As I think back, I can’t totally remember what I wrote for a definition for Social Media. I guess that reinforces the point that we should “save” copies of all correspondences that we make just in case we need to make reference to it. I guess IO will try and make another attempt to define Social Media. In order to do that, I like to break it down into individual words. When I think of media, I think ways to deliver information. And when I think of social media, I think of people communication with other people. Thus, when I put it all together, I think of social media as a way for groups of people sharing information and content. Additionally, they are able to share the information to a broader audience very quickly. I have often thought about setting up a facebook page for my students, but turned away from that idea after encountering some extremely negative comments made about a colleague of mine. I have had several students and parents send me friend requests on my personal facebook page, but I only accept their requests at the end of the school year. I have this thing about cyber bullying; maybe because I have seen it happen to a colleague. I do have a class wiki where I post project and links to resources for specific subject areas.
After reading an article by Justin Tarte titled Life Of An Educator, I get a better understanding of the how educators can use social media like facebook as an educational tool that can be beneficial to student learning. Justin Torte suggests that social media is a way to help “move students from simply consuming information to creating and then sharing their work with the world” (2013). In addition, Bob Fryer reinforces the idea that social media is a great way for participants “to share ideas” (2013).
Although I have always believed that technology itself is the most important factor to enhance the learning potential of our students, I have now begun to shift my thinking. Because technology is allowing greater access to information and resources, technology is allowing educators and students to share more information and resources. It is the sharing recreating of information and resources with technology that is enhancing the learning potential of our students.
Fryer, B. (2013, May 24). Interview by C O Cleirigh []. Future classroom lab interviews, Retrieved from http://fcl.eun.org/fcl-interview-series/-/blogs/111650?utm_source=European Schoolnet News&utm_campaign=ca94e238de-European_Schoolnet_Newsletter_May_20135_27_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_ term=0_1113b32100-ca94e238de-34987121
Torte, J. (2013, July 30). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.justintarte.com/2013/07/10-reasons-we-need-social-media-in.html
After reading an article by Justin Tarte titled Life Of An Educator, I get a better understanding of the how educators can use social media like facebook as an educational tool that can be beneficial to student learning. Justin Torte suggests that social media is a way to help “move students from simply consuming information to creating and then sharing their work with the world” (2013). In addition, Bob Fryer reinforces the idea that social media is a great way for participants “to share ideas” (2013).
Although I have always believed that technology itself is the most important factor to enhance the learning potential of our students, I have now begun to shift my thinking. Because technology is allowing greater access to information and resources, technology is allowing educators and students to share more information and resources. It is the sharing recreating of information and resources with technology that is enhancing the learning potential of our students.
Fryer, B. (2013, May 24). Interview by C O Cleirigh []. Future classroom lab interviews, Retrieved from http://fcl.eun.org/fcl-interview-series/-/blogs/111650?utm_source=European Schoolnet News&utm_campaign=ca94e238de-European_Schoolnet_Newsletter_May_20135_27_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_ term=0_1113b32100-ca94e238de-34987121
Torte, J. (2013, July 30). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.justintarte.com/2013/07/10-reasons-we-need-social-media-in.html