtpezzer
      sgtpezzer on 14 Apr 16
       
      I agree with not becoming social media friends with current or former students.  Especially in today's climate, I personally think it could lead to some ethics questions.  I have heard that some teachers will friend their former students a few years after graduation, if the student initiates contact.  Right now, my opinion is to not friend former students, but that could change in the future. - Jason Lopez
  • ...30 more annotations...
  • I encourage students to follow people that they genuinely admire and from whom they want to learn, not just celebrities, thereby contributing to a positive digital identity.
    • akenkelen
      akenkelen on 03 Mar 16
       
      I think this is a great point.  Adults and students should be reminded that social media tools are not just for following celebrities and athletes.  It is a real tool that can connect students to experts and organizations in the fields they are interested in.  Using social media to connect with a favorite author is not a "waste of time", but very proactive and engaging learning. - Alex Kenkelen (EDUC 611-901)
    • corso91
      corso91 on 05 Mar 16
       
      I completely agree Alex. Before this class I only used Twitter to follow celebrities and friends. I actually thought twitter was pretty useless to be honest. However, I was unaware of all the resources available on twitter. Twitter is much more than just a way to kill some times, it can lead you to actual organizations and resources online. -L. Corso
    • genevieve_kelly
      genevieve_kelly on 06 Mar 16
       
      Great point, Alex. This is exactly the mindset I had when entering this course. I had a twitter account, and only followed a handful of people, and they were mostly all celebrities. Never in a million years would I have considered using it for educational purposes. It's amazing to think how much my mind has been opened since the start of this class! When students are able to have access people who they look up to, their learning automatically becomes engaging. It's so exciting to be able to have a direction connection through twitter to people we admire and from which we can learn so much. -Genevieve Kelly
    • jcp323
      jcp323 on 07 Mar 16
       
      Alex i couldn't agree more. Too many people today get sucked into whats cool or popular today without taking the time to think about who they follow and why. It is important to give it some thought before following things randomly, i believe it makes the world of difference especially on an app like twitter - Jonathan Price 
  • Educators have an obligation to investigate and talk with students about social networking sites, some of which promote inappropriate, illicit behavior.
    • akenkelen
      akenkelen on 03 Mar 16
       
      This was my initial thought about social media and education.  The potential for inappropriate behavior is very high.  But now I realize that it would be much more effective to take preventive measures: a responsible technology use class or a frank discussion about the implications of having these accounts.  Doing this might save administrators from future incidents. - Alex Kenkelen (EDUC 611-901)
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I have discussed the use of Snapchat with my students numerous times. The students still do not seem to realize that what they post can be saved and shared forever. C. Spina
  • The technology is the easy part, though. The real challenge is producing quality content on a regular basis, and making wise use of social networking to promote one's work.
    • andreasantella
      andreasantella on 03 Mar 16
       
      This is why it is so important for students to have good examples of quality content and guidance in ways to achieve it.  They also need to be aware of why it is so important to be thoughtful about everything they post.  This profile could professionally make or break them.
    • lgbeeson
      lgbeeson on 06 Mar 16
       
      This is very true, and we certainly can share items that you want to further develop and improve, but you may want to keep that within a smaller critical audience, before posting and sharing it with the Internet at large. You want to share your best (and most thought-out) work when you are sharing it online. - L Beeson
    • epbraun
      epbraun on 08 Mar 16
       
      I think this would be the most challenging when it comes to blogs.  The format seems to be so casual that it can be difficult to determine what kind of information should make the cut.  I have also heard about blogs being a great business opportunity but it's definitely something that's lost on me! -E. Braun
  • This social networking site is often described as the "Facebook for professionals," but its potential is just as rich for students, who should use it to highlight their accomplishments and interests.
    • jwhetzel
      jwhetzel on 04 Mar 16
       
      I believe LinkedIn is great for HighSchool and College students to get their resume and accomplishments out to the professional world. I connect with college students when they ask so they can see my connections and maybe find someone they can connect to for networking. 
  • I disdain this tool, but I don't tell students not to use it. Such an authoritarian approach, however well meaning, rarely proves fruitful. Instead, I ask my students to discuss what assumptions, true or not, could be made about anybody who has an account.
    • Kelly VandenBosche
      Kelly VandenBosche on 04 Mar 16
       
      This is an incredibly student-centered and respectful approach. I think that discussion can go a long way to help students organize their thoughts and make thoughtful decisions.
  • produce engaging, high-quality content, the kind that makes them stand out not only to college admission officers, but also to potential employer
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I think that is incredibly important to educate our students how to properly use social media. I have had many incidents where students misused social media. Most of these students do not realize that these inappropriate posts can later negatively impact their lives. C. Spina
    • lgbeeson
      lgbeeson on 06 Mar 16
       
      I agree with you regarding the importance of educating students how to use social media properly, and if we can appropriately model how to use it, and share those examples with our students it will help them to become the responsible digital citizens of tomorrow. We need to ensure that they are taught how to utilize and use social media and technology properly so they are able to make educated choices about how they choose to utilize it within their own lives. - L. Beeson
    • epbraun
      epbraun on 08 Mar 16
       
      This is one of the big things I've been thinking about throughout this class.  Many of us in the class had a very narrow definition of social media before beginning the class.  Students need to be taught both what not to do and what to do.  I never knew that most of these resources existed but I'm glad I do now!  -E. Braun
  • I also ask if Snapchat can greatly enhance a positive digital footprint
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I feel that Snapchat can only negatively impact a student's digital footprint. The majority of Snapchat posts are inappropriate. C. Spina
    • corso91
      corso91 on 05 Mar 16
       
      I disagree with you here. Although some people may use snap chat in appropriate ways, I do not believe the majority of snaps are inappropriate- it all depends on the student using it. -L. Corso
    • lgbeeson
      lgbeeson on 06 Mar 16
       
      I do not use this tool, and honestly know very little about it, but clearly this is something I need to educate myself about better to be able to be an appropriate guide for students within my classroom. I know that many social media tools can be used inappropriately, so I need to know as much about the most popular and widely used tools, whether I think they are potentially useful or beneficial. This discussion has really helped me to realize that I need to learn more before I am able to appropriately guide my students in using different social media tools. - L. Beeson
    • prcammiso
      prcammiso on 06 Mar 16
       
      I disagree as well - I think snapchat has a poor reputation because of the ability to send something that might be inappropriate, but I think this only increases its allure to students. I think the majority of people sending snaps use it like twitter, but with pictures. - P. Cammiso 
    • genevieve_kelly
      genevieve_kelly on 06 Mar 16
       
      I also feel that it is possible to use snapchat educationally. It gets a bad rap. On the snap story page of this app, there are stories for different events and topics trending around the world. For example, there is currently a snap story about the Flint Water Crisis. CNN has a snapchat channel. Snapchat will send representatives to cover these events and topics so that the users of the app can view the happenings and videos first hand. Though I feel that snapchat ABSOLUTELY gets used for non-educational purposes, it's not all bad. -Genevieve Kelly
    • jwhetzel
      jwhetzel on 07 Mar 16
       
      I think the key to responsible Snapchat use is no different than any other social media tool, including email. Students need to learn that NOTHING goes away once it is on the internet. They need to see all internet communication as if they are postcards (if they even know what those are).  Jim Whetzel
  • I explain how my page makes a strong, lasting statement about who I am and what I value. I always think twice before sharing any content, and I tell students that before I hit "Post," I imagine friends or loved ones looking over my shoulder. What would they think?
    • juliawisniewski
      juliawisniewski on 05 Mar 16
       
      I think this is a really interesting way to look at Facebook from an educators perspective! I think that, through it is very important to not simply tell students Facebook is BAD and we should never use it, but rather give them tools and a better understanding of how to interact with others online! I think this activity is great for students to internalize and further understand the importance of digital citizenship online. -Julia Wisniewski
    • cmcguigan91
      cmcguigan91 on 05 Mar 16
       
      I definitely agree with you here Julia. It is important that we teach them how to use social media responsibly and to always think before posting. I do this all the time and consider whether or not what is posted could potentially offend someone or paint a bad picture of me in other peoples' eyes.  Carissa McGuigan
  • Along those lines, it has never been easier to create a blog and help make that sharing a reality. Wix and Weebly offer an array of templates with intuitive drag-and-drop options
    • juliawisniewski
      juliawisniewski on 05 Mar 16
       
      It is true, Weebly is such a user friendly site that really helps even the most beginners utilize tools! I have first started using Weebly this year and it is extremely beneficial to me! -Julia Wisniewski
  • anything
  • When it comes to creating a dynamic curriculum vitae, all students (especially seniors) should direct admission officers and potential employers to LinkedIn
    • juliawisniewski
      juliawisniewski on 05 Mar 16
       
      LinkedIn is a really wonderful platform in that it allows for students to connect to professional networks and possible employers! -Julia Wisniewski
    • pilar_fradin
      pilar_fradin on 06 Mar 16
       
      I have never found a use for LinkedIn, nor do I know anyone who has made connections or found employment through it.  Can you please offer your insight to me about how it is useful for us? I am truly curious! -P. Fradin
  • , I also ask if Snapchat can greatly enhance a positive digital footprint. The answer is usually a resounding "No," and I leave it to students to decide if they wish to register or keep their Snapchat accounts active.
    • cmcguigan91
      cmcguigan91 on 05 Mar 16
       
      I think this is a very social media app that should be addressed. I use snapchat but I am careful about what I post and don't feel that I ever abuse this tool. However, I do know that some people I follow post things that they feel is "ok" to post because it will supposedly be erased. What is posted on snapchat by these people could potentially ruin their careers in my opinion and I feel that if it is something you wouldn't post on facebook then you shouldn't post it on snapchat either. It is important to have this discussion with students too being that they likely use this app with their friends. I think it is vital that the students are aware that what they post is never truly lost and leaves a digital footprint that could potentially come back to haunt them depending on what it is that they post. I do feel that it is important to discuss the idea of a digital footprint and what it means and how it can impact your future regardless of which social media you use.  -Carissa McGuigan
  • Still, I'm a firm believer in using class time to show students my profile. I explain how my page makes a strong, lasting statement about who I am and what I value. I always think twice before sharing any content, and I tell students that before I hit "Post," I imagine friends or loved ones looking over my shoulder. What would they think?
  • I also ask if Snapchat can greatly enhance a positive digital footprint. The answer is usually a resounding "No," and I leave it to students to decide if they wish to register or keep their Snapchat accounts active.
    • cmcguigan91
      cmcguigan91 on 05 Mar 16
       
      I think that snapchat has more pros than cons.. I use snapchat but I am careful about what I post and don't feel that I ever abuse this tool. Snapchat is very popular today and I know many students at the highschool I student teach at use it. I do know that some people I follow from college and from the high school I attended will post things that they feel is "ok" to post because it will supposedly be erased. What is posted on snapchat by these people could potentially ruin their careers in my opinion and I feel that if it is something you wouldn't post on facebook then you shouldn't post it on snapchat either. It is important to have this discussion with students too being that they likely use this app with their friends. I think it is vital that the students are aware that what they post is never truly lost and leaves a digital footprint that could potentially come back to haunt them depending on what it is that they post. I do feel that it is important to discuss the idea of a digital footprint and what it means and how it can impact your future regardless of which social media you use.  Carissa McGuigan
    • paulabechaver
      paulabechaver on 06 Mar 16
       
      I believe this is a powerful question that could make many students opt out of this platform. Those who are just using it for fun would certainly not want to be thought as sneaky or as sending inappropriate messages.
  • Educators do students a tremendous disservice by demonizing Facebook, which can enhance a student's online presence and real-world prospects
    • justinbechaver
      justinbechaver on 06 Mar 16
       
      In today's day and age, I feel it is very important to harness social media in the classroom as it is part of every students life. While Facebook has its challenges, proper use and monitoring can be advantageous to students as they can form professional relationships beneficial with future endeavors. I believe we as teachers to to analyze various social media platforms in order to determine safe and effective use within school.
    • genevieve_kelly
      genevieve_kelly on 06 Mar 16
       
      This is so relevant! More than once, I have witnessed educators put down facebook to their students. Facebook is a forbidden tool in the classroom, and its use in an educational setting is so often frowned upon. While many aspects of facebook are not appropriate for school, teachers need to educate their students regarding how to use facebook in ways that are appropriate. Facebook can be useful for invaluable networking and professoinal opportunities. -Genevieve Kelly
  • It's also simple to upload multimedia content
    • shannonlowens
      shannonlowens on 06 Mar 16
       
      I had no idea LinkedIn had evolved to include this type of information.  I have always been under the impression that it was, essentially, a place to post your resume and "tag" those with whom you shared work experiences, etc.  ~S. Owens
  • We need to teach and encourage students to post original, outstanding content that will distinguish their unique identities in a sea of increasingly indistinguishable resumes -- which are going the way of the typewriter.
    • marjorierothman
      marjorierothman on 06 Mar 16
       
      Throughout graduate school, I have been posting original ideas. While I enjoy writing and reflecting on many topics, posting content is not the same as understanding information on a topic. I could post my thoughts on addition or subtraction, but that doesn't mean I would know how to add or subtract. I could post original thoughts on what I think or feel about music or art, but that does not mean that I understand the technicalities of art and music. I think it is a shame that education is going in the direction of carrying on about topics and knowing how to become graphic designers to design our opinions in a new and exciting way. Posting original and outstanding content on a website is not the same as creating an original and outstanding work of art. While I feel that it is helpful to know how to create eye-catching posts, I hope that doesn't take away from the time of students learning to become scientists, doctors, engineers, etc.
  • I don't follow current students on my Twitter handle, nor do I accept private messages from them.
    • pilar_fradin
      pilar_fradin on 06 Mar 16
       
      I have a Twitter solely for my PLN in education. I find it different than Facebook in that Facebook is solely for my private and personal life, and I like having a part of me that is separate from work.  However I think that Twitter is a great tool for education-as clearly does the author-and I am not sure why he wouldn't follow his students.  Wouldn't his following his students encourage them to post relevant and positive material? -P. Fradin
    • smithch89
      smithch89 on 06 Mar 16
       
      I chose this quote because it exemplifies how Twitter can be used to connect with causes. While a lot of people are concerned with what they personally post to Twitter, here is an example of what can come from Twitter when used appropriately. Furthermore, through the use of Twitter, students can form new relationships that they can learn from, which will impact their success.
  • I explain how Twitter has led to a long list of opportunities, relationships, and exchanges -- both online and in person -- contributing greatly to my personal and professional success
    • jcp323
      jcp323 on 07 Mar 16
       
      I think that it is important to show students quality Social Media accounts. Students need to see examples of people, places and events to follow. With this guidance students are far better equiped to explore the app themselves. Twitter and other Social media Apps can help you build new relationships from places and people you would have never had the opportunity to meet or have a conversation with. - Jonathan Price 
    • epbraun
      epbraun on 08 Mar 16
       
      Wow this is interesting!  I never would have thought of actually showing my own page in the classroom but reading the reasons why makes sense.  The best ways to teach students is to model and I guess this is just one way of doing that.  -E. Braun
    • laurenavasmom
      laurenavasmom on 09 Mar 16
       
      L. Williams
    • laurenavasmom
      laurenavasmom on 09 Mar 16
       
      I think this is very important to teach ourselves as well as our students about the permanency of online content as well as forming positive followings. My brother posed a question the other day about teaching students about social media responsibility because many of them are ruining their carreers before they get them because of what they post... ,...this is what he said... "Social media training needs to be a requirement in HS and college moving forward. Companies monitor that stuff. It could mean the difference between getting even an interview, getting hired, or keeping your job" Laurenavasmom less than a minute ago
  • I do, however, encourage them to observe how I engage with others to expand my network. I hope they follow suit.
    • laurenavasmom
      laurenavasmom on 09 Mar 16
       
      its great to have an account where you can lead by example - social media has created the need for totally new teachable moments
  • LinkedIn allows other users to vouch for a student's skills, lending credibility to self-reported abilities.
    • minder410
      minder410 on 09 Mar 16
       
      I think this raises a good point. One I never thought of LinkedIn to be useful for students but I am glad to now know and also it give the opportunity to show your credibility. In today's world people can really claim anything on the internet so this is a nice option so employers or networkers can know that someone is telling the truth. M. Paul
  • My aim is not to frighten students away from Facebook, but rather to help them see how their profile can lead to positive connections and real-world opportunities.
    • minder410
      minder410 on 09 Mar 16
       
      I think this raises a good point that Facebook can help make positive connections and helps network. I know I have found friends on Facebook but I have also used it for business getting out of not only our geographic area but being in the Facebook world allows people with similar interests to join your group or like you page creating a stronger global connection. M. Paul
  • Along those lines, it has never been easier to create a blog and help make that sharing a reality. Wix and Weebly offer an array of templates with intuitive drag-and-drop options
    • minder410
      minder410 on 09 Mar 16
       
      I have used Wix and Weebly and both are very easy to use and great for "non techy" people like myself, but they still offer so much to make a great finished site. M. Paul
  • I explain how my page makes a strong, lasting statement about who I am and what I value. I always think twice before sharing any content, and I tell students that before I hit "Post," I imagine friends or loved ones looking over my shoulder. What would they think?
    • sgtpezzer
      sgtpezzer on 14 Apr 16
       
      This is an excellent idea.  In my past life, before I considered becoming a teacher, I might have benefited from this advice.  Now, that I am a teacher, this is even more crucial to think about.  It needs to be reinforced in the students' minds that they need to be careful about posting online and that what you put out there, never really goes away. - Jason Lopez
  • I urge students to share digital versions of their best work to highlight their unique passion and potential
    • sgtpezzer
      sgtpezzer on 14 Apr 16
       
      This is an excellent idea, especially for the artists and writers in your class.  It cannot hurt to start building an online profile, sooner rather than later, and a student showcasing their work is a great start.  LinkedIn would be a good beginning for students to create a professional online presence.  However, students need to be shown that care and attention needs to be paid to this presence and like other social media platforms, they should always exercise proper judgement before posting and/or sharing anything. - Jason Lopez
amyhutmacher

A Guidebook for Social Media in the Classroom | Edutopia - 6 views

www.edutopia.org/...media-in-classroom-vicki-davis

shared by amyhutmacher on 04 Mar 14 - No Cached
  • get feedback for your students' online science fair projects
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 04 Mar 14
       
