What I have learned

Photo via Freedigitalphotos.net

When I first started this blog I had a lot of questions about the best ways to use social media in my future classroom. I also had a lot of questions around student teacher boundaries in social media. Doing research for this blog has cleared up a lot of my questions. I have found some good ideas on how to use social networking in my classroom like creating classroom blogs and twitter accounts. Throughout the course of making this blog I have connected with other teachers through my own social media platforms. It had made me realize that one of the most useful things social networking can provide a classroom is teacher collaboration. Social networking let me connect with people I never would have talked to and I got ideas that I never would have thought of on my own. I have learned that social media can be an invaluable tool for teachers.

I have had a major change in heart about my own attitude towards student teacher communication on social networking. I used to think that as long as all communication was kept appropriate there shouldn’t be a problem with it. I also was more lenient than I should have been with my own profile and privacy settings. Throughout my research I have found that if I want to be safe to steer clear of online communication with students. I think that because there are no clear rules on what can be done it is better to stay on the safe side. I improved my own security settings on my profile and made sure that any content I had online was appropriate. Until there are clear rules set about student teacher interactions I will not contact my students online. As a future teacher I have realized that there a lot of things that can impact my licensure or future employment and I want to keep myself in the clear.    

Technology funding...or lack there of

Photo by John Watson via Flikr

Funding is a major issue in almost every aspect of the public school system so it is not surprising to me that new technology is not in the plans for many school districts. Although technology can be an amazing tool in the classroom many schools are focusing on funding the old system instead of finding new creative ways to teach using new technology. I think it is crucial for kids to have access to technology in school so kids who don't have the opportunity at home can learn to use technology effectively and safely. How are we supposed to teach Internet responsibility if we can't get on to the Internet at all? Not having access to technology in today's classroom can leave a kid at a severe disadvantage. Technology is becoming more and more important to know how to use and if we do not expose our kids to the things they are going to be dealing with outside of school then we have no way of teaching them skills they will need in the real world. I think technology is one of the most important and useful things a school could spend money on but unfortunately the people in charge of funding do not feel the same way. Will our schools ever be up to date with current technology?

Be careful what you post!

Storyboard by Chelsea Norris

Click to enlarge

Produced by Chelsea Norris via wordle

There are many benefits that can be obtained through technology in the classroom. The internet and social networking can be amazing tools to help kids gain information outside of the small world of their classroom. Kids can gain first hand experiences from people all over the world. With social networking it makes it really easy to find knowledgeable people who can help expand learning. Technology can also help teachers to differentiate curriculum towards kids interests or skill level. Teachers can assign different assignments to kids and help students who are struggling and challenge the ones who are excelling. When you alter curriculum for the individual student it makes them more invested in their own learning. Many schools do not have the access to the internet and technology that they need to have their kids work on computers. This makes it harder for teachers to collect all the information that they want to provide to their students. I think that connecting with people around the world and differentiating curriculum is possible without the help of technology but it makes it a lot harder for the teacher. Teachers would have to collect information on their own and make packets and other informational tools to get the information to the students.

Blog Focus

Image via freedigitalphotos.net

  For my Blog I have decided to focus on the concept of "E-sponsibility". I think focusing on teachers activities online will be very interesting and helpful for me.  I have a lot of interest in using social networking with my future students and I am still working on where to draw a line between my online and offline lives.  Lately I have been hearing a lot about teachers facing severe consequences for their online activity. I want to know how I can use this technology effectively without putting my job in jeopardy. I want to take a look at both how to use social networks both outside and inside the classroom. I know that social networking can be an extremely useful tool within my classroom by having kids be able to share their ideas and work with each other over the internet but i want to examine the negative effects it has as well. I hope that through the process of making this blog i can learn how to best manage my online activity to benefit not only me but my students.           

Too Much Screen Time?

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Studies show that kids are spending up to 8 hours a day in front of a screen. Many people argue that because kids are already spending so much screen time out of schools that we should limit the amount of screen time kids get in school.  Part of me agrees with the fact that time with technology should be limited but i also believe that because kids are connected so much it is our responsibility to teach them how to use it appropriately, effectively  and responsibly.  
 

EDST 220 K-W-L Post

Welcome!

this blog will be  journey of my learning how to make a blog and use technology especially in the classroom. 
                                   What I know how to do

Photo by MS Images

• Email
• share photos
• make a spread sheet
• insert a video
• surf the web

What I want to know

• I really want to know how to make a gif. 
• how to use prezis and other methods of presentations
• how to network with parents and other teachers
• how to format things so they look pretty

What have I learned about using technology to communicate with others?