Blog #1: How can/should social media be used to help you develop/collaborate/communicate as a professional? What are the critical issues to consider? Currently, I use Twitter as well as Facebook to access/share chats and information concerning the latest information about education to provide professional develop for myself and other colleagues/classmates. As a part of my professional learning network (PLN), I follow mainly Edutopia, WeAreTeachers, KQED Mindshift, ASCD, and Buck Institute as well as #edchat, #edumuses, and #pblchat to learn and contribute comments about classroom management; pedagogical strategies for academic content; best practices for teaching struggling learners, students with various learning challenges (dyslexia, dysgraphia, etc.) advanced learners, and students with limited English proficiency; social/emotional/behavioral strategies through positive behavior implementation and support; brain-based teaching and learning; and inquiry-based learning. In the classroom, my students and I utilize Edmodo to develop reading engagement through threaded discussions among the students and myself. Students share their perspectives about the books they are reading -- connecting characters and plots to other texts, current events, and personal experiences. Through Edmodo, I have witnessed students engaging respectfully and excitedly not only about the books they are reading, but also about the books other students are reading. I have seen comments such as, but not limited to: "I can't wait until I get to read your book when you're finished," "I know how you feel about ___ because ___," and "What I love so is ___ because ___." Critical issues have not occured with my students because they know I am managing/can view/delete these discussion threads. They have not been disrespectful in their responses to each other when using Edmodo. However, I have experienced a few students being disrespectful in emails. In those cases, alongside directly speaking with the students involved, I have contacted parents to let them know of their child's inappropriate use of technology and reminded everyone to technology responsibly. So far, no student has lost priviledges to use technology in our class because the inappropriateness was corrected. Critical issues that would need to be considered if we were to expand beyond Edmodo and email include cyberbullying, identity theft, plagiarism, and exposing student inappropriate content on the Internet. Because of these concerns, it is imperative that students are explicitly taught about Digital Citizenship and how to report inappropriate use of technology. Blog #2: What would you do if you were to come across an inappropriate post made by one of your students outside of the school. Do you address the post and, if so, how? Whom do you involve in the conversations? What considerations must you make in determining your course of action? If I knew of any inappropriate post made by any of our students outside of school, I would immediately inform our school administrator and let him/her know what I saw, when I saw it, and on what website the posting existed. Our district is very clear about us teachers not having social media contact with students to limit any potential liabilities.
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AuthorJulie C D Meyer-Houston began her exciting journey during Spring 2016 as a grad student in Touro University - California's Innovative Learning program to earn her Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree, which focuses on Social Justice & Equity and the use of technology in education. Archives
December 2016
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