      Connect with scientists and get them to comment on your students' science fair projects through blog posts.
    • Samantha Carrabba
      Samantha Carrabba on 12 Mar 14
       
      We have been studying the Iditarod in 4th grade. I was actually 3 years old watching the mushers at the starting line in 1973 when the race began. My father was the communication specialist. We are going to skype with him later this week and compare on contrast the communication in 1973 and today.
  • Don't mistake social media for socializing. They're different -- just as kids talking as they work in groups or talking while hanging out are different.
    • Julie Maley
      Julie Maley on 05 Mar 14
       
      This is something that has changed for me during this class, my thinking that if students were using social media during class time they would just be social chatting. However, it allows for them to collaborate and work with others outside of their classroom, using a tool that they enjoy using and are comfortable using. Just like in group work, they communicate academically, social media can also be used to communicate for academic purposes. Jmaley
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 09 Mar 14
       
      It'sf you're using engagement strategies, making learning meaningful, and powerful classroom management - all need to be in place
  • YouTube for your students to host a show or a podcas
    • Julie Maley
      Julie Maley on 05 Mar 14
       
      Many students love to create and watch youtube videos. As youtube becomes more popular students are able to have their videos viewed by millions, receiving comments, and critiques by others on how to improve their work. It may also unleash producers, and directors that may not know they had a passion for that art form. ( Jmaley)
    • Darren Smith
      Darren Smith on 12 Mar 14
       
      You nailed it. It could really get the creative juices flowing for those particular students who excel in these areas. (Darren Smith)
  • ...21 more annotations...
  • Social media is here
    • Julie Maley
      Julie Maley on 05 Mar 14
       
      Social media is here and it is not going anywhere, it is only going to get larger and more accessible. Students will learn at a younger age how to use it and it is best if they learn the proper way to use and not to use it and how to learn from it and gain as much knowledge from having information at their fingertips from a vast amount of people. It is also best for teachers new and old to learn, and continue to learn as the apps and websites change in order to better themselves as teachers. ( Jmaley)
    • Derek Hughes
      Derek Hughes on 08 Mar 14
       
      Social media is definitely here! I think the last sentence about it being a tool is incredibly important for people to know. It is not something to be feared or be anxious about. It is something that we can use to reach our students in another way; arguably, in a way they are more comfortable with. I think it is incredibly important for any educator to understand the power of social media as a collaborative tool for education
    • matt schill
      matt schill on 09 Mar 14
       
      Julie, I agree that social media is here for the long haul. As technology increases, social media will be more accessible for students and teachers. One thing that I have learned throughout this course is that teachers continue to learn about social media and not just the students. Matt Schill
    • Laura Acker
      Laura Acker on 06 Mar 14
       
      This is a great idea except that I would want to do a "real" tweet as an exit ticket.
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 09 Mar 14
       
      And use a hashtag (#) so that all of the tweets show up on a feed.
    • caldwell14
      caldwell14 on 07 Mar 14
       
      YES! This is something my CT and I talk about almost daily. Our freshmen cannot compose a grammatically correct, respectful email query to save their lives and it's horrifying. In addition to internet safety, etiquette is something that should not be taken for granted as something students come equipped knowing - in many instances, kids email how they text and that technique doesn't recognize shifts in tone or audience. If I receive another "hey, wut is the hwk tonite?" email sent from a student, I may scream. I absolutely will be adding a "how to email" mini lesson before I'm done with student teaching in 4 weeks. :)
    • caldwell14
      caldwell14 on 07 Mar 14
       
      Whoops - this is Sarah Caldwell.
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 09 Mar 14
       
      That's a great idea, Sarah. Do they have a writing rubric to use as a guide for all writing? That might help as well....have the students help you create the rubric and post it in the room:).
  • Share your learning with the world. My students are creating an Encyclopedia of Learning Games (21) with Dr. Lee Graham's grad students at the University of Alaska Southeast. The educators are testing the games, and the students are testing them, too.
    • amyhutmacher
      amyhutmacher on 07 Mar 14
       
      I actually had a similar idea to this for the math classroom I'm student teaching in. I have several online (virtual) math manipulatives that are good resources for further understanding of different math concepts. However, I would like students to be able to try them out, comment on them, and find new ones. I would like to compile the results (by topic) in one area so students in other classes or future classes could be aware they exist, go directly to helpful virtual manipulatives, and not waste time on ones that don't improve their understanding of the subject matter. (AHutmacher)
    • matt schill
      matt schill on 11 Mar 14
       
      In my student teaching experience, I learned first-hand the importance of using manipulatives during math. However, I never realized that there were multiple virtual manipulatives. How effective are they? The advancement of technology is simply amazing. (Matt Schill)
    • amyhutmacher
      amyhutmacher on 13 Mar 14
       
      Hi Matt, I've used several manipulatives while tutoring...geogebra has many saved activities that let students explore the different ways graphs change when you change the values of the coefficients, for example. The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives has a lot, as well as NCTM (Illuminations). I also like Interactivate (shodor.org).
  • Kids need to write letters and mail them.
    • Sara Jugan Vinskofski
      Sara Jugan Vinskofski on 08 Mar 14
       
      This is very important! It is becoming a lost art, everyone should know how to write a letter. While I understand that email is a faster way of communication there is still importance in knowing how to write a letter. How could mailing a letter be more dangerous than what you can come across on the internet? (SJVinskofski)
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 09 Mar 14
       
      I agree - both need to be taught and practiced:)
    • Rich Bailey
      Rich Bailey on 10 Mar 14
       
      I agree as well, even though there is internet ways to communicate, nothing beats a the human aspect that comes from a letter.  I have been guilty of relying too heavily on email and found that family members felt disconnected from me.  Just because I think email is a personable way to communicate, doesn't mean others do.  I now make it a point to communicate via cards and little notes to family that is further away from me to keep that human aspect there.  Students need to see the value in this as well.  This reminds me of the cursive hand writing discussion where some schools feel there is no need to teach it.  I can't imagine why not as there is no way to make it through life without being able to write, there just isn't... (Rich Bailey)
    • Darren Smith
      Darren Smith on 11 Mar 14
       
      I could not agree more. Call me old school, but when I see LOL, SMH, etc. I sometimes cringe. I understand they have their place in the world now and email is here to stay too but there is so much gained by learning how to write letters. Beyond the aspect of learning the format, it helps you gain a better grasp of the English language too. There is nothing wrong with having students write. The more they write (whatever format), the better they become. I always used to tall my students, practice makes perfect. (Darren Smith)
  • Let your students write for the world. Linda Yollis' students (9) reflect about learning and classroom happenings.
    • Liz Kelley
      Liz Kelley on 08 Mar 14
       
      Mrs. Yollis' 3rd grade students use Twitter to challenge other classes around the world to "mystery number" math problems. They tweet clues and their answers each week. She also did a great international vocab project using twitter and blogs. Show students how they can meaningfully connect with other students around the world. Gives social media a concrete and educational direction, rather than just socializing (the "social media myth"). A great tech-savy educator! (Liz Kelley)
    • amy rouchon
      amy rouchon on 10 Mar 14
       
      I think this is a terrific idea to really help students be global! We have the capability to reach out to other countries and students at a finger tip now, why not integrate a lesson where the students work collaboratively globally and practice using social media. (Amy Rouchon)
  • Communicate with other classrooms.
    • Darren Smith
      Darren Smith on 08 Mar 14
       
      This is something that has been fascinating me since we covered it a few weeks back in this class. I absolutely love the idea of working with other classes all across the country and the globe. Talk about a good way for you to familiarize your students with other cultures...especially if you are working with students who don't have much experience with what happens just outside their neighborhood. There are so many different projects you can exxplore by working with other students in different areas. (Darren Smith)
    • mmh0389
      mmh0389 on 08 Mar 14
       
      How fun would it be for students to be able to communicate with other classes? I love this idea because so many students have friends in other classes and it would be something to talk about during recess. It's also a great tool as educators to be able to share ideas across classrooms. (M. Hackett)
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 09 Mar 14
       
      Darren - this is easy to do - start blogging about a topic, unit, etc. make it global - connect with another class and have students comment on each others' blogs. You'd need a rubric that shows them how to comment meaningfully and also how to reflect and make connections....but imagine the learning that would take place! -Dr. Fritz
    • Samantha Carrabba
      Samantha Carrabba on 12 Mar 14
       
      Last year I observed 3 4th grade classes from around NY state video conferencing. Each class shared a presentation detailing the facts of the region of NY they lived in. The other two classes had to figure out the region they lived in by the clues they gave. Then they took turns asking questions about the length of the school day, recess schedule and how much snow they had. The students were all engaged and astonished that one school only had recess on Mondays.
  • Tweet or post status updates as a class. Teacher Karen Lirenman (7) lets students propose nuggets of learning that are posted for parents to read.
    • mmh0389
      mmh0389 on 08 Mar 14
       
      I think this is a great way for students to feel involved in the learning process! It helps for students to learn about using twitter in a safe environment while also communicating with parents, what a great idea.
    • mmh0389
      mmh0389 on 08 Mar 14
       
      (M. Hackett)
  • The myth about social media in the classroom is that if you use it, kids will be Tweeting, Facebooking and Snapchatting while you're trying to teach.
    • Samantha Carrabba
      Samantha Carrabba on 08 Mar 14
       
      Let's face it they probably are already doing this but they are way off topic. If we harness the power and social media and use it in the classroom we can guide these conversations toward a deeper level of understanding of the content or material. We have the opportunity and responsibilty to teach students to be responsible digital citizens. Ignoring social media will not make it go away and we as teachers can learn from our students as they teach us new ways to use social media.
    • matt schill
      matt schill on 09 Mar 14
       
      Samantha, my biggest fear is that students would be checking their Facebook and Twitter accounts if social media was used in the classroom. However, I have learned how to effectively use social media in the classroom to ensure that this does not happen! Plus, if social media is used appropriately, students will be engaged and focused on task. Matt Schill
    • Alanna Novosel
      Alanna Novosel on 09 Mar 14
       
      Great point Samantha! When social media tools are being used everywhere it should be our job to recognize this and figure out how we can use it to our advantage.
    • Alanna Novosel
      Alanna Novosel on 09 Mar 14
       
      (Alanna Novosel)
    • Rich Bailey
      Rich Bailey on 10 Mar 14
       
      I can see where this could be a concern and as someone else stated, they are going to be doing it anyway.  I however think that Facebook and those mentioned apps are not the only form of social media and if you introduce them to something new and captivating that you do want them to use, this could deter them from straying off... I am not faced with this for my profession however when training clinicians and other medical faculty, it's sometimes like herding cats but I have found that if I constantly keep them guessing and reiterating the WIIFM (whats in it for me), it tends to keep them on focus.  Students sadly may not be too concerned with the WIIFM however they will be concerned if they possibly miss out on the coolest new social media tool... (Rich Bailey)
    • Sara Jugan Vinskofski
      Sara Jugan Vinskofski on 10 Mar 14
       
      I have been learning that there is more to social media than facebook and twitter. There are a lot of great tools out there but, I think it is important that we teach our students and children to use them responsibily and appropriately.
  • Social media is another tool that you can use to make your classroom more engaging, relevant and culturally diverse.
    • matt schill
      matt schill on 09 Mar 14
       
      If social media is used correctly, it can lead to creative thinking. Educators should be incorporating social media to keep students engaged as well as providing opportunities for students to connect with others. Matt Schill
  • Surely students will post thousands of status updates, pictures, and blogs in their lifetime.
    • Alanna Novosel
      Alanna Novosel on 09 Mar 14
       
      This brings up a great point. One that we have all discussed a great deal at this point. It is a given that in this day of social media and technology, that students will surely be posting to facebook or twitter, or some other social media tool. So, why not teach them how to use these and other tools responsibly? We've discussed many ways in which students can use social media tools in a responsible and appropriate manner. If these ideas are introduced early on, then maybe it will just become the norm, instead something that is discouraged.
  • Some teachers are even doing "tweets" on post-it notes (6) as exit tickets.
    • Alanna Novosel
      Alanna Novosel on 09 Mar 14
       
      What a fantastic idea. I don't know that students in lower elementary grades would be ready for this yet, but it wouldn't be too far off to expect students in 4th and 5th grade to be able to do this. I think this would also keep students on task and interested in the lesson.
    • Alanna Novosel
      Alanna Novosel on 09 Mar 14
       
      (Alanna Novosel)
    • amy rouchon
      amy rouchon on 10 Mar 14
       
      I think you bring up a great point Alanna! The student do it already, why not incorporate it in the classroom to something relevant?
  • If you're going to ignore social media in the classroom, then throw out the ISTE Standards for Students (24) and stop pretending that you're 21st century. Stop pretending that you're helping low-income children overcome the digital divide if you aren't going to teach them how to communicate online.
    • Alanna Novosel
      Alanna Novosel on 09 Mar 14
       
      Technology and social media interaction are happening and they are all around us. It's time we learn that we can't avoid using these tools any longer. In order to help ALL students we need to use these tools - especially in the classroom. In the classroom, it doesn't matter whether they are low-income or not. They should all be given the chance to use every resources possible.
    • Alanna Novosel
      Alanna Novosel on 09 Mar 14
       
      (Alanna Novosel)
    • Rich Bailey
      Rich Bailey on 10 Mar 14
       
      Alanna, I agree!  I am currently taking another class with Drexel (Adult Learning Theory and Practice) and we were talking about higher education being online and how some argue it's not available to people without means of owning a computer.  I disputed this as one much not own a computer to use one (libraries).  Would owning one be more convenient, yes, but convenience isn't always an option when trying to get ahead in life.  My point here is if we don't teach students about technology they may not access right not at home, doesn't mean they don't deserve to learn about it and doesn't mean they aren't empowered to make themselves get out of their low-income status and be successful in the future.  If we limit students to an education based on the economics of their family and community, we are limiting them to living in that same economical state as an adult, which is a severe injustice for them to have those limitations placed on them. (Rich Bailey)
  • Are we opening up a whole dangerous world to our students once they are writing online and posting comments to each other?
    • Aaron Bilby
      Aaron Bilby on 09 Mar 14
       
      Yes, but are we causing more harm to our students by NOT teaching them how to use this social media? Granted, using social media can be dangerous, but I still think we need to teach our students how to use the media. However, in teaching them how to use the media, we MUST teach them how to be safe.  We need to teach our kids what they should and should not be posting on social media. I say teach them the media, but teach them how to use it safely. 
    • Darren Smith
      Darren Smith on 11 Mar 14
       
      Excellent point. We are opening up some dangerous ground but this kind of communication is here to stay. There is no way to keep them off social media so it is very important to teach them the responsible way to do it. We can only hope that they realize how serious it is and they pay attention to what we are saying. You know how many kids will say "That can never happen to me". (Darren Smith)
  • It's just another resource and doesn't have to be a distraction from learning objectives
    • Aaron Bilby
      Aaron Bilby on 09 Mar 14
       
      If all teachers could realize this, the classroom would be a much different place. It still amazes me how some teachers view social media as a distraction in the classroom. If the media is used correctly, it is not a distraction in the classroom. 
    • Darren Smith
      Darren Smith on 12 Mar 14
       
      Agreed with most of what you said. However, I think Social Media CAN be a distraction but it is up to the teacher to figure out how to harness it's power and teach the student how to use it wisely. I think the key is to be consistent with what is proper and what is not. I am sure teachers will find some students that will push the envelope on acceptable use. (Darren Smith)
    • Januari Evans
      Januari Evans on 10 Mar 14
       
      This entire check list is very important. I think that as teachers we need to make sure our students understand this. As adults who grew up without social media we too need to be aware that it is monitored. Those of us looking to become teachers should be very aware of what we share and like on our pages
  • The Social Media Answer
    • Januari Evans
      Januari Evans on 10 Mar 14
       
      This entire check list is very important. I think that as teachers we need to make sure our students understand this. As adults who grew up without social media we too need to be aware that it is monitored. Those of us looking to become teachers should be very aware of what we share and like on our pages
    • Januari Evans
      Januari Evans on 10 Mar 14
       
      This line to me is the epitimy of what this semester is about. So many teachers are terrified of allowing students to be online. While I observe I see the faces of teachers who have been doing their job a long time, I think they believe that the computer is their competition. In reality the computer can be their biggest ally. I think most instructors know that having a child use a computer at home is great for research or paper writing. But many are not aware that we can use social media to enhance our teaching and benefit the understanding that the student take from our class. Social media is not the enemy or our competition if we use it correctly.
  • You can use mainstream social media, too.
    • Januari Evans
      Januari Evans on 10 Mar 14
       
      This line to me is the epitimy of what this semester is about. So many teachers are terrified of allowing students to be online. While I observe I see the faces of teachers who have been doing their job a long time, I think they believe that the computer is their competition. In reality the computer can be their biggest ally. I think most instructors know that having a child use a computer at home is great for research or paper writing. But many are not aware that we can use social media to enhance our teaching and benefit the understanding that the student take from our class. Social media is not the enemy or our competition if we use it correctly.
    • matt schill
      matt schill on 11 Mar 14
       
      Before this course, I would have been scared to let students use social media during class. You made a really good point that teachers should be utilizing the computer/technology/social media to enhance the learning process. I now understand how to utilize different social media apps and tools to engage students. (Matt Schill)
  • blogs
  • One form of writing is that powerful. If you guessed social media, you're right.
    • amy rouchon
      amy rouchon on 10 Mar 14
       
      Traditional writing it important in the classroom - paper and pencil. Students also learn the different types of writing (essays, research, letters) but with this generation, social media is a powerful and important writing tool. The students are familiar and use social media on a daily basis. Why not provide a secure environment where students can work on social media writing - learning abou the ettiquette, dos and don'ts as well as a supplemental tool to their writing portfolio.
  • amyhutmacher on 07 Mar 14
     
    I thought I shared my highlight and sticky note to our EDUC 775 page but I don't see it.... (AHutmacher)
Carolyn Freitag

Top Five iPad Apps for Teaching Across All Content Areas - 0 views

www.edutopia.org/...-content-areas-andrew-marcinek

shared by Carolyn Freitag on 27 Feb 13 - No Cached
  • Carolyn Freitag on 27 Feb 13
     
