SOCIAL MEDIA USE IN TEACHING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
SOCIAL MEDIA USE IN TEACHING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Reflection using:
Descriptive:
NZ Education Council’s (n.d.) definition is “social media embraces web-based and mobile-based technologies to facilitate interactive communication between organisations, communities and individuals”.
Reflection using:
Descriptive:
NZ Education Council’s (n.d.) definition is “social media embraces web-based and mobile-based technologies to facilitate interactive communication between organisations, communities and individuals”.
Not everything I use on the internet for my teaching practice I would define as social media. Youtube, I don’t consider social media in my context. I’m a viewer not a creator, I rarely engage in commenting. I do however use Youtube as a major resource in my own upskilling of particular knowledge and practises but again, I don’t consider it a true social media tool for me. While I utilise a number of online training sites and they form a large part of my professional activity, I don’t consider them social media. I consider them essential tools to stay up to date as a learner. Social Media for me are the tools that enable all participants to be active equally, contribute content equally, ask questions and give answers equally.
I use Google Communities, Google Classroom, Mobilize (Used by our National Association) everyday in my teaching practice to deliver content, share, ask, deliver feedback and discuss. These platforms work for me. I can manage the number of connections I currently have going. Our staff and students understand these tools. If I have to jump into another tool like Facebook or Twitter for some reason, I can. I’m not against other tools and understand that other people like the benefits multiple sources of information and connections. What I don’t understand is the apparent obsession with being part of every social network available. “Jack of all trades, Master of none” springs to mind.
Comparative:
It may be a generational thing but teachers of a similar age in my school have embraced the tools we are using currently with our students. After some resistance to change, we are in an amazing space right now with 100% use of the G_Suite tools across our school of 40 teachers. However the younger teachers are less enthused. Some of them want the flashy apps, the popular apps at work in their classroom because that's what seems to have the kids more interested.
(Cassidy, 2013) states in her video “it is really important to use digital tools wherever possible because digital is where the kids are at now and to ask them to power down would make schools a different place and not in touch with what their real lives are like”
I wonder if, as more experienced teachers we aren’t so concerned with the classroom management of students through the use of “fun and game tactics” and can reflect more on what is purposeful in a classroom for effective teaching, learning and ultimately achievement. I don’t think of this as a “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality but a more strategic one.
“There are a lot of benefits using social networks and there are some challenges, but there are no reasons why this should stop teachers from using them” (Education Council, 2012)
It is important for schools to make those opportunities happen especially if home isn’t able to provide those experiences. We are a rural high school where the value of the internet isn’t a high priority for some households.
Critical Reflection:
If I put myself in the shoes of the “Social Media Junkie” I can’t see how I would ever cope with the constant stream of information and maintaining of multiple connections. However I can see that it is merely an extension of what I am already doing and managing at my own comfort level. Just because I am coping with the four regular Social Media sources doesn't mean that I don’t understand that other people can cope with ten etc.
What I need to have right in my head to be an effective teacher is a manageable social media presence where students, colleagues, staff and caregivers get value. I want it to be as separate from my personal social presence as possible and have meaningful purpose for teaching and learning.
References:
NZ Education Council. (n.d.). What is social media .
Retrieved June 16, 2017 from http://teachersandsocialmedia.co.nz/what-social-me...
Video - Using Social Media in the Classroom - Kathy Cassidy tvoparents - TedEd
I use Google Communities, Google Classroom, Mobilize (Used by our National Association) everyday in my teaching practice to deliver content, share, ask, deliver feedback and discuss. These platforms work for me. I can manage the number of connections I currently have going. Our staff and students understand these tools. If I have to jump into another tool like Facebook or Twitter for some reason, I can. I’m not against other tools and understand that other people like the benefits multiple sources of information and connections. What I don’t understand is the apparent obsession with being part of every social network available. “Jack of all trades, Master of none” springs to mind.
Comparative:
It may be a generational thing but teachers of a similar age in my school have embraced the tools we are using currently with our students. After some resistance to change, we are in an amazing space right now with 100% use of the G_Suite tools across our school of 40 teachers. However the younger teachers are less enthused. Some of them want the flashy apps, the popular apps at work in their classroom because that's what seems to have the kids more interested.
(Cassidy, 2013) states in her video “it is really important to use digital tools wherever possible because digital is where the kids are at now and to ask them to power down would make schools a different place and not in touch with what their real lives are like”
I wonder if, as more experienced teachers we aren’t so concerned with the classroom management of students through the use of “fun and game tactics” and can reflect more on what is purposeful in a classroom for effective teaching, learning and ultimately achievement. I don’t think of this as a “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality but a more strategic one.
“There are a lot of benefits using social networks and there are some challenges, but there are no reasons why this should stop teachers from using them” (Education Council, 2012)
It is important for schools to make those opportunities happen especially if home isn’t able to provide those experiences. We are a rural high school where the value of the internet isn’t a high priority for some households.
Critical Reflection:
If I put myself in the shoes of the “Social Media Junkie” I can’t see how I would ever cope with the constant stream of information and maintaining of multiple connections. However I can see that it is merely an extension of what I am already doing and managing at my own comfort level. Just because I am coping with the four regular Social Media sources doesn't mean that I don’t understand that other people can cope with ten etc.
What I need to have right in my head to be an effective teacher is a manageable social media presence where students, colleagues, staff and caregivers get value. I want it to be as separate from my personal social presence as possible and have meaningful purpose for teaching and learning.
References:
NZ Education Council. (n.d.). What is social media .
Retrieved June 16, 2017 from http://teachersandsocialmedia.co.nz/what-social-me...
Video - Using Social Media in the Classroom - Kathy Cassidy tvoparents - TedEd
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