Activity 5: Using social online networks in teaching or professional development
Create a reflective entry where you critically discuss the use of social media in YOUR teaching OR professional development. Your reflection should be based on a reflective model of your choice.
I will use Jay and Johnson's reflective model for this post.
Jay and Johnson’s reflective model
Step 1 - Descriptive
At present we use Hail for a range of social media needs. It allows us to post content on our team blogs, share links to Facebook and Twitter, email parents and students. This works well as we can cover a range of areas with one online programme.
We also use youtube, but this is primarily done through Hapara Workspace. It allows us to control the videos that the children see and match up with their learning.
Facebook and Twitter are primarily used to share what is going on in the school. This is controlled by the teachers at present and my question would be, how can we allow students to use these platforms, when things like Facebook, Twitter and Google+ have an age restriction?
With regards to professional development, we use Google Docs to work and comment on our Professional Learning Group. In my case it is the ICT group for our Community of Learning.
Step 2 - Comparative - Reflect on alternatives and other viewpoints or in light of research
My answers to the survey were very similar to the results of other teachers. We use Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and Youtube for sharing about student learning. One of my colleagues has even got the children to start using Flipgrid to share their learning experiences. This is something I would like to begin doing myself, but also start using things like Wikispaces so the children take more ownership of their learning.
Social Media in Teaching
I like the idea of using contributing to how social media can be used, and as Magette states, the students not only develop new skills but also become productive digital citizens and build up their social and emotional skills. (pg, 70).
Social Media in Professional Development
Whittaker et al. talks about how educators are creating connected communities to for their practise and how it benefits the community and students. (pg, 13). And as part of our community of learning, it shows that we as teachers are using Social Media to upskill ourselves and support each other. However I would like to look into what ways we can make this communication more efficient.
Melhuis does point out that while networking does seem positive there is a risk that it creates an affirmation of the current practice without question. (Melhuis pg 43).
Step 3 - Critical Reflection
Implications -
Based on what I've read and in view of my current practice I think the following needs to be implemented in my practice -
Social Media in Teaching
I like the idea of using contributing to how social media can be used, and as Magette states, the students not only develop new skills but also become productive digital citizens and build up their social and emotional skills. (pg, 70).
Social Media in Professional Development
Whittaker et al. talks about how educators are creating connected communities to for their practise and how it benefits the community and students. (pg, 13). And as part of our community of learning, it shows that we as teachers are using Social Media to upskill ourselves and support each other. However I would like to look into what ways we can make this communication more efficient.
Melhuis does point out that while networking does seem positive there is a risk that it creates an affirmation of the current practice without question. (Melhuis pg 43).
Step 3 - Critical Reflection
Implications -
Based on what I've read and in view of my current practice I think the following needs to be implemented in my practice -
- Including the students more in how different social networks work will help overcome the fear teachers have of how to use them and give the students more agency.
- Make sure I model how to be a good digital citizen and how it will help students become better 21st Century Learners.
- Questioning other teachers about how they use social media in their practice will help me develop my own programme as well as providing a consistency across the Community of Learning.
My own questions to ponder -
- If we open up the use of different social media that the children are currently using, how do we get round the age restrictions?
- Where do we find the time to upskill the teachers who are afraid to use new social media?
- Will the children contributing to social network use make them better digital citizens, as they own their learning? Or will they abuse the use of it because they are more advanced than the teachers in using it?
Resources -
Melhush, K (2013). Online Social Networking and its impact on New Zealand educators' professional learning. Masters Thesis. The University of Waikato. Retrieved from https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10289/8482/thesis.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y
Maguette, K (2014). Embracing Social Media: A Practical Guide to Manage Risk and Leverage Opportunity. Rowan and Littlefield Publishers.
Whitaker, T, Zoul, J, Casas, J (2015). What Connected Educators Do Differently. Routledge.
Maguette, K (2014). Embracing Social Media: A Practical Guide to Manage Risk and Leverage Opportunity. Rowan and Littlefield Publishers.
Whitaker, T, Zoul, J, Casas, J (2015). What Connected Educators Do Differently. Routledge.
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