    Ever since I was a kid, I loathed back to school commercials. They always showed parents gleefully skipping through aisles of pencils and notebooks as the kids, sullen and dejected, sluggishly followed along. It's a scene we are all too familiar with, and one that creates a negative stigma around school.
mkm420fritz

Five Card Flickr Story on Flickr - Application Sharing! - 1 views

www.flickr.com/...72157622185888116

levine cogdogblog flickr socialmedia educ775

shared by mkm420fritz on 05 Nov 12 - No Cached
  • mkm420fritz on 05 Nov 12
     
    One of our class groups is using flickr in their first project so I wanted to share this!
mkm420fritz

You May Be a 21st Century Educator If... - Getting Smart by John Hardison - 21stedchat,... - 10 views

gettingsmart.com/...may-21st-educator

shared by mkm420fritz on 20 Nov 13 - No Cached
  • Participating in a Saturday #edcamp
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 20 Nov 13
       
      These are the hastag/chats through Twitter that I references in the other article and on our class wikispace. THey are so beneficial and really help you add other educators to your PLN.
  • You’re on an incessant search for tech tools (not tech toys) that will help students learn more efficiently, creatively, and collaboratively. Without a doubt, the learning objectives are the primary focus and educational technology is secondary.
  • You’re on an incessant search for tech tools (not tech toys) that will help students learn more efficiently, creatively, and collaboratively. Without a doubt, the learning objectives are the primary focus and educational technology is secondary.
    • William Masters
      William Masters on 20 Nov 13
       
      This was one of my favorite descriptions because of all of the tools that we have learned about during the course. I think at one point I was feeling a little overwhelmed by being exposed to so many new platforms and tools for learning. However, as I have continued to learn more, I feel that I am able to look at social media tools more critically and better imagine the learning possibilities that they might lead to. I agree these tools can exist to help students work more effectively, creatively and collaboratively, but I also think they increase motivation and interest when students are allowed to try new things. The point does need to be on the learning though. The technology is only there to enhance and deepen the experience. Clark Masters
    • emiblaser
      emiblaser on 21 Nov 13
       
      Clark, I absolutely agree with you. There are SO many tools out there, and both in this class and EDUC 525 I felt very overwhelmed by all the new ones we were exposed to each week. This quote does a great job of breaking it down- technology is supposed to improve our ability to teach, and we only have to include the ones that work for us and our classes. There was a quote on the other article that talked about a similar idea: "No, set the bar on what you can handle in terms of time and effort. Measure your Return on Investment (ROI) with each." Social media tools can be considered toys sometimes, and if we don't know how to use them the right way, they never make the jump from toy to tool. For me, choosing those tools that I can use to be tools, and focusing on those, keeps me from getting too overwhelmed. - Emi Blaser
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 21 Nov 13
       
      I would love to do a follow up to this course (or make it 3 credits) so that we can really dig deeper with a few tools and create, use, enhance our PLN.
    • Rachael Herr
      Rachael Herr on 23 Nov 13
       
      Clark (and Emi) I completely agree with both of your comments. This quote for me goes back to the concept of backward design; you have to have a clear idea of your instructional objective and goal before you can effectively plan your lesson (and in this case, execute it using educational technology tools). I think learning how to sort and sift through the plethora of tools available is something that this class has taught us, and will be invaluable as we incorporate different aspects of technology and social media into our teaching. - Rachael Herr
    • emiblaser
      emiblaser on 23 Nov 13
       
      Good point about backwards design! I think that idea makes a really good parallel with this one. -Emi Blaser
    • typhany sellers
      typhany sellers on 26 Nov 13
       
      Clark, thanks for your comment here!  I had trouble when reading several of these quotes because I wish I could use these techy tools in my low-income high population and anti-device school, that it was difficult to get insight. I'm excited to see and hear of all the updates happening here, and as someone said previously, this reminds me of the backward design approach -- that is, finding items and activities to enhance the lesson (and not making the lesson out of the tools/activities).   Thanks for sharing!
    • Meredith Tate
      Meredith Tate on 26 Nov 13
       
      (Meredith Tate) I think this comment brings up a great point. At times, I have seen teachers make a solid effort to use technology in their classrooms (which is great!) but not make a clear connection between the digital tools and the learning objectives. I'm sure I have been guilty of this at times as well! This post reminded me that I need to identify the learning objectives FIRST and then think about how to incorporate digital tools- not focus so much on technology that I allow the learning objectives to become an afterthought.
  • ...24 more annotations...
    • Lauren Neary
      Lauren Neary on 22 Nov 13
       
      Story of my teaching life!  This is a great article!  I can relate to a lot of these.  Last year I was able to count on my fingers how many times I ate lunch in the teachers lounge instead of at my desk.  Even though I go into school everyday super early to prepare for my day, I still don't have enough time to eat my lunch in "peace."  I am constantly on my computer, grading papers, emailing parents, preparing for my next lesson, preparing for a meeting, etc.  A lot of times, I look for filler activities on the internet to print out, so I can pull a small flex group, and can have something for the other students who can work independently.  This year has been the same way so far.  I wish I could be one of those teachers that enjoys eating their lunch while chatting with other teachers.  Instead, my lunch is always on the run, literally!
    • Lauren Neary
      Lauren Neary on 23 Nov 13
       
      -Lauren Neary
    • typhany sellers
      typhany sellers on 27 Nov 13
       
      I'm only student teaching and this is my experience, too!  Our school claims the morning for professional development every day from 7:15-7:45, then students begin rolling in at 8am - and my school day ends up starting at 7AM and ending at 5 or 5:30 PM - and everyone of those ten hours are jam packed with planning, grading, searching online, printing, and organizing for the day's classes or the next few days.  It's exhausting!  I wonder what it's like to be the teacher who enjoys eating lunch in the lounge? (I don't even know where the teachers' lounge is in my school!)
  • 34. You traded in the red pen for more nontraditional, feedback gadgets.
    • Rachael Herr
      Rachael Herr on 23 Nov 13
       
      This is definitely something I am working toward with my students right now (using Google Docs and Teacherblogit.com). I think it makes so much sense to move away from the traditional pen-and-paper feedback as instructional practices are already evolving past that. The hyperlink provided some great feedback ideas as well; the author used Audacity to "voice grade" essays, and also explained how to give audio feedback in Google Docs. Just imagining how much more efficient and thoughtful feedback could be for the students using these methods is exciting to me. The only thing I would look for is a way to transcribe the audio feedback for students who also like to have something written in front of them.
    • William Masters
      William Masters on 23 Nov 13
       
      I read over this point quickly when I first read this document, so I really appreciated your comment Rachel. This is such a great way to give students feedback. I think it would be so much easier to voice record ideas and comments. It is difficult to provide feedback clearly and concisely in a way students will understand on paper. I also think students are more likely to understand the comments if they hear them. I am looking forward to trying this out. Clark Masters 
    • Lauren Neary
      Lauren Neary on 23 Nov 13
       
      I think this is an amazing idea and I wish I could utilize it in my classroom.  However, I am a first grade teacher and my kids need to see corrections right in front of them, or it will not be as effective.  I would like to explore new methods that are available to engage the students more with making corrections and learning from their mistakes.   The idea of "voice grading" sounds really cool!  I think students would be more motivated to listen to their corrections and follow along through the computer.  Great post :)
    • Lauren Neary
      Lauren Neary on 23 Nov 13
       
      -Lauren Neary (sorry I keep forgetting to sign my name)
    • typhany sellers
      typhany sellers on 24 Nov 13
       
      It's so exciting to see technology moving and aiding education, but I think it's devastating that it won't reach poorer areas and districts soon.  My host-school for my field placement has such a huge student body and is so outdated that some of my 12th graders don't even know how to save a word document. My students would love learning how to use technology, but we simply don't have the resources! This caught my attention, because I literally just picked up some new red pens on my way home from my weekend night job; my red pens are all out of ink!
    • Meredith Tate
      Meredith Tate on 26 Nov 13
       
      (Meredith Tate) I really like the idea of using digital tools to provide feedback- particularly verbal feedback! I think it enables teachers to connect with students on a more personal level and could potentially save a lot of time during the grading process! I just struggle to think how I could implement this in a math classroom. Often it is so important to visually see how a problem is organized and operations are completed. I think using an digital "whiteboard" tool such as ShowMe (where I could write a problem on a blank page and verbally record how I solved it) may be a good compromise!
  • Students are encouraged to take pictures of projected notes, classmates’ drawings, brainstorming ideas, or anything that will move their knowledge forward.
    • Cecilia Zapiec
      Cecilia Zapiec on 23 Nov 13
       
      Nowadays we are creating opportunities in our lessons for collaboration, cooperation and student-directed learning. As opposed to the traditional instructional approach of teacher-led, students copy notes and memorize facts. Today we provide our students different contexts and media to address all types of learners. I love to see my students help/teach each other and they are only in 1st grade!-Cecilia Zapiec
    • William Masters
      William Masters on 23 Nov 13
       
      This is a great point that you highlighted. I love the fact that I can take pictures of the whiteboard and print it for the students to put in their notebooks for reference later on. I think it is important for students to learn to take notes and tune in to important information, but for some this can be difficult. This is another way that teachers can support struggling learners and ensure everyone is getting the information they need. Clark Masters
    • Brenna Wyatt
      Brenna Wyatt on 24 Nov 13
       
      I have assigned projects several times that require students to draw, take pictures, or create collages. I think it provides a creative way for students to reinforce what they have learned in class. It promotes critical thinking and they have to use technological resources in order to research the material they will need to complete the exercise. Brenna Wyatt
  • 42. You consider yourself the “guide-on-the-side” or “facilitator-to-inspire-greater” instead of the “sage-on-the-stage.”
    • Jingyun He
      Jingyun He on 23 Nov 13
       
      The best teacher, in my opinion, is not someone who talks a lot during the lesson and who thinks himself or herself as "sage-on-stage," but a human being who is willing to learn with his or her students. Since a teacher has more knowledge and experience than his or her students, his or her role becomes a safeguard of students' thinking. The teacher needs to be teach his or her students how to think sanely and sensibly by guiding them how to read articles and solve problems. Thus, a teacher is "guide-on-the-side" and 'facilitator-to-inspire-greater.' Written by Jing Yun He
    • Kyle Gordon
      Kyle Gordon on 24 Nov 13
       
      Very profound Jingyun. I couldn't agree more.
    • typhany sellers
      typhany sellers on 26 Nov 13
       
      Thanks for your comment Jingyun! I find myself constantly learning, especially with my 12th grade group of students studying brit lit - in some ways I'm learning it right alongside them and their input is extremely valuable.
    • Kimberly Kaseman
      Kimberly Kaseman on 26 Nov 13
       
      Great points!! I get irritated when my children come home even with misinformation because the teachers refuses to admit they don't know something, which kind of goes along with your comment. I will admit to my students if I don't know an answer to something and then we can research it together or I encourage them to research it and let the class and me know what they find out. One of the key things I put into my introduction letter to the parents of the students I work with was that I looked forward to "learning along side" of their students, so I couldn't agree more with your sentiments. Thank you for sharing.
    • Brenna Wyatt
      Brenna Wyatt on 27 Nov 13
       
      I very much enjoyed your post. I was just telling my student teaching supervisor how as a student, some of my favorite classes were the ones where it was a group discussion. I was an active participant in the education process and retained more from these lessons than simply sitting back and listening to someone talk to me for an hour. I understand lecture is necessary at times but I feel strongly it shouldn't be the only teaching strategy.
  • You eat lunch over a laptop while perusing top educational sites for new ideas.
    • Jayme Crimmins
      Jayme Crimmins on 23 Nov 13
       
      This actually made me laugh when I read it because I have done this a few times with my cooperating teacher during my student teaching. I am always thinking of what to add to a lesson or what to change. I am ALWAYS online looking for different ideas for an upcoming lesson or just for ideas as to what to change in the future in my classroom. It still amazes me how much things are changing since I was in high school. The school I am students teaching at now has ipads for one classroom and next year is looking to have them for all of the classrooms. Our students love it and they never groan or roll their eyes when asked to use one for an assignment. I am always online looking for new ideas to keep students interested and wanting to learn.
    • Camille Rylak
      Camille Rylak on 26 Nov 13
       
      Wow, your school is extremely lucky to have ipad's for a classroom. I found out that apple does provide discounted pricing through Apple in Education. In addition, if a school has older Apple products that still have some value they can be turned in through Apple's recycling program with a credit given for the purchase of new hardware. http://grantsguys.com/grants-for-ipads-in-the-classroom/
  • of your most trusted and reliable colleagues is in another state or country and responds just as quickly via social media as the teacher next door.
    • Kimberly Kaseman
      Kimberly Kaseman on 24 Nov 13
       
      I can totally relate to this. I have teaching friends in several states that I text and Facebook with on a regular basis about challenges, questions, or just to share how things are going for me in the classroom. They are definitely quicker to respond to me and often more available than my CTs are. Even when my student teaching is all said and done, I will be moving and will rely on Social Media to connect and communicate with my CTs and principal here in NC. It is the easiest way to keep in touch these days.
    • Jingyun He
      Jingyun He on 25 Nov 13
       
      I am communicating a Chinese teacher who teaches English in China about how to teach English to Chinese students in China. He and I regularly do qq instant messaging so that I share good articles how to teach ESL with him all the time. It is very effective to communicate with other persons on social websites.
    • Brenna Wyatt
      Brenna Wyatt on 27 Nov 13
       
      I find I respond to friends and colleagues quicker via e-mail & social media rather than the phone most of the time. With everything going on in our daily lives, all the multi-tasking, it is often more convenient. Plus, I can look back at the conversation if I need to. I also have friends in various states that I am able to communicate with to get ideas and feedback. Brenna Wyatt
  • 31. You’ve ever said, “Students, take out your smartphones and record me as I discuss this assignment. Then you can play it back as often as necessary.”
    • Meredith Tate
      Meredith Tate on 23 Nov 13
       
      (Meredith Tate) This sentence caught my attention because I see it as very applicable and potentially helpful in a math class setting! I have seen students take pictures of assignments or step by step solutions of longer problems written on the board- but have not had students record an explanation of a particular topic. I think this could have been helpful when I was teaching a more challenging lesson on graphing/analyzing rational equations. Having students take a video of the instruction to play back as needed as they worked through problems of their own may have been an excellent resource. I really like this idea and think it is one that I will certainly be able to apply in the future!
    • Brenna Wyatt
      Brenna Wyatt on 24 Nov 13
       
      I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I can see how it would be helpful and have often allowed students to take pictures in class of the blackboard or whiteboard when assignments & directions are listed. However, I also have concerns about cell phones being abused in class. Because they are small hand held devices, it is easy enough for students to start doing other things on them. It is something I would be compelled to monitor closely. Brenna Wyatt
    • Meredith Tate
      Meredith Tate on 26 Nov 13
       
      (Meredith Tate) Hi Brenna, I definitely hear your concerns. When I first read the section, I initially thought about how helpful it would be to have students record the steps of a complex math problem. However, as you pointed out, there are some implications for classroom management. I guess if students get the "green light" to have phones out in class to record lessons, it would be very easy for this privilege to be abused. Another concern would be the possibility of students photographing and/or recording other students against their will (it sounds ridiculous, but it happened in my class!) Looking at this again, I think it might be a good idea to allow students to record within very specific parameters. For example, I could invite students to record one specific practice problem or record the lesson myself and post it for students to view in their own time. Thanks for bringing up some of these classroom management issues!
  • Your classroom rarely has the same seating or furniture arrangement two days in a row.
    • brittany wilson
      brittany wilson on 24 Nov 13
       
      It didn't take me long to find out I'm a 21st century teacher, when I read number four on the list about switching around your desks and furniture every other day, that is defiantly me. The janitor at the school, who I am friends with, gives me a hard time about it, because I am always switching around the room, which messes with her cleaning, but she said she doesn't mind because she knows that it improves the learning of my students and how much I care about it. Even at teaching kindergarten, kids still can bored at seeing and hearing the same things day after day, so I want to change it up, not only in the daily routine of the learning process but in seating arrangement as well, Its like its the first of school ever day in my class. Students get excited, and improves the learning environment. Brittany Wilson 
    • Kyle Gordon
      Kyle Gordon on 24 Nov 13
       
      I give you credit for your diligence in arranging your classroom. This is a concept that I have often struggled with because I can only think of a few ways to arrange a square room consisting of 20 desks. However, we have learned how to pull on an ample number of resources in this class that can help spur some ideas (K. Gordon).
    • Danielle Malone
      Danielle Malone on 25 Nov 13
       
      I love this! Even in my student teaching experience we've changed the seating arrangements at least three times in the past two months, and I can definitely see how it changes student participation and in some cases, their attitudes towards learning. By changing up the seating arrangements students were able to work in groups with people who had different strengths than their own, and they could see what collaboration was like outside of their normal comfort zone. Plus, we have so much learning material posted on the walls that the students get a different view of helpful tips or class work during the regular class period, adding a bit of extra subtle learning. I think it's a great way to keep the class on their toes and remind them that the classroom is a constantly changing space. (Danielle Malone)
    • typhany sellers
      typhany sellers on 26 Nov 13
       
      I wanted to change my seating arrangement, but it's difficult with so many different courses and classes - and only four minutes between each.  My co-op teacher said even though it's a great thought and concept, it's so difficult to apply in our school.  I wonder how these great ideas can apply to schools that are further behind and have more limitations than others? Thanks for sharing your response!
  • Blogging serves as a continual venue for professional reflection and pedagogical sharing to help you improve your teaching strategies.
    • Brenna Wyatt
      Brenna Wyatt on 24 Nov 13
       
      Blogging like other social media is a valuable tool for educators to share ideas and offer feedback. On more than one occasion, I have reviewed various blogs for ideas on assignments and ways to engage a diversified student body. I have often left feedback for the blog owners on the outcome on the class and ways that I have modified the lessons. Brenna Wyatt
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 27 Nov 13
       
      What a great way to make connections!
    • Brenna Wyatt
      Brenna Wyatt on 24 Nov 13
       
      I have included a number of projects in my lesson plans that give students an opportunity to be creative through drawing, taking pictures, and making collages. It allows them to put a piece of themselves into the work while reinforcing what they have learned in the classroom. They have had to use technology in order to research the material in the projects as well. Brenna Wyatt
  • 41. You’ve ever “stunk it up” in class with a terrible lesson plan, expressed your frustration via a blog post from your phone, and sought feedback from your digital, professional learning network.
    • Kimberly Kaseman
      Kimberly Kaseman on 24 Nov 13
       
