Social Media in Education

Social Media is continuing to become more popular as time goes by. It is no longer just a “fun” way of being on the Internet. It has now grown to a level so high that it gives you the power to learn, communicate, and collaborate with people all around the world. Social media is starting to become much more common in schools and some question if that is right or wrong.

There are many pros and cons to consider when deciding if social media is something you would like to use in your own classroom. Some pros are quicker communication with students, staff, and parents, student and teacher collaboration, easier access additional resources, self reflection, remaining current, discovering other points of views and ways to learn, as well as professional development. Some cons are the time it takes to learn the different sites, staff not being able to clearly communicate with students, area for misinterpretation, private information becoming public, and not being able to control what students see or post.

I support the idea of using social media in schools. Knowing the power and capabilities it has I believe it is necessary to integrate it into a classroom. Children today have grown up on the Internet and because of this it interest them. Why not make school more appealing by using something that works and keeps students engaged? However, I do believe that limits must exist when using social media in a school environment. As we read through many of this weeks articles, parents have a hard time understanding the reasons for teachers connecting with their students on the Internet. I believe that there needs to be a clear boundary as well as level of professionalism from the staff responsible for the media site. We do not have the power to control what our students access online when they are outside of the classroom so it is important that we educate them on the proper way to “be online” if we encourage it.

Overall, I find the social media to be very beneficial. I hope to use social media tools such as Twitter and blogging in my classroom so I can quickly relay information to students and receive immediate feedback. I believe that through social media all students can freely express their thoughts and opinions and learn from what they read in others posts. It is also a great tool to help students dig deeper and gain a new insights on specific topics.

Accessibility and Digital Equity

As technology continues to play a bigger role in the field of education, it is important that we are making sure that it is accessible by all. Accessibility and equality is something that I have always known is of great importance. However, I never had given much thought of relating it to technology.I did many of my student observation hours in a classroom where all books were downloaded onto an iPad, assignments were posted online, students could complete projects virtually, etc… However, I never considered how a student with a disability could potentially run into an issue with this. 

Through Bowser and Zabala’s Aim For Digital Equity, I learned the true importance of accessible instructional materials (AIM). In this article we read about a student who was falling behind due to not knowing about the digital tools he could use to assist his learning. He spent multiple hours a day trying to get through readings and problems that took only 5 minutes for a program to read out loud to him. Overall this helped him become more confident as he was now able keep up with others as well as save time so he could focus on other studies. There are so many programs available for us to use today (textbooks converted to audio, Dragon, Google, etc…) that we should be able to make lessons and assignments equally beneficial for all students.

Online accessibility is so important to have in a classroom. All students should have the same opportunity to learn. Technology or instructional materials should not be a deciding factor of who gets to learn what. I believe it is important that we let students know the different tools available to help them. If something is not accessible, we should look for another tool similar that is or create it ourselves if that is what is needed to teach the lesson. But, I also believe that this is an area to be cautious towards. As we read, Doug Levin, CEO of the State Educational Technology Directors Association, predicts that mobile technology will soon replace all paper and textbook learning tools. Students should to be closely observed for who should be using these helpful tools. If we gave all students the access to listen to a book rather than read it themselves, they may never learn to read. It can be a dangerous path to go down if teachers are not sure how to determine and monitor the use of these assisting technology tools. As a future teacher, I will do my best to monitor and ensure equal accessibility for all of my students.

"Flipped Classrooms"

A “flipped classroom” is slowly becoming more and more common it schools today. Overall it is reversing a typical day at school. What I consider a “typical day” is students attend school for a specific time period to listen to a teacher lecture 30+ students on various types of lessons. When students leave school and go home, they work on assignments related to the lesson learned in class. A flipped classroom is when a teacher reverses this day. Students first watch pre recorded video lectures of a topic and then come to school the following day prepared to work on assignments based off of that video.

When I began to read about the concept of a flipped classroom in Pascal-Emmamuel Gobry’s What Is The Flipped Classroom Model And Why Is It Amazing? I was sold on the idea. I found it genius. Students could learn at their own pace, have more one on one time with a teacher, test their understanding of subjects as they learn it, student teach one another, and so much more. However, as I continued to read the cons were introduced. How hard would this type of learning be for low class socioeconomic students? Not only would they not be able to keep up due to the possibility of not having required materials needed, but they might feel even “further alienation” from the other students. Aside from this, students would be required to spend even more time in front of a computer screen during their free time and who knows if they will actually commit to this. 

I could see myself using this concept from time to time but never on a daily basis. I think that this type of learning would be much more challenging for younger students because they do not pick their schedule at home, the parents do. If a parents is busy driving around and running errands it is very likely that they have their child with them. I would have loved to use this every now and then during my undergrad because I think I could have gained a lot more insight from certain topics. It also seems easier at a time like highschool or college because students have the access (home, library, or school)  and time to use computers, iPads, or phones to watch these videos. Certain lessons such as a science labs might be good opportunity to use this concept so the students are fully prepared for the lab and the concepts behind it and the teacher has more time to help them see it through.

Should Students Use the Internet while Taking Test?

In ISTE article “Points/Counterpoint: Should Students Use the Internet while Taking Test?”  We got to read about James Cash and Jeffrey Starrs two opposing views to using the Internet while testing. Cash was in favor of the Internet while Starr was not.  While I had not given this issue much thought until recently I saw valid points from both sides.

