Social Media P2

Social media and it's place (or non-place) in education. I came across this clip a while ago, and besides being pretty funny, kind of sums up how I sometimes feel about devices in the hands of kids, which I know isn't necessarily the same as social media, but bear with me. (And if you have more time you can watch this clip, which is one of my all time favorites, and only relates because it's the same comedian...)

Back to the point. The part that catches me the most is when Louis CK describes how kids are losing their ability to learn empathy because they don't look up from their phones anymore. Instead of saying something mean to someone's face and then actually seeing the reaction of how they just hurt that someone's feelings, they now can text or chat online those same hurtful messages and never see a reaction to what they've done.

This has caused me to think about reasons why social media may be a good thing to use in schools. Cyberbullying has become a major problem. I would argue that the biggest reason for this is because kids feel like they can say anything they want without any consequences. Allowing kids to use social media tools in a classroom environment gives them a chance to learn how to appropriately express themselves, and still see that their words can have effects on others.

I still don't know what that would look like in the classroom, especially a classroom of really young children. But I suppose it has to start somewhere.

Social Media

In class we've been talking a lot about different types of digital media. As we've explored blogs, wikis, and podcasts I have started to think about different possibilities of using them in my classroom. Now, however, our attention has turned to social media sites. I feel a little stumped trying to think of ways that young elementary school children could benefit from using social media. Even if all of my students' parents were to give permission for their children to use a social media site, I would still be very hesitant to use one in class. Maybe that's because I hear so many horror stories of kids being bullied and worse when it comes to social media. Maybe it's because I still don't know what benefits a seven year old really gets from being online vs. interacting face to face with their peers. Am I just old school...I don't feel that old and removed from the net generation! Perhaps I'm being too close-minded on this.

I want my students to understand that learning happens all of the time. School shouldn't be the place they go to to learn facts, and the rest of their lives where they learn about everything else. Using social media is a big part of everyday life for most people now days. I can imagine incorporating blogs in the classroom and limiting who can see and respond to the posts. But the idea of using sites such as Facebook and Twitter make me a little antsy. 

Has anyone successfully used social media with their younger elementary students? What types of things did you do with them and how did it benefit their educational experience?

Podcasts

A few years ago I was introduced to the podcast Radiolab. The first one I listened to was on human limits, and I was hooked. I have listened to most of the episodes since then, and have even gone back and listened to the episode on limits many times.

Since the discovery of Radiolab I have listened to a few other podcasts here and there. I haven't been able to find anything that holds my attention quite as well, but I will continue to search for them because I really like the idea of podcasts. They are typically simple, yet informative. You can find a podcast on pretty much any topic.

I have never really considered using podcasts in an educational setting. However, I would be intrigued to think of ways 2nd graders could use and possibly produce their own. I guess I think of them more as a tool for older students, but I do see how they could be beneficial for younger students as well.

Have any of you ever used podcasts in your younger elementary classrooms? Did you just listen to them, or did you have your students produce them?

Wiki Wiki Wiki

The first step is admission, right? So here it goes...I am an unashamed user of Wikipedia. There. I said it.

From the time I first learned about it, I was warned to steer clear of Wikipedia and never believe anything I read there because, "anyone, anywhere can put anything they want on it." Yet, over and over again I found myself going to the website looking for information from the Berlin Wall to Lombard Street to cats. The information was just too easy to access. Should I stay away, or should I continue reading? Oh the dilemma of Wikipedia!

In all seriousness, I recognize the importance of being careful with web-based information. You can literally find anything and EVERYTHING on the web. And it can be a scary place. However, one thing Wikipedia has going for it is the fact that there are moderators that monitor the site. True, you should still be careful when looking at the information, but no more or less careful than you should be anywhere else on the Internet.

I am intrigued by the idea of wikis. Until I started reading about them in Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by Will Richardson, I hadn't really given them much thought. Wikipedia was my only experience with a wiki, so I never thought about using one in my classroom. However, the idea of sharing knowledge in a written form where everyone can contribute is very powerful. It takes the ownership off of one person and gives it to everyone. In my experience of participating in a wiki, I feel more responsible for what I share and want it to be as correct as possible because it will reflect on so many other people. In a classroom, I feel like this would give students ownership of their own learning, and make them think about what they are sharing before just spitting it out (either verbally or on paper).

I'm not sure I'm ready to try an online wiki site with my second graders just yet. But I have started thinking about ways of having my students share their information with each other in a more permanent way, rather than just verbally. It would be an interesting study on how they find information and correct each other. I am always called upon when there is some sort of dispute about any type of fact (Coming to me from across the classroom, "Mrs. Stewart, are bats nocturnal?" Me, not really thinking about why they are asking the question, "Yes." Running back to their friends and shouting, "See! I told you!") I want my students to become more independent and take ownership for their own knowledge instead of having me be the ultimate source of knowledge (despite how nice it is to have someone think I literally know everything there is to know!). Just in writing this I am starting to think of the possibilities of using wikis in class! Now I'm excited to get started!

Just say it...you know you want to...WIKI WIKI WIKI!

Blogs and Blogging

Sometimes people make blogging look SO easy! I've now sat here for far longer than I'd like to admit just trying to figure out how to change the font on the body text of my blog. Yes, the body text is now a font that it originally wasn't. Yes, it's a different font than the standard fonts Blogger gives you the choice of. And yes, I'm pretty sure I succeeded in messing up the HTML code on my blog so I'm stuck with this font for the rest of my life, whether I want it or not. Let's be honest, there are worse things in life! 

Blogging is an interesting pursuit for me. I get so caught up in trying to make it look perfect that I end up getting frustrated with the entire process before I actually take time to sit down and write anything. So much for blogs being a creative outlet!

Introduction

About Me

Who am I? I am a wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, teacher, student, and a lifelong learner among many other things. I wear many hats in my life, as we all do, and I do my best to juggle them all!

I enjoy many things including running, rock climbing, rappelling, hiking, swimming, reading, relaxing, and spending time with friends and family...and I look forward to being able to do all of those things again once I have completed my Master's degree in a few months! :-)

After five years of teaching kindergarten I made a change up to second grade this year. It has been an exciting change of pace, and my students definitely keep me on my toes!

What I Care About

There are a lot of things I care about in life, and they are all tied to the hats I wear. As a teacher I care about each of my students and want them to be successful. As an educator I care about the direction of education and how I can make sure to be a part of the solution and not the problem. As a student I care about doing my best in order to make the changes in my own life and career that will most benefit my students and others.

When I start thinking about why I care about these things, I realize that it all comes back to caring about people. I want my students to succeed, I want my coworkers to succeed, I want my friends and family to succeed. I know that the more we help each other the happier we are in our own lives, and truly the better this world becomes.