      I felt this one this week. While I don't blog, I found myself texting, calling, and venting my frustrations on Facebook. I know it is a constant learning process for teachers too, but I felt so disappointed with my less than stellar lesson. It felt like a waste of time, even though I know that the students really still learned from it and so did I. After venting and freeing myself from my own negativity, I regrouped and re-planned so that I could teach the material in a better manner.
    • Jayme Crimmins
      Jayme Crimmins on 26 Nov 13
       
      I hate that feeling! I agree that being able to vent really helps change how we look at the lesson and what can be changed. I have also vented after a bad lesson plan by texting and going on facebook. I do like the idea of talking with other teachers through a blog post. I can see myself doing that in the future.
  • 3. Words like “flipped,” “blended,” “asynchronous,” “differentiated,” and “MOOC” are not words to describe how you feel after inhaling a chili hotdog just before riding a roller coaster called the “Vomit Van.” Instead, these words are part of your ever-increasing #edtech vocabulary.
    • typhany sellers
      typhany sellers on 24 Nov 13
       
      I'm in a constant battle against many people in education when I try to explain that MOOCs are NOT a bad thing!! (And when I mention MOOCs in a crowd of people who are not involved in education, they just stare at me like I'm crazy).
    • William Masters
      William Masters on 24 Nov 13
       
      I have had friends try some of the large, free online courses that are offered, but I had no idea what a MOOC was until you posted this. I appreciate your comment. It got me to actually find out what it was. Clark Masters 
    • typhany sellers
      typhany sellers on 27 Nov 13
       
      Thanks!  It seems as though most of my old college profs perceive online education in general - but specifically MOOCs, as a threat to post-secondary education.  This thought really bugs me, because I think it's essential that education be available for not only the nontraditional student like myself - but for anyone who wants it - even if they are below the poverty line!
  • 31. You’ve ever said, “Students, take out your smartphones and record me as I discuss this assignment. Then you can play it back as often as necessary.”
  • 31. You’ve ever said, “Students, take out your smartphones and record me as I discuss this assignment. Then you can play it back as often as necessary.”
  • 31. You’ve ever said, “Students, take out your smartphones and record me as I discuss this assignment. Then you can play it back as often as necessary.”
  • 35. You ever had a teaching moment like this…and decided that it needed to be the very last.
    • typhany sellers
      typhany sellers on 24 Nov 13
       
      This video is funny and reminds me of most of my math class experiences.  My students seem so used to this sort of experience that they're surprised I'm asking more of them all of the time.  ("MISS!  Why don't you just talk the whole time like other teachers?!")  I constantly have them writing, responding, working together, and moving around.  It's a huge labor for them, alright, but they're certainly not grumbling as much as they used to!  
    • Kimberly Kaseman
      Kimberly Kaseman on 26 Nov 13
       
      That is hilarious and I have sat through many classes that I felt like that. I also have had moments teaching where I felt like my students were starting to get that way. In those moments we would take a break and do an energizer activity to get them back engaged and alert. I hate when I have those times where material just needs to be presented, but that is where you stop and ask questions, create discussions, etc. to break up the boredom.
  • 27. Students in your class maintain a blog to share with a larger audience.
    • typhany sellers
      typhany sellers on 24 Nov 13
       
      I long to have my own classroom and have this sort of platform.  A great way to show parents what their children are up to - and for students to showcase and be proud of their thoughts and work!
    • William Masters
      William Masters on 24 Nov 13
       
      They are great tools and kids love to use them. If you are teaching elementary or early middle school, KidBlog is great. Very easy to use. It makes kids want to do their homework. Clark Masters
    • Jingyun He
      Jingyun He on 25 Nov 13
       
      I have a good Chinese teacher who teaches Chinese literature in a high school in China. He creates blogs for his students to demonstrate their understanding of Chinese literature and world literature. Students get beneifts by showing their writing on blog.
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 26 Nov 13
       
      I know I've shared this before but it's a great resource if you haven't seen it - budtheteacher.com he has done some amazing work with blogging!
  • 25. Interactive learning structures that integrate technology are constantly requested by students.
    • Camille Rylak
      Camille Rylak on 24 Nov 13
       
      In the 20th century technology is everywhere. We can't escape it and according to the On the Cutting Edge - Professional Development for Geoscience Faculty, individual interactive activities do the following: "engage visual, kinesthetic, and mathematical learners as they review animations, manipulate graphics, and solve both computational and non-computational problems; have the potential to promote topical discussions as students who work on an exercise run into problems and turn to their classmates for help or advice; and make the assessment of learning outcomes -- which are defined in terms of what students should be able to "do" -- easier because students actually demonstrate their understanding of a concept or technique by applying it." http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/online/interactive.html
    • Cecilia Zapiec
      Cecilia Zapiec on 26 Nov 13
       
      Technology is second nature for our students today. Some don't know of a time before the internet or cell phones. Incorporating social media as a form of class discussion or a way by which students can help each other is an appropriate way to use their "tech-savvy" to our advantage. We can either create opportunities for social media or at least recognize its potential application for our students today.
    • Meredith Tate
      Meredith Tate on 26 Nov 13
       
      (Meredith Tate) I could really relate to this comment as well. I have found that students really enjoy and actually seek out opportunities to use technology tools in class. I know some of the appeal may be the chance to glance at the internet but, despite these unavoidable temptations, I have found that students stay on task for the most part. I was working with an extremely challenging class where it was very hard to encourage participation. One day, I had the students use the Socrative apps on the class ipads to submit and share their answer. This tool enabled me to display the class answers anonymously, so I could gauge understanding without singling anyone out. The response from the class was very positive and it made a huge difference in class participation.
  • However, your monthly checks do not indicate an increase in pay that is equivalent to your acquired knowledge via the social media giant.
    • Kyle Gordon
      Kyle Gordon on 24 Nov 13
       
      Although social media is so useful for connecting individuals within the educational sphere, I think the satire here raises a valid point that we could possibly be checking our social media too much. If every class we have utilizes an ongoing social media site for communication and discussion, that is a lot of posts for a teacher to check periodically and unfortunately, we don't get paid per post checked. I never really considered the workload that social media can cause for a teacher until this point here. (K. Gordon)
    • Kyle Gordon
      Kyle Gordon on 24 Nov 13
       
      Does number 10, "collegial pessimism" refer to having an "anti-college" attitude? I'm not really sure what that means although it is a very entertaining simile.
  • Your students present you with the best form of educational feedback when the annoying bell rings and they collectively say, “Ahhhhhh, class is over already?”
    • Kyle Gordon
      Kyle Gordon on 24 Nov 13
       
      Just did a lesson in a classroom for my methods course on the assassination of President Kennedy and got this reaction...Sorry, I had to gloat. Although, I suppose the topic typically triggers that reaction. (K. Gordon)
    • Camille Rylak
      Camille Rylak on 26 Nov 13
       
      Wow, that's awesome! What do you think you did to capture their attention? Did you use any technology to help you out?
    • Jayme Crimmins
      Jayme Crimmins on 26 Nov 13
       
      It is such a good feeling! I was fortunate enough to get that reaction from my classroom today. It was for a math activity/game that I created and the students loved it. It was such a great feeling to have the students make that noise and say that they wanted to keep playing.
    • typhany sellers
      typhany sellers on 27 Nov 13
       
      Awesome job, ladies!  I had this reaction when reading Macbeth a few weeks ago, and we had to stop reading for the period right after Macbeth had his best pal Banquo murdered.  My kids were like, WAIT WHAT WHY? And I was able to hook them, saying, "well!  See you tomorrow!"
  • 21. Your answer to a colleague’s question “What research did you base your decisions on?” is simply, “My teacher’s heart and a gut feeling.”
  • poor classroom management.
    • Kyle Gordon
      Kyle Gordon on 24 Nov 13
       
      The classroom that I am in for my methods course is a prime example of good classroom management. There has not been one issue in the whole time that I have been there, and the kids were on there best behavior for all the lessons that I conducted too. I almost felt guilty when my supervisor commented on how great the classroom climate was because I didn't feel like I deserved the credit for my mentoring teacher who had been grooming this behavior for the past 2 months. It takes a little more effort for the creativity aspect, but I have seen the nightmares that simply handing out worksheets everyday can cause. I don't want to be "that teacher."
    • typhany sellers
      typhany sellers on 26 Nov 13
       
      This is a great comment!  I've been in a student teaching placement and am almost just finishing up -- my placement is a great experience because it is so challenging; I have three different courses I plan for and teach six out of eight periods!  Sometimes it is SO difficult to NOT hand out worksheets!  I always have to bear this in mind when I am creating non traditional assessments and various projects.  Thanks for sharing this post! 
  • One of your workout sessions to de-stress from a tough day’s work turns into an effortless jog while a barrage of creative ideas initiate a seemingly endless foot race in your mind
    • Danielle Malone
      Danielle Malone on 25 Nov 13
       
      I know this point is supposed to be comical, but this has actually happened to me quite a bit. When I do get a chance to run (before it gets too dark) I start thinking about my next lesson plan or the unit I'm working on, and all of a sudden I have a few great ideas and I'm not focusing on the actual run. When I created a unit for Jamestown and the Native Americans/Colonists from the novel "Blood on the River", most of the connection questions I came up with were created on the run. For me, sitting down at the computer and thinking about something directly might not yield the best results, but when I'm off doing something else I can think about the lesson organically, and that's where I can come up with plans or activities that are actually interesting and have some kind of connection to the students' lives. It's an odd situation, but it's been working for me! (Danielle Malone)
    • Camille Rylak
      Camille Rylak on 26 Nov 13
       
      Danielle, that happens to me too. I love getting a lesson plan started and just letting it simmer in my thoughts as I go about with my day. Before I know it I have the entire lesson plan figured out in my head with, in my opinion, a lot of great ideas that bring the lesson to the real world for students to connect with.
Kimberly Kaseman

Flat Stanley - 0 views

www.flatstanley.com

shared by Kimberly Kaseman on 10 Nov 13 - Cached
pilar_fradin

Keeping up with social media--in 30 minutes a day (you heard me!) | - 60 views

www.arikhanson.com/...-30-minutes-a-day-you-heard-me

shared by pilar_fradin on 03 Mar 15 - No Cached
  • Keeping up with social media–in 30 minutes a day (you heard me!
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 03 Mar 15
       
      This presentation is from 2012; however, it has a lot of great information that I feel will really help you organize your PLN. Here is the updated presentation that corresponds with this article: http://www.slideshare.net/arikhanson/how-to-keep-up-with-social-media-in-30-minutes-a-day-of-less
  • but most folks use Google Reader. You can use either.
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 05 Mar 15
       
      Google Reader is no longer in service:(. I really miss this tool; however, feedly is a great too to use.
    • shannon_alvarez
      shannon_alvarez on 03 Mar 16
       
      What? Google has everything! ;) Has this been replaced by Google+?
    • rjs387
      rjs387 on 05 Mar 15
       
      I have has such a hard time organizing the influx of blogs that Feebly will probably be the best tool I've learned about. It is a great way to organize and scan the titles of articles and posts I want to read. Rudalia Sutton
  • ...58 more annotations...
    • tghaznavi
      tghaznavi on 05 Mar 15
       
      Cadmus is a great tool to maximize downtime.  It displays content on Twitter since you last checked in.  It manages Twitter streams and takes replies in Twitter and groups them into "conversations". (t. Ghaznavi)
    • rjs387
      rjs387 on 09 Mar 15
       
      I am new to twitter how do you use Cadmus? Is it something I have to download? Rudalia Sutton
  • Use tools like Flipboard, Reeder (iPhone app) and Cadmus (great tool for catching up with what you missed on Twitter since you last signed in–see below) to keep on top of industry trends and business news.
    • charles stuart
      charles stuart on 23 Nov 15
       
      Sorry, didn't add my name:   Charles E. Stuart
  • Twitter lists to follow industry thought leaders. Twitter lists to follow bloggers you want to get to know better. You can even create private Twitter lists to follow competitors, industry influencers and other folks you don’t want your competitors or others seeing. What’s more, you can steal OTHER PEOPLE’S Twitter lists for you own. That’s right–why do all the work when someone else may have already done it.
    • Cheryl Hornyak
      Cheryl Hornyak on 05 Mar 15
       
      I think this is a great idea. The steps to do this are here:https://media.twitter.com/best-practice/create-and-use-twitter-lists. As a Twitter user, I really like the idea of condensing and filtering information to be more tailored to my likes and needs.
    • jessclay
      jessclay on 08 Mar 15
       
      I love this idea! I want to use twitter for professional reasons, but I also want to be able to follow my personal interests. This would allow me to do both! I can focus on education topics when I need to without getting distracted by other news and vice versa. I have a tendency to follow any interesting leads I see so this will help keep me focused.
    • Cheryl Hornyak
      Cheryl Hornyak on 09 Mar 15
       
      I forgot to post my name on the first sticky note. C. Hornyak
    • brittaniberg
      brittaniberg on 09 Mar 15
       
      After starting this class I recently joined Twitter so I am still learning all the ins and outs that Twitter offers.  This is a cool feature that can come in handy and help limit the amount of time spent on Twitter looking for new posts by who you follow. B.Berg 
    • rjs387
      rjs387 on 09 Mar 15
       
      I am new to twitter but I will be sure to try out this technique. I am always afraid that I'll get on and get sucked in and never get any work done. So it's nice to know that I can be productive in what I read. Rudalia Sutton
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 21 Nov 15
       
      This sounds like a great way to organize what I want to see on Twitter.  Since I am still new to Twitter, I am still overwhelmed with all of the information.  Is there an education list out there?
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 21 Nov 15
       
      Dawn Lynn-forgot my name
    • jpb342
      jpb342 on 22 Nov 15
       
      I never even knew Twitter Lists even were a thing; however, I can definitely see the usefulness of them.  They can give you a way to section off your follows and focus on different parts at a time instead of everyone at once. (John Bugay)
    • ryanjburks
      ryanjburks on 23 Nov 15
       
      Twitter lists are wonderful! I've taken advantage of this tool in my personal life and I can see the beauty of using this in the professional life as well. Thanks for highlighting this!-Ryan Burks
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 24 Nov 15
       
      Dawn - yes, there are lists. There are also lists of twitter chats. If you google "educational twitter chat", you'll find them!
    • samanthaelaine
      samanthaelaine on 04 Mar 16
       
      This is such a good feature. It gives us the oppertunity to follow people we personally want to follow and people we follow for our careers. I would personally like this because my sister is in college and is at the age of 20. She was the one who introduced me to twitter in the first place. S Ruggiero
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I love the idea of being able to steal other users twitter lists. Why reinvent the wheel, when someone else has already created a sufficient list. C. Spina
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      It is great that you can use other users lists. It makes it much easier to find people to follow. It also reduces the time spent to find the right people to follow. C. Spina
  • think about the time you’re captive, where you have nothing to do but the task at hand. For me, it’s moving the lawn. I throw in the ear buds and spend 45 minutes mowing the lawn AND listening to my favorite podcast (and thus, getting smarter about my craft).
    • Lauren Rose
      Lauren Rose on 06 Mar 15
       
      Prior to using Podcasts, I would either use music or nothing at all during exercise time, cooking, or other activities that I can focus on something else while doing. By integrating listening to podcasts into these times, I have upped my productivity and am able to use relevant podcasts to learn more about information I am interested in. When I first saw podcasts and how lengthy many of them are, it can feel overwhelming to sit down and listen to a 30-60 minute "talk". However, if you use them while doing other activities (during cooking or long drives is my favorite) you can get what you need done while being informed. My favorite podcasts range from entertainment (Serial) to informative for teachers (TED Talks, EdReach). - Lauren Rose
    • nmlynski
      nmlynski on 06 Mar 15
       
      I recently just started to listen to podcasts while I work out, and it has been a total game-changer. I stay on the treadmill longer because I'm interested in what I'm hearing, and I'm learning something new at the same time. Definitely a good way to multi-task. (N. Mlynski)
    • Cheryl Hornyak
      Cheryl Hornyak on 07 Mar 15
       
      I have never thought of listening to anything but music while I run. I'm going to give this a try. Thanks for the tips!
    • tscott34
      tscott34 on 08 Mar 15
       
      My husband has a long commute (50 minutes) and uses the time to listen to his favorite podcasts.  He finds it calming when dealing with traffic and more interesting than morning radio!  Tonya Scott
    • maria onorato
      maria onorato on 08 Mar 15
       
      This is a good idea. I never thought to listen to podcast while mowing my lawn, or maybe even doing laundry. After reading this article, I have come to realize that we can use our technology at all different times of the day. Maria Onorato
    • slm389
      slm389 on 09 Mar 15
       
      My husband is very efficient in this strategy.  He listens to podcasts anytime he is doing housework and home alone.  I wish that I had the motivation to do this as well because it is a great time saver! -S. Goodyear
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 09 Mar 15
       
      You can subscribe to podcasts and the newest version will automatically pop up in your feed! -Dr. Fritz
    • ilanaaviva
      ilanaaviva on 11 Mar 15
       
      I think that this is a very good way to efficiently use time in a way that allows you to multitask. I think commuting is a great opportunity to listen to information through podcasts. I find that a lot of the time when I could be listening to informational programs, I am doing a lot of reflection and mental preparation. While I do not think that this is a bad thing, I could make more conscious efforts to put my ear plugs in. - Ilana Haas
    • meridithhayden
      meridithhayden on 15 Mar 15
       
      I agree, podcasts are a productivity game changer!  Since beginning this course, I've started listening to TED Talks a few mornings a week  during my commute.  I would have guessed I would not enjoy listening while I run, but turns out I do! --Meridith Hayden
    • Kelly VandenBosche
      Kelly VandenBosche on 04 Mar 16
       