This summer I took my first online class where all of our testing was done online. Coming from a background where this never took place I found it to be very odd. How effortless it was to just reference a book or check something online before submitting an answer. I remember actually thinking to myself how much easier it would have been to got my degree if it were all done online. (Although I do not think I would have the patience to sit at my computer all day…). In Cash’s article he discussed how the Internet should be allowed and that it would lead to a higher-level of thinking. I do believe in what he is saying. When students are required to memorize dates, places, names, reasons, etc… they often get lost in all of the small details. I know what that is like, I did it plenty of times- memorize dates, places, and reasons for a war, take a test, and forget it a week later. Cash’s belief is that if we let students use the Internet they will be able to see the overall bigger picture of the lesson and effectively analyze or criticize an event.

However, Cash’s argument lost me when he went on to describe how those who do not believe that Internet should be used during testing do not trust the learner and the purpose of learning. I disagree. Especially working with children. At a young age often times children want to get things right to impress others. Yes, they want to learn but if they have the power to memorize something or look up an answer it is highly likely that they will pick to look up an answer. With the Internet giving us access to look up any and all things with the click of a button we are slowly fading into a stage of relying primarily on technology. How many people use actual maps anymore? Not many. Most just put the address in on their phone and boom they are where they want to be without even really knowing how they got there.

Starrs stated “It creates an irresistible temptation to students to merely look for the answer rather than coming up with the answers on their own.” Going forward in my career, I would love to be able to integrate technology into some testing (on iPads, computers, etc…) However, I do not think that looking up answers on the Internet will play a big role. I believe it is important that students memorize the little details about a historic event or literature book that we had to when we were young. Many of those details play apart in our daily lives without us even realizing it.

"The Internet is Forever"

As we read in Sara Roncero-Menendez article, The Online Activity That’s Keeping You Unemployed, “The Internet is forever.” As we are progressing into a more tech savvy world the Internet seems to continue to grow and play a bigger and bigger role in our lives. When I was growing up I remember not having a personal email account or social media website until the end of high school. Today, children are on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter before they even know how to fully read or write. Because the Internet has so much to offer and it is accessible with practically anything we use in our daily lives we have allowed it to play this big role in students growing experience.

Since children and young adults consistently using social media they are with out knowing, adding to their online portfolio.  With smart phones people are able to take a picture and instantly upload it onto a website. I am sure if you are posting 5 pictures a day onto Facebook in middle school and high school by the time you grow up you are going to wish quite a few of those weren’t available for the whole world to see. It is our job as adults and educators to teach student the right way to use these websites. We need to teach students the impact the Internet can make on their lives forever. The Internet can determine if you do or do not get into you favorite college, if you get offered your dream job, or even if you are accepted into a social group. What you post on the Internet is permanent and it allows others to judge you based solely on the information you provide. Students need to know that once you put a something up, it is there forever.

It is important that we teach students to represent themselves in a way that they are proud of. If a parent, grandparent, or adult mentor were to look on a student’s website that student needs to be able to own what they post and be proud of what they have created. I hope to teach students the right way to use the Internet and influence them to positively represent themselves. Who knows, that post they added 3 years ago might be a game changer in their life.

Journal 1- Technology Integration

I think that this article provides good information for both new and old teachers to understand the importance of integrating technology into the classroom. While technology did not play a big role in my school experience I have worked in a high school where it was the primary focus for learning. Students read books from their iPads vs. a regular text book, use Smart Boards, have virtual science labs, etc… and I truly believe that it helped gain their interest in the subjects. Yes, some students get distracted exploring the internet or playing a game but that is not different than a student who is throwing paper airplanes, passing notes, or talking with a friend. Since children today have grown up with technology it is something they are comfortable with and enjoy using.  As stated in this article, Seymour Papert explained that “With computers, there is a substantially bigger chance that you can lead the child with less effort into something he really likes doing…. The intersection with the set of fun things is sufficiently big so that you should be able to keep every student internally motivated.” While this quote was from years ago I believe it is still true today with the continuously progressive technology. These tools provide students with endless research abilities and area for creativity. They also assist the teachers in providing a lesson in a new, unique and engaging way. Technology is something that teachers need to get comfortable using in the classroom because it not only helps students succeed in school but also in their future. 

About Me

My name is Hannah McSheehy and I grew up in Fallbrook, CA. I attended a private Catholic School from K-8^th grade. High school was my first public school experience. It was a big change coming from a school that I attended for 9 years with the same 20 people in all of my classes. I grew to love the experience of meeting new people all the time. That experience ended pretty quickly though since Fallbrook is not too big of a town and eventually you know too many people and you run into someone you know every time you leave the house for 5 minutes. After high school I moved to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I loved living there and I loved every moment of my college experience. It definitely had challenging moments but in the big picture it was all worth it.  After working for the past few years I am now ready to be back in a school environment.

Cal Poly is formally known as California Polytechnic. This meaning technology was integrated into a lot of our learning experience. Before walking into this class I thought I was pretty high up on the technology continuum. Now, I am not so sure.  However, I am fascinated by technology and all that it has to offer. I have worked in schools where iPads, Smart Boards, computers, etc… play a big part of the learning experience. I am confident in saying that I truly believe it enhances the learning experience and prepares students for “real life” work. A lot of what I learned through college I now use today in my career.

“Inspire reflective teaching and learning” is the line that sticks out most when I read the CSUSM/SOE Mission Statement. Inspiring others is a big part of why I want to become a teacher. At a young age I do not believe I had the most inspirational teachers (although I did have some) so I was never truly interested in school or learning. Towards the end of my high school experience and into college teachers pushed me to discover what interest me and discover what I wanted in life. I hope to do the same and more. I want to help students discover what they are passionate about at a young age and motivate and challenge students to reach their full potential. I believe that the experience I gain here through the credential program will help me in reaching my goal of being the best teacher that I can.