      I would listen to podcasts in the car (just about my only downtime chore where I am not already multitasking), but my car is not new enough to have bluetooth or any other means to listen to a podcast, and headphones are illegal in the car.
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I have listened to many Podcasts. I have used them to educate myself in numerous subjects. The benefit of Podcasts is you can multi-task and still listen and absorb the information. C. Spina
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I listen to Podcasts very often. I have educated myself on numerous topics by listening to Podcasts. I love that you can listen to Podcasts and multi-task. C. Spina
  • Why should I reinvent the wheel? Heather already has all the spokes in place. Or, what about Social Media Examiner’s weekly roundup? Or, what about Sarah Evans’ daily Commentz enewsletter? One of the few enewsletter I read on a regular basis. Don’t do all the work yourself–seek out those sources that already exist and use that information to your advantage.
    • nmlynski
      nmlynski on 06 Mar 15
       
      This is something that is really important to remember when you start to feel overwhelmed by social media. Other people are out there searching for and curating the same resources that you want, use them as allies in the fight against wasted time. (N. Mlynski)
    • maria onorato
      maria onorato on 06 Mar 15
       
      I love this idea of seeking out sources that already exist. It will save you a lot of time.
    • tscott34
      tscott34 on 08 Mar 15
       
      You don't need to reinvent the wheel!!  I hear this all the time in reference to lesson planning, too. Tonya Scott
    • jessclay
      jessclay on 08 Mar 15
       
      This is such a useful idea, especially when you are gathering information on a new topic. It can be hard to sort and tell a resources worth if you aren't an expert. This idea allows you to filter out the resources that aren't worth your time and hone in on the really good ideas. J.Clay
    • ilanaaviva
      ilanaaviva on 11 Mar 15
       
      In general, I really like this idea of saving time and being efficient through the use of social media, including sharing the resources that another has already created. I think that is a big aspect of social media: we use it in order to assist one another and collaborate through shared ideas. - Ilana Haas
    • charles stuart
      charles stuart on 23 Nov 15
       
      My thoughts are the same, don't reinvent the wheel, take it and improve on it, or adjust it to meet your needs..
    • cmcguigan91
      cmcguigan91 on 05 Mar 16
       
      I think that it is very important for us to realize that it is not necessary to "reinvent the wheel." This can save a lot of time browsing through blogs. By finding a blog that compiles a list of top posts for the week we are able to be more efficient and have more time to read and expand our knowledge and ideas. The internet and blogs are created to help share our ideas and finds with others who share the same interests and we should take advantage of these trusty sources when we can! -Carissa McGuigan
  • organize my blogs by geography (MN blogs), discipline (PR, social media, mobile), clients (industry blogs) and other miscellaneous categories (fun, business blogs, etc.).
    • maria onorato
      maria onorato on 06 Mar 15
       
      This is a great way to keep organized. It would be so much easier and quicker to find things you are looking for. I'm going to have to give this a try myself.
    • maria onorato
      maria onorato on 06 Mar 15
       
      Maria Onorato
    • tscott34
      tscott34 on 08 Mar 15
       
      I have been using Feedly and it is a great way to organize webpages, blogs, newspapers or organizations that I like to look at often.  However, I can't imagine actually only spending 15 minutes on there!!  Maybe I need to narrow down my scope a bit.  But I find that I will log-in and then spend an hour or two without realizing it!  Tonya Scott
    • jessqross
      jessqross on 22 Nov 15
       
      I know this piece resonated with me as I initially stated in the beginning of this course that I never had time to really manage my social media outlets when it came to posting and engaging on my music FB, twitter as well as my nonprofit. This gives a good way to manage them without feeling overwhelmed, more so not feeling like I don't have the time to manage them with my busy day to day schedule. -Jess Ross
    • jpb342
      jpb342 on 22 Nov 15
       
      I like that you highlighted this quote, because it gives us all a place to start with in using Feedly.  Instead of being lost we can organize it like it is laid out here.
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I agree, that this is a great tool to manage social media outlets in an efficient way. I have a hard time keeping up with checking all of my social media outlets on a daily basis. C. Spina
  • You know that time you waste each day standing in line for coffee, on the bus commuting or (gulp) in the bathroom (don’t lie, you know you do it)? You need to start using that time to your advantage.
    • cmm483
      cmm483 on 07 Mar 15
       
      I had never thought of looking through my things while I have down time, maybe I will be able to do this more now since my kids have their own ipods, kindles..... I'm going to try to do this more often, even if only 5 minutes a day! -Christina Miller
    • Cheryl Hornyak
      Cheryl Hornyak on 07 Mar 15
       
      Hi Christina, I was just thinking the same thing. I have to maximize my downtime! C. Hornyak
    • tscott34
      tscott34 on 08 Mar 15
       
      I understand what she is saying here, but I think that downtime can be good.  We need to be able to clear and rest our minds (and our eyes) sometimes.  Call me old-fashioned, but it really bothers me when I see people in public with their phones or ipads out and their eyes glued on it.  Especially young children.  I think this is one area where technology and social media is damaging our culture and society.  Just some thoughts! Sorry for the "soap-box"! Tonya Scott
    • ilanaaviva
      ilanaaviva on 08 Mar 15
       
      I think that this is a great example of how we can maximize our downtime and really put our smart phones to good use. I personally think that I would have to start making more of a conscious effort to do this because I tend to get caught up in my surroundings and would rather be present in the current moment than with my face in my phone. I completely understand the point of this strategy. I just think that for some people, they would have to change a lifestyle habit. -Ilana Haas
    • maria onorato
      maria onorato on 08 Mar 15
       
      I agree, I never thought that that 5 minutes in the bathroom can be beneficial, or maybe when you are on your lunch break from work. I'm going to have to remember that every time I have an extra 5 minutes to use it to my advantage and organize my PLN
    • maria onorato
      maria onorato on 08 Mar 15
       
      I'm sorry. I forgot to put my name- Maria Onorato
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 21 Nov 15
       
      Maximizeing down time can be a good idea, but it can also burn you out.  We are so connected all of the time that I think we need to take a break from technology every day.  I make my children do it, so I need to lead by example! (Dawn Lynn)
    • jpb342
      jpb342 on 22 Nov 15
       
      As others have said downtime is important to relax and little and destress.  So although there are times where downtime can be used for stuff like this, we do not want to create burnout.  For example, I know some off periods I get I should use for planning and prep, but some days I just use it to unwind after a stressful class.  During days like that I could not imagine doing something like this.
    • jpb342
      jpb342 on 22 Nov 15
       
      Forgot to post my name. (John Bugay)
    • ulshf280
      ulshf280 on 23 Nov 15
       
      I actually think that this is totally ridiculous. People can't be connected all of the time. Most of the time, these are the times where it is my actual and only downtime for the day and let me tell you, I am not wasting it on social media. I need it for my own sanity! (Felicia Ulsh)
    • charles stuart
      charles stuart on 23 Nov 15
       
      That's a great idea, but as most of you will soon, or at some point realize, when you move on to the journey of your doctorate, there's no such thing as "down time", but time management is definitely necessary, something that I am in constant struggle with.
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 23 Nov 15
       
      I agree - it feels so good to just leave all technology off for the day! I think deep down inside, my kids appreciate it, too:). -Dr. Fritz
    • tsc898
      tsc898 on 23 Nov 15
       
      I enjoyed this back and forth of opinions on using social media during downtime. The way I've always thought about it is whether my downtime has more opportunities from being present with my own thoughts and the world around me, or if this is a true downtime I should be taking advantage of. No one can tell you where to draw the line with too much use of technology, but I think there is a time to get busy on your phone and a time to give it a rest. Having worked at a Starbucks for some time in the past, I can say I've seen people miss great thing in the real world around them because of their phones, but I've also seen people enjoy their otherwise tedious and frustrating wait because of social media. All I can say for sure about this is to try to be mindful of those around you and to be dynamic about moving from the world on your phone to the world around you. Technology is given a bad rap because of how oblivious people can be when they use it in public. If now is the time to get stuff done in your downtime, make that little bit of effort to be good to the real people around you. Timothy Conley
    • wenwahl
      wenwahl on 05 Mar 16
       
      I can see where there are some points in time that can be used to do this but I do not think that every waking moment should be devoted to maximizing downtime. As with everything else, there should be balance. Sometimes standing in line is just for standing in line and not having your face buried in a phone. I understand what the writer is trying to say but think there should be some discretion for how literally it is applied. (W. Kerr)
    • cmcguigan91
      cmcguigan91 on 05 Mar 16
       
      I have mixed feelings about this statement. Everytime I have downtime I feel like I always reach for my phone and start browsing through all of my social media accounts. Lately I have been telling myself that I need to back off and back away from technology because I feel like it distracts me from the world around me and I don't feel like I take the time to notice my surroundings enough. I definitely think its important to try and keep up to date with new updates in the industry but I think its important to draw a line and a maximum amount of time spent doing this each day because it can really take away from personal relaxation time that I feel is important also. -Carissa McGuigan
    • shannonlowens
      shannonlowens on 06 Mar 16
       
      This reminds me of the time management exercise I used to do with college students.  I'd put a brick in a glass jar, then some stones, then some sand to fill in the gaps and ask if it was full.  When they would (inevitably) say it was full, I'd start pouring in water, then lead a discussion about finding those bits of downtime.  That being said, I think a teacher who is constantly ON - teaching, learning, seeking, reading, etc. - runs the risk of burning out very quickly.  This is especially true for those of us who are true introverts.  ~S. Owens  
    • prcammiso
      prcammiso on 06 Mar 16
       
      I strongly disagree with this quote. What happened to work/life balance? Downtime is important, and so is having interests outside of your job - especially for teachers who can get burnt out so easily. I think technology makes it so easy to be "working" 24/7 that we need to consciously separate ourselves from our jobs - which makes downtime so important. - P. Cammiso 
    • gabriellateresa
      gabriellateresa on 07 Mar 15
       
      When I was big into media and PR (before I realized my true passion in teaching!) I was ALWAYS on twitter. It actually got both myself and my significant other tons of business. I created one for both him and myself, and became so active in Twitter lists and following industry leaders that it actually had a huge effect in terms of promotion and clientele! -G.Ilisco
  • It’s a great list of interactive marketers and PR folks in the Twin Cities. Use Twitter lists to your advantage to make Twitter smaller–and more manageable–on a daily basis.
    • slm389
      slm389 on 09 Mar 15
       
      It is a great idea to steal these lists.  I don't know if I would know where to start in making my own lists, but stealing someone else's would also connect me to new Twitter bloggers! -S. Goodyear
    • jessqross
      jessqross on 22 Nov 15
       
      I am super excited to use these lists for the teacher blog/fb page I'd like to start as well as network with my nonprofit and music. I cannot believe I didn't know about this piece through twitter. This class has definitely enlightened my perspective on using social media, but understanding the simple frameworks that can make social media work for me instead of me working for it. -Jess Ross
    • gabriellateresa
      gabriellateresa on 07 Mar 15
       
      This strategy relates most to my personal life. I try my best to constantly have on my radio or podcasts to listen to as I'm doing tasks around the house. My favorite is Joel Osteen! It's such a great way to incorporate technology into your daily routines. -G.Ilisco
    • rjs387
      rjs387 on 09 Mar 15
       
      I'm not even sure how to find podcasts, let alone sort through them. Pointers anyone? Rudalia Sutton
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 11 Mar 15
       
      Rudalia - you can search for them on the Internet or look in Itunes. Sometimes the website will tell you they have them (news and sports sites especially).
  • Specifically, think about the time you’re captive, where you have nothing to do but the task at hand
  • The point is, get organized about your blog reading system
    • lminton25
      lminton25 on 07 Mar 15
       
      Ok so this is where I need to start really using social media to my benefit. I'm so used to getting my knowledge from reading magazines and talking to teachers that I work with that I forget how valuable social media is. Feebly is just the tool I need to stay organized because boy am I all over the place some days when it comes to keeping tabs on the different blogs that I sort through. With the use of feebly I can definitely take that 15 minutes to read through the important educational knowledge that is trending that I would have otherwise missed. - Lindsay Minton
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 09 Mar 15
       
      The really nice thing about feedly is that you can organize blogs into folders. So, I have my personal blogs (knitting, recipes, etc.) in separate folders. Then, I have a folder for student blogs, news, etc. -Dr. Fritz
    • slf327
      slf327 on 18 Nov 15
       
      I have never heard of this, but it is something that I think would be so beneficial. Now that I started a Twitter, I feel as if it is getting out of control, which gives me anxiety. Anything that helps me organized is a plus in my books! (Shannon Feerrar)
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 23 Nov 15
       
      Shannon - I try to get on Twitter for just a few minutes each day and scan through my feed. When the timer goes off, I leave it.....usually:). Dr. Fritz
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I like that this allows you to organize blogs in folders. It is similar to an e-mail account where you categorize e-mails. It makes it much easier to find the particular subject you are looking for. C. Spina
  • I use these articles and posts in presentations, client decks, blog posts and for reference in client meetings from time to time.
    • tscott34
      tscott34 on 08 Mar 15
       
      I really like this option although I haven't tried it.  It would be nice to be able to access highlighted information easily and quickly without having to take the time to search for the article in my bookmarks bar and then skim the article for the info.  I could pull up research or ideas at a team planning meeting or when I am writing lesson plans. Tonya Scott 
    • maria onorato
      maria onorato on 08 Mar 15
       
      This is actually a good idea. You never know when you might need a presentation for a work meeting, or an article for that matter.
    • maria onorato
      maria onorato on 08 Mar 15
       
      Sorry. I forgot to put my name.
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 21 Nov 15
       
      I agree, this would be a useful tool to access information quickly.  I can see using this when I'm teaching a new idea in science and I could have highlighted information ready to view on the SmartBoard to introduce the lesson or to add information to the lesson. (Dawn Lynn)
    • jpb342
      jpb342 on 22 Nov 15
       
      Diigo is a great tool for stuff like this, because we don't always have easy access to a pen and paper to write down the sources we found.  Diigo provides an easier way of doing this that is convenient, so finding and citing sources does not become the chore it can be. (John Bugay)
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I love that I can use this tool to easily share information with my staff. I like that you can highlight information that is important when I am delivering PD. C. Spina
  • Might not seem like much, but this gives you a great way to keep tabs on journalists you’re trying to develop relationships with, colleagues in the industry, business partners and other influencers. All of which you want to stay connected to.
    • tscott34
      tscott34 on 08 Mar 15
       
      Staying in contact with colleagues through facebook has been very helpful for me.  This may be a great collaboration tool.  A back-up plan so you don't miss anything colleagues are publishing.   Tonya Scott
    • James Hughes
      James Hughes on 08 Mar 15
       
      This seems like it would have direct application to creating a PLN and nurturing the online relationships in a meaningful give-and-take kind of way.
    • James Hughes
      James Hughes on 08 Mar 15
       
      Previous comment - J. Hughes
    • rjs387
      rjs387 on 09 Mar 15
       
      I agree that podcasts are a great way to extend your PLN. I have always wanted to create my own podcasts about teaching. I just didn't know how to get it out there into the digital cosmos. Rudalia Sutton
    • ryanjburks
      ryanjburks on 23 Nov 15
       
      The message that I'm getting from this section of the text is: "Stay Connected." This is directly related to the idea and use of PLNs that we have talked about in this class. There are many ways to build your PLN and this article gives wonderful tips.-Ryan Burks
  • The point is develop a process where you can scan and save a lot of posts/articles on the Web quickly and efficiently.
    • slm389
      slm389 on 09 Mar 15
       
      I like that the author gives ideas for tools to use, but basically just gives the idea that being organized is the most important part of the process.  Finding a way to keep a daily process efficient and reliable is what is most important.
    • ryanjburks
      ryanjburks on 23 Nov 15
       
      I agree completely with this statement. Using social media needs to be a planned process and something that can become habit and a routine. It can seem overwhelming at first, but I understand how this could be a useful activity.-Ryan Burks
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I love that these tools can allow me to more easily share resources with my staff. C. Spina
  • Many folks use Paper.li as a tool to curate content and then share that content on Twitter.
    • slm389
      slm389 on 09 Mar 15
       
      This is a great idea, but seems like it would be one of the more time consuming strategies.  I do like the image that the author also posted in the article of how Paper.li sorts through content for you. 
    • meridithhayden
      meridithhayden on 15 Mar 15
       
      I can see myself using this tool more in the summer.  I generally have more down time and would be able to take my time curating, rather than only able to allot 15-20 mins a day to any social media.  I will give this a try this coming summer. --Meridith Hayden
  • Paper.li
    • brittaniberg
      brittaniberg on 09 Mar 15
       
      This seems like a great thing.  It is a way to create and combine things that we read and find interesting and then share them with others in your field.  This could be a way to combine topics and articles then share the ideas with our students so they can see how what we are learning relates to the real world.  They can also see how others in industry are talking about what they are learning. B. Berg
  • curate content
    • barbaramay
      barbaramay on 22 Nov 15
       
      Good point--I agree. It is not being lazy...it is being resourceful and efficient. Barbara may
    • rjs387
      rjs387 on 09 Mar 15
       
      What does curate content mean? Rudalia Sutton
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 11 Mar 15
       
      "gather" content
  • Google Alerts.
    • lgbeeson
      lgbeeson on 02 Mar 16
       
      I never thought about adding a google alert to keep up with educational news but this is an outstanding idea! I could tailor my alerts with specific keywords to keep up with different things! - L. Beeson
    • rjs387
      rjs387 on 09 Mar 15
       
      Google has so many different ways to access information. I will be sure to check out Google Alerts. Rudalia Sutton
  • I organize my blogs by geography (MN blogs), discipline (PR, social media, mobile), clients (industry blogs) and other miscellaneous categories (fun, business blogs, etc.). With Feedly, I can scan headlines of these blogs in about 15 minutes a day (I give myself a hard stop). I look for posts that would be relevant to clients–and interesting to me. I bookmark those I think meet those criteria, maybe share them on Twitter/Facebook and move on. 100 blogs in 15 minutes. Believe it.
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 21 Nov 15
       
      This is my goal to organize social media and bookmark those things that are important to me. i would like to read important blogs in 15 minutes each day. (Dawn Lynn)
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 23 Nov 15
       
      Dawn - try feedly.com. I really like it! (And Google Reader doesn't exist anymore). -Dr. Fritz
    • samanthaelaine
      samanthaelaine on 04 Mar 16
       
      Organization is the key to everything. My blog post are not organized at all. I think that is something I need to work on. If blogs are organized than it will be possible to read blogs in 15 minutes. S Ruggiero
  • Maximize downtime
    • barbaramay
      barbaramay on 22 Nov 15
       
      this is when I have to disagree--downtime should be downtime. We do not have to constantly inundate our brains with more and more information. Sometimes, we can just let our brains relax and "zone out."
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 23 Nov 15
       
      Author for previous statement so that I can give you credit???
  • I’m talking about podcasts.
  • All of which you want to stay connected to
  • All of which you want to stay connected to.
    • cloring
      cloring on 23 Nov 15
       
      I think it's a great idea to use a tool like Feedly that just let's you see headlines. That way, you're not overwhelmed looking through a bunch of blogs, and can just refer back to the ones that really interested you
    • cloring
      cloring on 23 Nov 15
       
      Previous comment: Chelsea Loring
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 23 Nov 15
       
      Yes, Chelsea - feedly lets you also organize your feeds by subject. It is really convenient to only have to go to one page to read all of your feeds! -Dr. Fritz
  • My Diigo archive is a goldmine of articles and blog posts I’ve saved over the last 5-6 years.
    • charles stuart
      charles stuart on 23 Nov 15
       
      Diigo, is very new to me and this has been my first experiences with this method of social media.  I am sure I will take some time in the near future to explore this with a deeper meaning.  What I am also finding that I find myself getting introduced to so many social media tools, that by the time I figure it all out, I will be retired and on a beach in a sunny state, but having on young adult a soph in college and one teenager in the 10th grade, and one  in the 7th and one in the 3rd (lol, that's all) I enjoy discussing some of this with them.  Especially my oldest two, to see what their knowledge base is where they are attending school.
    • Carolyn Cruz
      Carolyn Cruz on 05 Mar 16
       
      I never really thought about how valuable these tools can be. Here it is in black and white, yet again from another source. I hope to continue learning about more tools that we can use to help us build our network of resources. I agree completely that these tools can keep information at our fingertips, especially when we are all using so many mobile devices.
  • A colleague and I lamented this point a couple months ago: Why don’t more people take advantage of Twitter lists? They give you a great way to make Twitter smaller. Consider the opportunities
    • charles stuart
      charles stuart on 23 Nov 15
       
      I have used Twitter on a limited bases in the past, actually after reading this, it reminded me that I had a twitter account for my non-profit organization that was maintained by another person of my organization.  I just felt that I got the same with Linkedin and had gotten use to it.  For me it's if I get use to it change becomes difficult.  It took me years to get use to not hearing the original ground line sign in of AOL, and more so to stop using AOL, actually, I still go there every now and then.  This course, all though I will admit, I have not put my best efforts in, is a very valuable course in that it educates you on what is out there and how to use these tools.  I will, as I have stated revisit all of these great tools, it will only make us more informed and social media up to date... 
    • tsc898
      tsc898 on 23 Nov 15
       
      I relate to this sentiment a lot. Twitter has never been very attractive to me partially because it's such a vast expanse of small ideas and thoughts. I tend to prefer going through articles and blogs. It's refreshing to think that you can make twitter serve to make finding those things easier. It hasn't been the best time for me to start using these social media tools recently, but in the coming months I may be moving to twitter to make the ways I already browse the internet more accessible and efficient. Timothy Conley
  • One thing I learned a while ago when it comes to curating content. If someone else is doing it better than you, steal from them
    • charles stuart
      charles stuart on 23 Nov 15
       
      Or, "hire them" and pay them their worth to keep them!  One of the most important realization of self, is knowing your limitations a lesson over the years I have been forced to learn, started out with a pluming job in my house that should have taken 2 hours, instead it took two days and a call to the plummer at weekend rates. It was at this time I fully understood someone's worth in their abilities to do things much better then I am possible of doing...
  • Facebook
    • lgbeeson
      lgbeeson on 02 Mar 16
       
      I have added and keep finding new resources to follow on Facebook and I keep adding new individuals to follow on Facebook everyday, I have stumbled upon so many excellent resources and professional development advice since I began expanding my PLN during this quarter. - L. Beeson
  • You have to maximize your downtime.
    • akenkelen
      akenkelen on 02 Mar 16
       
      I agree with Arik Hanson that as teachers, we must maximize any downtime that we have.  However, I do not think that downtime should be spent reading education blogs and twitter posts.  At least, this shouldn't happen all the time.  Everyone needs time to remove themselves from their jobs.  Not being able to do causes burn out.  I personally look forward to the little breaks during the school day so that I can turn off my brain momentarily and recharge my batteries. - Alex Kenkelen (EDUC 611-901)
  • I’m talking about podcasts.
    • corso91
      corso91 on 03 Mar 16
       
      Podcasts are an amazing resource! I was not really into them until I started this class, but there are so many different types of podcasts you can utilize to help you in the classroom. My favorite time to listen to them are in the car in the morning commute (there's no good music on this time anyway) and during my prep period. I have just been listening to them in the background as I do other work in my classroom. It is a great resource that I wish that I knew about earlier. -L.Corso
    • genevieve_kelly
      genevieve_kelly on 06 Mar 16
       
      Podcasts are so useful! I think about how often I am in the car driving from student teaching to work to school to home. I often use podcasts while I'm driving. They are an excellent resource and they introduce me to new ideas and people that can help me in the classroom and enhance my learning. -Genevieve Kelly
  • Paper.li does all the heavy lifting–and serves me up a daily/weekly digest of posts from people Paper.li thinks I find influential/interesting.
    • andreasantella
      andreasantella on 03 Mar 16
       
      It is nice that it keeps track of what might be of interest to you and shares those posts with you weekly.  This could be a big time saver.
  • It’s invaluable information–and it’s all at my fingertips because of this “scan and save” process I’ve developed (not all that groundbreaking, keep in mind)
    • samanthaelaine
      samanthaelaine on 04 Mar 16
       
      There is so much information at our fingertips and we need to be able to use it. Tools that will help us become better teachers and help us in our classrooms are all invaluable information. Scanning and saving can help us in so many ways. S Ruggiero
  • I use Diigo to not only archive posts (by tags/topics), but also to share them
    • ecameron4
      ecameron4 on 04 Mar 16
       
      One of the best ways for me to utilize social media is the ability to save things for later. Almost every time I find a great source I find while I'm waiting in line or some other time when I don't really have time to read the information but know that I want to read it later. Up to this point I have been using Pinterest to pin articles and sources for later. Diigo is a great tool however because then I can organize my saved sources. In Pinterest I have look around and hope to find the picture that goes with the link but in Diigo I can tag the post and then find it easily later. This ability to save things for later is imperative for me personally to be able to most efficiently and effectively use social media on the regular (Erin Cameron)
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I agree with you that Pinterest is not as user friendly as Diigo. C. Spina
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      This is the first time I have used Digolet, but I think it is a great tool. I would love to see this used in school and for homework assignment. Students can go in and share there ideas about any article the instructor chooses. It is an easy way for students to collaborate. C. Spina
  • but also to share
  • Paper.li
    • Kelly VandenBosche
      Kelly VandenBosche on 04 Mar 16
       
      I just checked out paper.li and found that it is moving to a paid service on March 8th. But I wasn't that impressed with it anyway. The automatically generated papers were not very well keword organized. When searching for physics education, I got mostly physical education articles.
  • Feedly
    • Kelly VandenBosche
      Kelly VandenBosche on 04 Mar 16
       
      I never got into an RSS system, because I have been far too busy. As this author mentions, I could scan the headlines, but I would never have time to go back and read the articles. Perhaps once I am finished with my PhD and concurrent MS and only have one job, I can attempt this. Now that I have some strategies, it might work.
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I have never gotten into on either. I have also been too busy with work and grad school. I hope to read more during the summer months.
    • pilar_fradin
      pilar_fradin on 08 Mar 16
       
      I still can't even figure out how they work, and how I'm supposed to find the time to read the headlines behind the articles.  I can barely find enough time for my Facebook news feed!
  • But, I also discovered a new tool called Newsle recently (thanks Heather Whaling!) that serves you up alerts (emails) each time one of your LinkedIn, Facebook or email database contacts is featured in a news story
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I explored "Newsle" and I plan on using it in the future. It saves you the time of searching for news stories containing information about people you follow on Social Media. Many times, there is a news story that would provide beneficial information to you, but you miss it because you did not have the time to browse the internet that day. C. Spina
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I researched "Newsle"and plan on using it in the future. I love that you can be notified when someone you follow on Social Media is mentioned in a news story. We do not always have time to browse the internet, so we miss articles that would be beneficial to us.
  • And, you need more information to do your job more effectively–and efficiently. And you want to stay smarter about industry trends.
    • cas3238
      cas3238 on 04 Mar 16
       
      I found this statement to be so important, because we need to constantly be learning. Education is changing so rapidly that it is hard to keep up with everything that we need to know. The more knowledge that an educator has about current educational trends, will lead to more effective instruction. C. Spina
  • Strategy #5: Turn on the radio
  • Why don’t more people take advantage of Twitter lists? They give you a great way to make Twitter smaller.
    • wenwahl
      wenwahl on 05 Mar 16
       
      Twitter is so expansive that would be almost impossible to cover all the content. Making lists is a good way to be organized and utilize the time you spend on it wisely. (W.Kerr)
  • Again
    • juliawisniewski
      juliawisniewski on 05 Mar 16
       
      It is extremely important to think about the downtime we have (especially those who are student teaching). By listening to podcasts (I listen to mine on my commute), we can maximize our learning time without wasting any time! -Julia Wisniewski
  • This is where a social bookmarking tool called Diigo does some serious heavy lifting for me
  • Curating your own content can be just as powerful as reviewing others that have done it for you.
    • cmcguigan91
      cmcguigan91 on 05 Mar 16
       
      It can be beneficial to compile our own resources i.e. blogs/articles related to education. This helps us to actively acknowledge what our particular interests are as we browse and what we personally find important. I like the idea of following blogs that curate content for you but sometimes our own interests can change and by browsing content we can evolve the content we curate accordingly. It is great that this tool will provide suggestions for you based on your interests also as it would keep the process more efficient. -Carissa McGuigan
  • Don’t do all the work yourself–seek out those sources that already exist and use that information to your advantage.
  • Don’t do all the work yourself–seek out those sources that already exist and use that information to your advantage.
  • Why don’t more people take advantage of Twitter lists?
    • cmcguigan91
      cmcguigan91 on 05 Mar 16
       
      I began using twitter several years ago as a teenager. Since then I strictly viewed twitter as a way to communicate with friends and to tweet about random thoughts. I never once thought of twitter being used for the purpose of expanding my knowledge in my professional life as a teacher. It was not until this course that I realized how beneficial it could be to use twitter for the purpose of following blogs and finding articles that would allow me to expand my knowledge as a teacher according to my own interests. I completely intend to create a twitter profile that is strictly for following professional blogs geared towards education. -Carissa McGuigan
    • Megan Krotz
      Megan Krotz on 05 Mar 16
       
      X Add Sticky Note Megan Krotz less than a minute ago Private One of the biggest takeaways I am getting from this article is to use my downtime in a productive way. Just like preparing my food for the week is the only way I pack a lunch and eat healthy, I need to find shortcuts and plan to do things like read blogs during my downtime. I did not know about setting up alerts or ways to check twitter faster, I actually try to go through the entire timeline. I think I need to spend time setting up things like this for the week, like reading 100 blogs in 15 mins and checking twitter more often! 
  • Delicious
    • shannonlowens
      shannonlowens on 06 Mar 16
       
      I attempted to use Delicious for an assignment earlier this term, but it didn't appear to have any new content in the last two years, at least that pertained to education. ~S. Owens
  • Does this scenario sound familiar? You’re stuck in meetings all day. You have absolutely no time. Yet your boss is asking you to stay on top of all things social media-related.
    • marjorierothman
      marjorierothman on 06 Mar 16
       
      What I find to be very interesting about these opening comments is that it addresses the idea that many people are being asked to follow more information than they are reasonably able to. Then the article goes on to explain how it is possible to stay up-to-date with social media in a shorter amount of time than many people would believe is possible. I think this quote is interesting because it is intrigues the reader to find out how it is possible to do more than we think we can do. I remember the first time I was on the internet, my professor telling me that the problem of the future will be that there is too much information, and we will have to week through the information to find what is actually relevant. This thought lead me to ask if it is important to scan hundreds of blogs, or is it more important to have a stronger working knowledge of actual information? I further wonder, how much information do we need, and what is the reason for scanning hundreds of blogs?
    • epbraun
      epbraun on 08 Mar 16
       
      I see how this strategy could work but unless you got back to actually read, what are you really getting out of scanning 100 blogs in 15 minutes?  I see how this works for the author but as a teacher, am I really taking advantage of the blog if I'm only scanning at the pace of 100 blogs in 15 minutes?
    • epbraun
      epbraun on 08 Mar 16
       
      I LOVE DIIGO! One of my biggest issues with reading online is that you don't have the opportunity to mark up your reading like you do with paper.  I also love that you can save for latter and use it to collaborate.  I have started using Diigo before this class and I hope to now start a more regimented process for using it.
    • epbraun
      epbraun on 08 Mar 16
       
      Driving is always a great time to listen to podcasts!  Obviously you can't take notes if needed, but I've found that Siri is a great way to jot down some things if I need to.  Think about all the time you have to drive and now imagine that time being productive!  What a difference!
  • Feedly is a blog reader tool (much like Google Reader).
    • pilar_fradin
      pilar_fradin on 08 Mar 16
       
      Feedly is laid out nicely, however I still don't understand the concept of scanning 100 blogs in 15 minutes.  Isn't that the same as simply reading the headlines? Headlines can be extremely misleading.  I tried setting up a Feedly page and I like it, but I still am not sure how I'm going to read blogs so quickly-I guess I just have to start practicing! -P. Fradin
  • mwilliams28 on 25 Nov 15
     
    The Twitter List is a great way to filter out irrelevant posts when scrolling through your timeline. I'm not a fan of not being able to Tweet a response or add to the conversation though. Marissa J Williams
  • mwilliams28 on 29 Nov 15
     
    o Is a great article on differentiating instruction! Eliminating Assessment Fog based on these three guidelines; identifying clear learning targets, separating logistical from academic, and providing different options/opportunities for students to demonstrate their understanding of the content is a great way to filter out unnecessary details that may confuse our students and distract them from learning objectives and what we as teachers truly expect from them. Marissa J. Williams
  • ecameron4 on 04 Mar 16
     
    I just added my highlight and sticky note to the article but I only saw comments and highlights from 2015 so I wanted to make sure that I commented in the right place.
megbrown80

50+ Tools for Differentiating Instruction Through Social Media | Edutopia - 21 views

www.edutopia.org/...cial-media-tools-john-mccarthy

shared by megbrown80 on 17 Nov 15 - No Cached
  • Selecting the Right Tool
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 17 Nov 15
       
      Very important - don't just choose technology for "technology's sake". -Dr. Fritz
    • ryanjburks
      ryanjburks on 22 Nov 15
       
      To me this is the most important aspect of incorporating technology into the classroom. Many teachers don't fully understand the technology that they are using and then the effectiveness isn't there.- Ryan Burks
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 23 Nov 15
       
      I agree!  We must seek out the tools and techniques that work for our students, but also add to the lesson.  We should not feel that we must use technology for "technology's sake".  
    • slf327
      slf327 on 18 Nov 15
       
      Very true! Although we may feel some social media projects would be fun for our students, we need to make sure there is a clear purpose that students of the intended age will comprehend (Shannon Feerrar
  • Zoom, a video conferencing tool that includes recording, enables students to connect with field experts on relating content to the world outside of school.
  • ...20 more annotations...
    • slf327
      slf327 on 18 Nov 15
       
      I just viewed a workshop through Zoom last night, it was AWESOME! It would be a great way to collaborate with students in other classrooms either in the district, state, country or worldwide. Students can either type in responses or even use a microphone to verbalize their questions or comments. Great tool in my eyes!
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 21 Nov 15
       
      Sounds like a great way to easily communicate with other students.  I will check out how this works-thanks!! (Dawn Lynn)
    • charles stuart
      charles stuart on 23 Nov 15
       
      While working on our current program, we are often using Zoom with our professor's.  I have enjoyed being able to stay in contact with my professor while working on my dissertation. It's a great way to be in touch and to feel in touch.  It took me a bit to get use to, not always wanting to do the video part, but have found it to be a very useful and necessary tool.
  • We truly are in a brave new world -- the good kind -- where differentiation opportunities evolve due to the variety of social media tools available
  • In this brave new world, we are fortunate to live and work in an environment where the possibilities are endless for getting students what they need when they need it, and in a format that works best for them.
    • slf327
      slf327 on 18 Nov 15
       
      So true! As I was drafting my final project AUP, I touched base on this, as I think students need to be aware that we are lucky to have all these tools to enhance our learning. (Shannon Feerrar)
    • William G Schumacher
      William G Schumacher on 19 Nov 15
       
      Good point, Shannon.  That is especially true when working in a more affluent public school or an independent school where there is more funding for tech resources.
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 20 Nov 15
       
      Also - to look at how it makes learning different - what can we do with social media that we couldn't do with traditional pen/paper? -Dr. Fritz
    • megbrown80
      megbrown80 on 21 Nov 15
       
      For me that is always the question- how is using social media or technology allowing me to do something that traditional pen/paper doesn't? How will students benefit from this? What tools am I giving them? 
    • ryanjburks
      ryanjburks on 23 Nov 15
       
      I think this is a great question and always something to consider when using social media inside of the classroom. What activities or ways can the use of social media enhance learning? Sometimes, a more traditional way of learning would be more appropriate.-Ryan Burks
  • Piktochart lets you create infographics to offer a visual explanation of a concept or idea.
    • William G Schumacher
      William G Schumacher on 19 Nov 15
       
      I like the idea of Piktochart, but I wonder how age-appropriate this is for elementary.  I can see secondary grades using this, but not elementary. (William Schumacher)
  • Imagine a world where resources were limited to what was found in the classroom or the school closet known as the "Curriculum Materials Room." Picture a world where students wrote letters with pen and paper to communicate with other students and adults outside of the building. Due to postage costs, the teacher either sent the letters in bulk or paid for stamps out of his or her own pocket. Can you recall a time when student interests like skateboarding or video were never used as part of learning curriculum because the tools needed were either too expensive or not yet conceptualized? Do you remember a time when non-traditional learners struggled, and absenteeism meant a high likelihood of students doing poorly in school, and possibly having to retake the course?
    • Erica Soble
      Erica Soble on 20 Nov 15
       
      I find this hits close to home. I remember in Elementary school writing letters to a pen pal with paper and pencil. We used chalkboards for our work and would love going up to write on them. Now everything is on the computer and Smart Boards. Students don't have to do any work in their head. Sort of sad in a sense. (E. Soble)
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 21 Nov 15
       
      In the school where district where I work we still use many of the "traditional tools" in school.  We wrote pen pals this year and we still wrote them on paper and mailed them.  In my district, high absenteeism still means a liklihood of not doing well in school.  Technology is great, but it does not solve all of the problems that we still see in today's rural schools.  (Dawn Lynn)
  • When students address concepts from diverse perspectives, especially in collaborative groups, it can lead to in-depth understanding. Learning profiles are about providing each student with experiences that incorporate a variety of learning style elements, not just one. Such activities help students find deeper connections, especially if they share points of view via peer reflection and dialog.
    • Erica Soble
      Erica Soble on 20 Nov 15
       
      I like the idea of using learning profiles for students. It will help them develop a better understanding of the topic but also see how well they are progressing. (E. Soble)
    • wwprincessjww
      wwprincessjww on 25 Nov 15
       
      I also agree. We used these here at Drexel so why not use them for young kids?! Love it. -Jeannine
  • Allowing students to tackle work based on the option that makes the most sense to them is crucial for cognitive connections. Seeing a concept in context of a topic in which the learner has great interest -- and possibly expertise -- can help him or her turn abstract ideas into concrete purpose.
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 21 Nov 15
       
      I struggle with finding ways to incorporate this idea into the classroom.  I need to think "outside the box" when developing lesson plans that allow for additional choices of how students can complete the task at hand. (Dawn Lynn)
  • Create playlists (like this one) to provide that variety.
    • jpb342
      jpb342 on 22 Nov 15
       
      One thing that can help make these playlists even more enriching is another application known as educanon, which I have recently discovered.  Here questions can be inserted into Youtube videos that will assess student understanding for what they just watched.  This way they aren't just watching a video, but are engaged with it as well. (John Bugay)
  • media is most effective when we plan learning experiences based on content, process, and product (our lesson structure) and incorporate readiness, interests, and learning profiles (student voice).
    • jpb342
      jpb342 on 22 Nov 15
       
      We constantly need to remember that social media by itself is never enough, we need to bend it to our uses and create experiences that benefit ourselves and our learners.
    • jpb342
      jpb342 on 22 Nov 15
       
      Forgot name again - John Bugay
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 23 Nov 15
       
      I agree!  It is important to use technology, but we must choose what works best for our students and what adds to the lesson.  We should not use technology for "technology's sake". (Dawn Lynn)
    • wwprincessjww
      wwprincessjww on 25 Nov 15
       
      Yes, every student is different. I like Power Point but that  might not be best for everyone. 
    • wwprincessjww
      wwprincessjww on 25 Nov 15
       
      -Jeannine
  • Be clear about the academic learning outcomes. Assess what students know and don't know.
    • ryanjburks
      ryanjburks on 22 Nov 15
       
      I think it's very important to let the students know what the learning outcome is when technology is introduced. Certainly there are tools that can be used to just bring more "fun" into the classroom, but most of the time the tools are used for a specific purpose.-Ryan Burks
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 23 Nov 15
       
      Just like any other lesson, the learning objectives  need to be clear and explicit.  Many times when technology is used, students think it is some sort of game.  We need to teach our students that technology in the classroom is to help them obtain the learning objective, not just to see how many points they score in "First in Math".  (Dawn Lynn)
    • ulshf280
      ulshf280 on 23 Nov 15
       
      Teaching students how to use technology appropriately is key to successful implementation of the a tool. For example, setting clear expectations on the purpose of using a blog for reading responses is appropriate so students are not using them for social networking purposes. (Felicia Ulsh)
  • Readiness focuses on a student's current academic skill level. Work is structured to help them address any gaps or needs for enrichment. Students work in like-skill groups for specific, targeted support to address a common need, such as guided reading or tiered (leveled) activities. They also collaborate in mixed-skill groups to support struggling students with needed skill development. Additionally, experiences can stretch the advanced students in a mixed-skill group -- they may have the core skills, yet the critical thinking challenges them and their teammates.
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 23 Nov 15
       
      I love teaching guided math and reading groups.  I love to push those students that are learning the material quickly and I love to figure out how to best help those students that are struggling.  I have two students in my class that receive learning support services.  I always mix up the small groups to include varying academic levels and I love to see the kids helping each other. 
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 23 Nov 15
       
      Dawn Lynn
    • charles stuart
      charles stuart on 23 Nov 15
       
      Good post Dawn, What I appreciate most about your comments is that you state that you "love" teaching, and especially math, which was definitely one of my greatest moments in education for me. In reading your post I can sense you enjoyment for teaching and your ability to be creative, which I think is so important in education of others. I have so much respect for teachers who really love what they do.  I recently observed a math class, middle school, recently and it's not easy work.  But, like you, this teacher made it interesting, and I thought, she has to do that a few times daily, weekly and yearly.  This was truly a "wow" moment and an impressive one..  So  thanks
  • Use fog-free assessments that track learner progress.
    • ulshf280
      ulshf280 on 23 Nov 15
       
      I never heard of "fog free" assessments before. I thought this was interesting because as a special education teaching this is something I do all of the time. You look for specific academic needs through various assessments so you provide the specially designed instruction that is necessary to meet the needs of a student with a disability. Fog Free assessments are simple like this. If you click on the link it takes you to another article that explains what they are. The author of that article basically said that these are the kind of assessments where you need to look for the information and the data. (Felicia Ulsh)
  • Youtube Playlists: There are many videos that address content from different perspectives, including the one way that a particular student or teacher needs to see it.
    • ulshf280
      ulshf280 on 23 Nov 15
       
      I use Youtube playlists all of the time. These are great for lesson openers to catch the interests of the children. It is a great way to differentiate for your visual learners. Actually not only visual but all learners. This is a way to incorporate 21st century media into the classroom. Again, as I mentioned on someone else's comment, students need to learn how to use the technology tool appropriately. I can not stress that enough.
  • In the past, limited access placed a hardship on teachers to meet the diverse needs of their students, especially when school resources are limited.
    • charles stuart
      charles stuart on 23 Nov 15
       
      Being a child of the 60's  and not having this new age of technology to meet our needs, "back in the day" would you say my education was not as "complete" as the education of others?  When I think about this I think I preferred my education then.  It may not have been huge in content, but it was personal and I felt more socially connected.  There is much I could discuss on then and now education.
  • As more schools review their cell phone policy and allow students to use their "internet devices," learning options increase with access to social media apps and other online tools such as those mentioned above.
    • charles stuart
      charles stuart on 23 Nov 15
       
      In sticking with reality, this also brings in the negative, and I feel this is where we fall behind with this continual surge of technology.  We are moving so fast and not considering the "bad" that comes with this.  As it's a brave new world for students, others, with other agenda's are also sharing this brave new world.  Even on school levels, with the use of social media to promote negative behaviors, let's talk about them.
  • Survey Monkey is one of many online survey tools for capturing pre- and formative assessment of students' progress. This one is also a good tool for student feedback on the helpfulness of the intervention used.
    • charles stuart
      charles stuart on 23 Nov 15
       
      In during research, I truly enjoy this tool and use it often. It was great in my masters thesis,and will probably use this in my doctoral dissertation.  Easy to use and collect, analyze data, getting consent, and maintaining ethics.
    • Mathew Kennedy
      Mathew Kennedy on 24 Nov 15
       
      Survey monkey is so easy to use and can create a quick, fast assessment for a student.  It can track results and can be done in the class or at home.  It's a great tool!
  • Differentiating with social media is most effective when we plan learning experiences based on content, process, and product (our lesson structure) and incorporate readiness, interests, and learning profiles (student voice). The following guidelines can help any classroom teacher ensure that the tool used will address students' needs:
    • wwprincessjww
      wwprincessjww on 25 Nov 15
       
      One way differentiation is made possible w social media is that some intelligences are less outgoing than others. Rather than learning face to face and feeling pressure answer questions, children can learn face to face in an online setting. -Jeannine McGoldrick 
  • Imagine a world where resources were limited to what was found in the classroom or the school closet known as the "Curriculum Materials Room." Picture a world where students wrote letters with pen and paper to communicate with other students and adults outside of the building.
    • wwprincessjww
      wwprincessjww on 25 Nov 15
       
      People can stop having ideas and stop at a paper and a pen but if we keep applying creativity to the way we communicate, we can apply social media to learning and go beyond what we knew. There are always more ways.  -Jeannine McGoldrick
    • megbrown80
      megbrown80 on 25 Nov 15
       
      This is so important for students because the more students feel to classroom the more comfortable they'll be. By identifying a students background connections you can also bring context to learning and engage students
  • wwprincessjww on 20 Nov 15
     
    John McCarthy Education Consultant, Advocate for Student Voice in Learning Imagine a world where resources were limited to what was found in the classroom or the school closet known as the "Curriculum Materials Room." Picture a world where students wrote letters with pen and paper to communicate with other students and adults outside of the building. A class room doesn't have to be limited to just pens and paper. -Jeannine McGoldrick
  • ...1 more comment...
  • mwilliams28 on 25 Nov 15
     
    http://www.edutopia.org/blog/differentiated-instruction-eliminating-assessment-fog-john-mccarthy Is a great article on differentiating instruction! Eliminating Assessment Fog based on these three guidelines; identifying clear learning targets, separating logistical from academic, and providing different options/opportunities for students to demonstrate their understanding of the content is a great way to filter out unnecessary details that may confuse our students and distract them from learning objectives and what we as teachers truly expect from them. Marissa J. Williams
  • mwilliams28 on 29 Nov 15
     
    * "Survey Monkey is one of many online survey tools for capturing pre- and formative assessment of students' progress. This one is also a good tool for student feedback on the helpfulness of the intervention used" I have used Survey Monkey in the past to create company-wide surveys to capture my colleagues ideas on diversity, company processes and best practices in nonprofit. Never have I thought about using survey monkey as an assessment tool for students....and the fact that it can be used for differentiation is even more exciting.
  • Megan Krotz on 09 Jan 16
     
    Learning how to comment here! Differentiation with technology is excellent!
akenkelen

Introducing Social Media to Elementary Students | Edutopia - 23 views

www.edutopia.org/...-lower-elementary-beth-holland

shared by akenkelen on 12 Nov 13 - No Cached
  • it has become an imperative for us as educators -- and parents -- to model appropriate digital citizenship to even our youngest learners.
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 17 Nov 15
       
      "Even our youngest learners" - yes - as young as preschool if they understand reading a book/print.
    • jessqross
      jessqross on 22 Nov 15
       
      I think of my 8 month old and her ability to swipe left and right on my husbands Kindle already! Our children are exposed to all sorts go technology from birth and we should exposed them to it but responsibly. I remember telling my husband, i didn't want her to watch tv too early or be exposed to technology without loving the pages of a book first... It's definitely hard, can be done, be technology and social media should be in moderation. -Jess Ross
    • ocatvia
      ocatvia on 22 Nov 15
       
        Jess,your comment took me back to another article I read about how today's young people's brains have been completely rewired and almost programmed to be receptive to technology. But your concern as to how to behave in a parentally responsible way with regard to when and how to introduce your young child to technology made me also recall earlier articles I read about the many tech-employed parents working in Silicon Valley and how they have elected not to expose their preschool and elementary children to technology and social media because these, they believe, " inhibit creative thinking, movement, human interaction and attention spans." Like you, many want their children to discover of the magic of turning a page of a book and getting lost in it.  Here is a like to one such article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/technology/at-waldorf-school-in-silicon-valley-technology-can-wait.html?_r=0    (O. McBride)  
    • jessqross
      jessqross on 22 Nov 15
       
      Thanks O. It is amazing the how many folks in Silicon Valley have the outlook. I understand their theory, however, i do understand that our work is saturated with it and it's many time necessary to even communicate and learn. I'm looking forward to digging in to this resource and reading a little more on this subject. Thanks for the article! :) -Jess Ross
  • teacher's blog post
    • slf327
      slf327 on 18 Nov 15
       
      I JUST LOVE THIS. This is everything I hope for in my future classroom. As I have been planning my final project, I felt as if I was starting out with something way to involved and was thinking about scrapping it all. After reading this, I am keeping it and am up for the challenge, as the students will get so much out of the experience! Awesome to hear how it works in other classrooms. I will have to check out her Twitter to see how it is unfolding! (Shannon Feerrar)
    • azajac32
      azajac32 on 21 Nov 15
       
      This is definitely a shining example of how successful it can be for an educator. I know I would love to implement some kind of technology into my classroom and the way this teacher is doing it is a great inspiration. The engagement piece of the students is is something we all strive for and how to change it up so our students want to keep asking those questions! -Andrea Zajac
  • ...28 more annotations...
  • I have worked with and spoken to dozens of educators who strongly feel that engaging in social media is irrelevant for them because of their students' age
    • slf327
      slf327 on 18 Nov 15
       
      I feel as if this is a common "argument." As we learn more about the benefits of utilizing social media within the younger classroom, we have to share the positives and how we are going to change any difficulties that we faced. Hopefully that will allow for others to understand and see the benefits with utilizing social media in the younger classrooms.
    • Erica Soble
      Erica Soble on 20 Nov 15
       
      Social media in the classroom, specifically the younger classroom is a key element to learning in my opinion. Students are already so tech savvy that we need to help them learn how they already know how. Our school district just blocked Pinterest from the computers because it is a social media site. Lots of teachers use that for their lessons though so they are working on getting that resolved.
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 20 Nov 15
       
      It's all about education - most of the administrators in the district probably have never been educated on social media - so they are afraid of it. If you create meaningful learning experiences using social media, then share it with others - invite them into your classroom to see how your students could benefit. Change takes time but it only takes one "irritation" in the system to begin that change. Dr. Fritz
    • slf327
      slf327 on 21 Nov 15
       
      Local districts in Lancaster have all started to participate in more technology in the classroom and the whole social media idea. I am not sure what district started it but it just seemed like all of a sudden everything went paperless and we were to be subscribing to district apps to keep up on what is going on. (Shannon Feerrar)
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 23 Nov 15
       
      I am seeing an increase in the use of social media in my school district, but with just the younger teachers and particulary in Kindgergarten.  At my school, the kindergarten teachers have a website for their grade.  They also use bar codes and other means to increase student participation during class.  I have had training on these techniques, but have not used them yet. (Dawn Lynn)
  • This fall, however, they uncovered a new dimension for Twitter. In October, one member of the class found himself trapped in New York during Hurricane Sandy. Kristin Ziemke and her students used Twitter and their blogs to learn about the storm while also checking on their classmate's well being. She describes the experience in her blog:
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 20 Nov 15
       
      To add a sticky note right to the highlight, after you highlight - hover your mouse over the top left of the highlighted text. Then, a menu will appear - click the down arrow and add your note. -Dr. Fritz
    • slf327
      slf327 on 18 Nov 15
       
      I am so amazed by these teachers and their creativity. Great use of social media here! (Shannon Feerrar)
    • fareedadams
      fareedadams on 22 Nov 15
       
      I am amazed by the creativity too Shannon. (Fareed Adams)
  • Students already have enough screen time. Students need to be able to communicate in person. Students don't need to know about social media at this point -- it isn't age appropriate.
    • ferkomp
      ferkomp on 19 Nov 15
       
      I found this portion of the article to be very helpful. Since starting this class, I have focused mainly on the positives that social media has on students and the classroom. However, these three bullets make very compelling concerns/arguments for social media in the classroom. I feel it is important to gain a wide range of facts/opinions on topics even if you still feel the positives outweigh the negatives! - Mark Ferko
    • Erica Soble
      Erica Soble on 20 Nov 15
       
      These bullets are so true. The students are going home after school and sitting on some form of technology. Most think of social media as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, those sorts of things. I thought that too until I started taking this course. There is lots that students can use as far as social media that isn't along those lines.
  • individual
    • ferkomp
      ferkomp on 19 Nov 15
       
      I found this conclusion to the article to be very summative of the importance of social media in the classroom. The one part I especially liked as "whether you introduce social media to students through a class blog, individual student blogs, Twitter or paper, there is NO "right way" to begin". -- Mark Ferko
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 20 Nov 15
       
      The only "right way" is the way that enhances learning/connections/communications for your students! -Dr. Fritz
    • azajac32
      azajac32 on 21 Nov 15
       
      I agree this is a great way to end the article. I think the part where it states "we introduce all children to social media in appropriate and meaningful ways" is key. To teach digital citizenship then we have to decipher the context for how are students are to be engaged and what they should be doing to create a proper learning experience still even online. - Andrea Zajac
    • William G Schumacher
      William G Schumacher on 22 Nov 15
       
      I agree that "teaching students about social media in appropriate and meaning ways" is very important.  I remember learning typing in middle school in the early '90's, and how bored I was with only typing certain letters with certain fingers.  I was really excited to type and use a computer, but I was not engaged because what we were doing was not meaningful.  So important!
  • Whether you introduce social media to students through a class blog, individual student blogs, Twitter or paper, there is no "right way" to begin. Do I really feel that toddlers should Tweet? Probably not. However, what's important is that we introduce all children to social media in appropriate and meaningful ways, regardless of their age, such that they can connect to a global audience and develop as empowered, networked learners.
  • If we honestly think about it, we were all taught the "social media" of our time in early elementary school. Remember the friendly letter? How about thank you notes? Telephone etiquette? In early grades, none of us were expected to master these skills independently, but they were integrated into our curriculum so that effective social behavior could be modeled at a young age
    • ferkomp
      ferkomp on 19 Nov 15
       
      I found this to be a very amazing and thought out point. It was a great addition to the article and really made a nice reference to past years before today's  "social media" was around! -- Mark Ferko
    • km3337
      km3337 on 20 Nov 15
       
      Students will be needing these media skills as they matriculate into middle and high school. For a student who is shy, this can be another way for them to communicate. (K.Maguire)
    • megbrown80
      megbrown80 on 21 Nov 15
       
      I completely agree and I hadn't thought of this before the article. We introduce these concepts to students at an early age and social media is another medium where students are sharing their ideas.  I do think the difference is that a letter and phone call are private between two people. Social media opens up our thoughts and opinions up to a great world and because of that we need to educate our students as early as possible.  (M.Brown)
    • slf327
      slf327 on 21 Nov 15
       
      Playing Devils advocate side: it also opens up for the lack of being responsible with communication, hence the large amount of cyber bullying and sharing of personal information. It is IMPERATIVE that we teach our students what is appropriate and inappropriate media manners. As teachers we also need to make sure we are aware of what is going on within our own sites and student usage in school. This seems to be fairly easy with programs to see what our students are doing on the computer as they are doing it. (Shannon Feerrar)
    • azajac32
      azajac32 on 22 Nov 15
       
      I am also going to play devils advocate here because I think there is a loss of letter writing and cards in our world today. I did a lesson this past spring for pre-student teaching on card writing and the students loved it. They wanted to write more than one card. I think we have to teach our students how to be good writers first before we direct them to a social media environment. This can easily be done as we teach students and I agree it has to be appropriate with their writing. "You" is not spelled "U". Maybe I am sentimental, but I was just thinking the other day when we think about how people recorded history we had letters to help us piece some of it together. I would like students to still hold value to the power of writing. One word said wrong and posted out to the world could change their whole life. -Andrea Zajac 
  • I walked past their blog walls. To teach the concept of posting and commenting, the students created physical blogs on bulletin boards in the hallway of the school
    • Erica Soble
      Erica Soble on 20 Nov 15
       
      This was very interesting to see. I had never thought of using a blog as a form of writing for students in elementary level. The classroom that I am student teaching in is a preK classroom. They don't know how to type but they are journaling. They draw a picture and then write about it. If I had a higher classroom, I would think about blogging as their writing. (E. Soble)
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 20 Nov 15
       
      For the younger students, you could add their drawing to VoiceThread. THen, the students could "speak" their comments/story about the picture! -Dr. Fritz
    • megbrown80
      megbrown80 on 21 Nov 15
       
      What a wonderful idea! Showing students that really they are making a poster that has their ideas and opinions goes a long way to making the internet and posting less abstract. (M.Brown)
    • azajac32
      azajac32 on 21 Nov 15
       
      I found this interesting as well. It is a great way to work on the pre-writing process with students as well as incorporating an introduction to how to use social media. I have seen some teachers do the whole Instagram or Selfie walls, but this to me would be more connected and more structural because then the students can actually go and write on their class blog. I agree Kindergarteners would love to record themselves. Knowing that we are working on fundamentals at this point in the year I see this being a great lesson activity for later in the year when they have gained some reading and more writing skills. They would feel more confident in their "voice" to want to record it. This is why I like the resource StoryBird it is a similar concept, but even this Croak.It resource would be nice for the students to use. -Andrea Zajac
    • William G Schumacher
      William G Schumacher on 22 Nov 15
       
      I love this idea!  I did something similar with a Google+ profile for the class, and they decorated the board with their profile information as a class.  The kids really enjoyed expressing themselves as a class.
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 23 Nov 15
       
      Now that I know how easy it is to use voice thread, I could see using this tool in elementary school and having the kids make a presentation for the classroom or even the school! (Dawn Lynn)
  • In just the past few weeks, Kristen Wideen's students have shared math stories with a class in Iowa and frog data with a class in Singapore
    • km3337
      km3337 on 20 Nov 15
       
      This lends itself to the concept of flat classroom. As adults, it is necessary to collaborate across the globe in science and medicine. It's a great opportunity for students to build on their learning from another perspective. -K. Maguire
    • slf327
      slf327 on 21 Nov 15
       
      It would also help encourage accepting others and respecting others opinions. It will also allow students to open their minds and possibly learn a new way to to something. (Shannon Feerrar)
    • cloring
      cloring on 23 Nov 15
       
      This type of interaction is great. Not only does it let students share what they are learning, but it allows them to see how other students learn, and how their culture is different (C.Loring)
  • Lately, the grade 1/2 students in Kristen Wideen's class have been studying tadpoles and frogs. I know this because I've seen their Padlet wall of questions, witnessed the delivery of tadpoles, and watched a young boy read to his amphibian friend -- all through Twitter
    • megbrown80
      megbrown80 on 21 Nov 15
       
      This highlights the way social media can be so helpful to bringing parents and the community into the classroom. Parents can feel connected to their children's learning which means they will hopeful be able to engage with their children better and more easily. 
    • slf327
      slf327 on 21 Nov 15
       
      Anything that helps with parent involvement is always a plus!!!
  • Kristen Wideen originally created a class Twitter account so that her students could begin to engage in the cultivation of their own Personal Learning Networks (PLNs). Her students not only learn, but also share their learning with a broader community. Whether through whole-group Twitter activities and Skype, calls or individual KidBlogs, these students recognize that there are connections to be made beyond their Ontario classroom -- all while working on their reading, writing, communication and collaboration.
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 21 Nov 15
       
      This is proof that elementary students can benefit from social media. Young learners and their families can see the advantages of using social in the classroom and young students are taught, at an early age, proper use of social media tools.
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 21 Nov 15
       
      (Dawn Lynn)
  • My students were empowered to be part of a learning network that was for students, by students. So often, young children only have access to information that is filtered through an adult channel. While oftentimes that is appropriate, kids also need the model of other children as information providers
    • azajac32
      azajac32 on 21 Nov 15
       
      There were many things said in this article, but I find this quote to be just as profound. We want our students to feel empowered and be a part of the learning process. In a social media context the students really do get to do this. I hesitate on how to introduce this at such a young age, but as models for our students we can help guide them in the right direction. -Andrea Zajac
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 23 Nov 15
       
      This also speaks to a classroom being student led instead of always being teacher led.  I love to watch students work together and teach each other.  This is one area where I see the need for improvement in my teaching style and technology is one tool to increase this type of learning in the classroom.  (Dawn Lynn)
    • tsc898
      tsc898 on 23 Nov 15
       
      Student led learning seems particularly important with online resources since its something so many people use on their own. The more students practice exploring online resources and learn how to use online resources to accomplish tasks, the more students will be able to do this on their own. With the fast pace of that technology is evolving, its imperative that students learn to explore new online tools because new ones come along so often and old ones change in time. Timothy Conley
  • KidBlogs
    • azajac32
      azajac32 on 21 Nov 15
       
      With the resources mentioned hear such as KidBlogs and Croak.It there is a better understanding of how to implement social media in a classroom at a younger age. Before these I do not feel there would have been much success nor would teachers felt safe. The more tools available that offer a safe environment for students more teachers are going to want to use them.  -Andrea Zajac
  • Comments
  • Social media enables the creation of meaningful connections
    • jessqross
      jessqross on 22 Nov 15
       
      Meaningful connections! Because technology surrounds our ever day life... these are the "authentic and relevant connections" our children make with the world. It's the way they communicate. Although, face-to-face connections are important,educators should continue to find ways to teach children within this foundation, meeting their need and source of connection. -Jess Ross
    • cloring
      cloring on 23 Nov 15
       
      I also think this is important to students who may have social anxiety. Although it may be impossible for them to talk to someone in person, they may open up a lot more on social media/through technology (C.Loring)
  • connections
  • students
    • fareedadams
      fareedadams on 22 Nov 15
       
      I highlighted this section of the article introducing Social Media to Elementary Students because I think it emphasizes the importance for hands on activities for elementary school students.
    • fareedadams
      fareedadams on 22 Nov 15
       
      I highlighted this section of the article introducing Social Media to Elementary Students because I think it emphasizes the importance for hands on activities for elementary school students. (Fareed Adams)
    • km3337
      km3337 on 24 Nov 15
       
      This would be great to share with parents on Back to School Night because we often hear concerns from parents over amounts of screen time at home and they want their child to have opportunities for typical social time activities like recess at school. - Kathryn Maguire
  • Collectively, they would discuss their learning experiences as a class, before Tweeting out their thoughts, questions and ideas to their broader learning community.
    • fareedadams
      fareedadams on 22 Nov 15
       
      I think this is what makes tweeting so dynamic because you can transcend the confines of the classroom and connect with the broader community. (Fareed Adams)
    • jessqross
      jessqross on 22 Nov 15
       
      http://www.academia.edu/194162/Collaborative_Learning_Experiences_Using_Social_Networks Social Media Networks can play a huge role in the development of our children's learning experiences. I have attached this article on collaboration in the learning experience through 3 phases through a "live learning strategy". Enjoy! :) -Jess Ross
  • Not only did social media empower this student, but it also provided her with a global audience. In 18 days, she received 42 comments from teachers, family members and other adults from across the continent. By empowering her students with the use of social media, Kristin Ziemke connects them to a global audience and introduces them to the complex communication required to be effective digital citizens.
  • For teachers who have only started to explore the uses of social media for their own professional development, much less with their students, setting children loose on blogs or Twitter can seem daunting.
    • Mathew Kennedy
      Mathew Kennedy on 24 Nov 15
       
      Getting something started with something new can sometime scare people.  For people who are not technologically inclined this could be even worse.  I've heard teachers in the past shy away from technology instead of embracing it because they aren't tech savvy.  As teachers, we need to assume that new things and ideas will come out and we have to jump on board.  In the end, students benefit from this and that's the number one priority.  
  • As I said, I agree. However, if used effectively, social media can transform a student's learning experience.
    • km3337
      km3337 on 24 Nov 15
       
      Communicating with students from other environments can be valuable. Students can share things that they are good at as well as things that they struggle with. It is powerful for a child to hear from another child from a place outside their immediate realm. - K. Maguire 
  • Extend the Classroom
    • wwprincessjww
      wwprincessjww on 25 Nov 15
       
      "Extend the classroom" is a great phrase. Why does a classroom have to be a room? Social media came make the world the classroom. -Jeannine McGoldrick
  • I agree that young children need to interact in a face-to-face setting.
    • wwprincessjww
      wwprincessjww on 25 Nov 15
       
      "Children need to interact in a face to face setting". Children who are a bit shy will have an easier time face to face when they're online. -Jeannine McGoldrick
  • nicolecartledge on 12 Nov 13
  • ...2 more comments...
  • wwprincessjww on 20 Nov 15
     
    I have no idea if my highlighting and note will show up -Jeannine McGoldrick
  • mrslynn1321 on 21 Nov 15
     
    Beth Holland, communication coordinator and instructor at EdTech Teacher, gives three age-appropriate examples of introducing social media to children in the lower elementary grades.
  • mwilliams28 on 25 Nov 15
     
    The more I reflect on introducing social media to our elementary students, the more I wonder if we are teaching them that they are not relevant unless they are connected to a group of individuals beyond their physical environment, or to subconsciously validate themselves by the number of likes or comments they receive from their followers...#hmmmm~ Marissa Williams
  • mwilliams28 on 29 Nov 15
     
    "To teach the concept of posting and commenting, the students created physical blogs on bulletin boards in the hallway of the school." Before actually introducing a social media tool in the class we could have a blog wall to teach students #posting, #commenting and reflection to stare and frame their conversations and get them familiar with the process.
Mathew Kennedy

Engaging Your School Community Through Social Media | Edutopia - 13 views

www.edutopia.org/...-social-media-howard-stribbell

shared by Mathew Kennedy on 17 Nov 15 - No Cached
  • Link your other social media initiatives on your website
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 17 Nov 15
       
      Keep everything in one place - when you go to most sites, you'll see all social media links at the top - look at this page - everything is at the top right of the page! -Dr. Fritz
    • William G Schumacher
      William G Schumacher on 19 Nov 15
       
      Agreed!  I try to have everything in a central place; the less clicking and navigating, the more likely people (parents and students) will use your webpage.
    • jpb342
      jpb342 on 22 Nov 15
       
      Right now I am continuing to create and fine tune my weebly website, my PLP, and am seeing how effective it can be to have everything in one focal location, instead of having the user try to navigate through many pages to get to where they want to go. (John Bugay)
    • Mathew Kennedy
      Mathew Kennedy on 24 Nov 15
       
      I learned in a class one time that people become less likely to follow something and participate in something if it takes more than 3 clicks to access.  Keeping everything is one place helps with that.  Remember the 3 click rule.  A good site for that is Symbaloo.com.
  • you should have an official YouTube channel
    • William G Schumacher
      William G Schumacher on 19 Nov 15
       
      I love the idea of having a YouTube channel.  I have created one and I hope to have short mini-lesson videos, or video some of read-loud books for other classes to watch.  I am placed in a high needs school with a very small library.  We use a lot of YouTube videos of people reading books IF we don't have access to the actual book in the school library. (William Schumacher) 
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 20 Nov 15
       
      You seem to be taking a few concepts related to the "flipped classroom" - have you ever looked into that? -Dr. Fritz
    • William G Schumacher
      William G Schumacher on 21 Nov 15
       
      Yes, I have explored the flipped classroom concept, however I read it more as a way to post lectures/content to view as homework, allowing for more learning time during the school day. Is there more than one interpretation of this concept?
    • Mathew Kennedy
      Mathew Kennedy on 24 Nov 15
       
      I feel YouTube can be a great tool for a teacher to supplement work at home.  Students who need that extra push might benefit from a teacher YouTube channel with content that they are currently learning.
  • Our teachers use Twitter to celebrate what they are doing in their classrooms, ask questions, share resources, and document their learning.
    • William G Schumacher
      William G Schumacher on 19 Nov 15
       
      YES!  Using Twitter has been a great way to communicate with parents and other teachers what we've been covering in class.  I love Twitter because it allows for conversation (through hashtags, etc) about different learning styles and approaches, and I find that I learn most about teaching after a great discussion with another teacher. (William Schumacher)
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 21 Nov 15
       
      I need to become more comfortable with Twitter before I could handle communicating with parents using this tool.  However, I have been using Class DoJo to communicate with parents this year and that is working for the parents that chose to sign up.  What do you do when parents don't have a Twitter account?
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 21 Nov 15
       
      Dawn Lynn-forgot my name on the last post.
    • azajac32
      azajac32 on 22 Nov 15
       
      I love the concept of using Twitter, but how do we get more schools to buy in to this? I have only be in schools that are rural communities and the use of technology is going to be varied from families that may have all the latest gadgets and are up on the latest social media apps, but then their are families who can't afford or have access to these types of resources. My biggest concern would be how are you reaching everyone? I think the school would definitely need to survey the parents/guardians and then shape their website and communication tools based off this. Unfortunately paper I think is still going to have to be necessary for some. I have the same question how do you reach the parents that don't have Twitter or Facebook? 
    • azajac32
      azajac32 on 22 Nov 15
       
      Forgot my name as well, Andrea Zajac, previous post.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • Blogs Remember that old newsletter? We don't have it anymore. At first, we switched to a digital PDF version, but then we got rid of that as well. Now our news is a blog, constantly updated -- we post articles and announcements as they are written. Every teacher has his or her own blog. Administrators have blogs, as we try to lead by example. Our next step is to engage further through integrating our blogs with social media.
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 21 Nov 15
       
      This is a great way to get away from the class or grade level newsletter.  I'm not sure that it would reach all of the students, but the papers that go home are not always seen by a parent either.  I think I could handle a weekly blog that outlines the week and keeps families updated. (Dawn Lynn)
    • azajac32
      azajac32 on 22 Nov 15
       
      I think a blog would work great for some kind of weekly newsletter or report. This can allow it to be updated more regularly as needed. There is probably other platforms that can also be used for a newsletter. There is also email newsletter platforms that schools could create accounts for those and then the newsletter could still be posted to a link on the school's website. I think it is important for teachers to have their own website whether it be provided by the school district or creating their own as a navigation tool and for newsletters to be posted. 
    • azajac32
      azajac32 on 22 Nov 15
       
      Andrea Zajac, previous post
    • barbaramay
      barbaramay on 22 Nov 15
       
      This has been a popular theme shared throughout our administrative courses, as well. Be proactive so that someone else tells the story. If they do it first, they may not tell it the way that you would want it told.
    • barbaramay
      barbaramay on 22 Nov 15
       
      the above post is by Barbara may
  • ur parents stay informed through our website and Facebook.
    • barbaramay
      barbaramay on 22 Nov 15
       
      Of course, the age of the parent dictates if they would prefer facebook or another outlet, such as twitter. facebook seems to be for parents if their mid-30-40's. Younger parents seek out the Twitter feeds. Older parents tend to rely on news channels on tv.
    • barbaramay
      barbaramay on 22 Nov 15
       
      the above post is by Barbara may
    • mrslynn1321
      mrslynn1321 on 24 Nov 15
       
      Living in a rural community, many families do have access to Facebook or Twitter, but many do not.  I live in an area with a large population of low socio-economic households.  We can't assume that all of our families are using social media.  We also have many students that are not living with mom or dad, so grandparents and foster parents need direct communication. (Dawn Lynn)
  • Schools are busy places, and parents need a trusted place to find the right information.
    • jpb342
      jpb342 on 22 Nov 15
       
      This is an important aspect when using social media in the classroom.  Not every parent is going to take the use of various medias as good or credible and the more websites provided, the more students and parents will be overwhelmed by all the resources they need to know about.  However, by linking to it all through the school website, it gives these sources a greater air credibility than it may have before. (John Bugay)
  • Use Facebook to celebrate the great things happening at the school!
    • jpb342
      jpb342 on 22 Nov 15
       
      This is an interesting mindset, I know it is important for us to share what is happening in the classroom.  However, as pointed out later, it is important to police something like this.  Social media can bring out the worst in some people, and giving another area for this to occur may not be the best for every student. (John Bugay)
  • It must be easy to update, preferably automatically.
    • Mathew Kennedy
      Mathew Kennedy on 24 Nov 15
       
      While this is a simple concept it is vital.  People will not jump onboard if what your putting out isn't easy to use.  If your a school administrator, teachers will be unwilling to use a tool if it's difficult to use.  I've seen this happen many times.  Someone has a great idea but the ease of use for this idea or tool is extremely difficult and no one jumps on board to use it.  For parents of children, things also need to be easy to use and easily accessible.  Parents lives are busy and we as teachers need to make their side of their child's education as easy as possible.  While we expect parents to be involved and participate in their child's education, we should also help out with the process as well. (M. Kennedy)
  • mwilliams28 on 29 Nov 15
     
    The Twitter List is a great way to filter out irrelevant posts when scrolling through your timeline. I'm not a fan of not being able to Tweet a response or add to the conversation though.
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