My First Social Networking Group

Classroom 2.0



After investigating several social networking services, I think Classroom 2.0 is a good place for me to start. It is a networking group for teachers interested in Web 2.0 and Social Media in education. What really appealed to me was the fact that it welcomed “beginners.”  This would be my first educational networking group and after perusing the site, I feel very comfortable to join and take advantage of the benefits of digital dialogue.   I think this website would be a good starting place to begin having digital conversations with other teachers.  I like how the forum posts are easy to search because of the “tags.”  It also gives a long list of discussions on specific topics categorized by tools, subjects, and areas on the left side of the homepage. I noticed topics that are relevant to me such as: blogging, social networking, foreign languages, elementary, secondary or high school, and MANY MORE. 

My Analogy of The Teacher Today….

Connectivism and Teaching

After reading this article about CONNECTIVISM it seems that my idea of learning and the role of being a teacher must be altered.  I think it is true that our world around us has changed immensely, especially with respect to the infinite amount of technology and information available to all human beings. However education (its structure/foundation) has been slow to change in order to adapt to the ways of today’s society.  The article states, “Learning is a process that occurs within nebulous environments of shifting core elements – not entirely under the control of the individual. Learning (defined as actionable knowledge) can reside outside of ourselves (within an organization or a database), is focused on connecting specialized information sets, and the connections that enable us to learn more are more important than our current state of knowing.” This means that because of the huge growth in knowledge that is occurring on a daily basis, a person can never know everything there is available to know.  What matters is the ability of the individual to be able to find and CONNECT with other people, networks, and technological sources in order to continue learning.  Then one person can share what they know with another person who knows other things, and so on and so on.  In the video, The Network is the Learning , Siemens says, “that particular network that I create is what enables me to continue to stay current…in my own field and just with the trends that are occurring in the rest of society as well.”  Additionally, the Connectivism article also states, “The pipe is more important than the content within the pipe. Our ability to learn what we need for tomorrow is more important than what we know today. A real challenge for any learning theory is to actuate known knowledge at the point of application. When knowledge, however, is needed, but not known, the ability to plug into sources to meet the requirements becomes a vital skill. As knowledge continues to grow and evolve, access to what is needed is more important than what the learner currently possesses.”

Based on these ideas, a teacher today is like a tour guide of a college campus.  A tour guide shows people all of the important places on campus and gives information about where to go in order to complete certain tasks as well as which people/places will be able to help them with specific things.  In general, a tour guide briefly explains where to go to do certain things or where to go to find help while attending the school/ learning on campus.  This is exactly like a teacher of today’s society. A teacher introduces their students to the huge world of networks that are available to them in order to learn throughout their lifetime.  A goal of a teacher should be to promote lifelong learning.  Since the amount of known information increases daily, a teacher can never teach everything.  However they CAN show students how to connect with networks in a way to continue learning!  Teachers must be the connection to and tour guides of the networks available to students in the ever changing world we live in.  What we teach them today will not matter in the future.  But, if we teach them how to stay current through networks and technology, they will hopefully be able to learn what is needed in the future!

My Resources:

http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm
Siemens, G.  (2005, January).  Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age.  International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, Retrieved November 20, 2005

The Impact of Social Media on Learning (3:18 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grI_h88vs3g&feature=PlayList&p=3E43054A8703F57A&index=3 Retrieved January10, 2009.

The Network is the Learning (3:14 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpbkdeyFxZw&feature=PlayList&p=3E43054A8703F57A&index=4 Retrieved January 10, 2009.

Get your ideas online and start REELING in the feedback

The Reel App- Reeling in your feedback!

Click for my comment on Free Technology for Teachers Blog

This blog post sparked my interest because when teaching a foreign language, it is important to expose students to pictures/images of different countries/cultures to supplement instruction. Reel App works by uploading images, PowerPoint files, or PDFs to the site.  It then provides you with a web address for your "Preso" you have created.  Next you share your Preso web address with an audience.  The best part about this tool is the instant feedback you can receive about your presentation/images/files.  When a person views each page, they can click a thumbs up or thumbs down button (similar to a "like" on facebook).  Even better, when people give feedback, a reports page is available for the creator of the Preso to view!

One use of this service is simply sharing photographs with students. (Great for showing diverse cultures in second language classrooms!)

Another use is posting a PowerPoint presentation of information and having each student give feedback about whether they understand the information or not.  (Thumbs up for understanding, thumbs down for not understanding)  Or the thumbs can be used for true and false! This can be used for pre-tests, post-tests, and review of instruction!

After testing this service out for myself by uploading images, I really think that this could be used in many ways in a second language classroom. Here's the link if you would like to check out my quick "test" Preso. 

Click for my "test" Preso on Reel

What a great find!

Education Change Challenge

Educational Change Challenge

 

This video poses a variety of key ideas dealing with today’s education and the relevance to using technology.  It expresses the idea that all students learn differently and by putting a class in one room taught by one teacher, you cannot expect that everyone will learn at the same pace and remain at the same level.   It is because of the diverse population of today’s schools that teachers must strive to differentiate instruction in order to meet the needs of all learners.  Technology is a great tool to use in order to connect with the variety of students you will find in one classroom!

The video mentions that a classroom must reflect the real world outside of its walls.  This is extremely important because technology is growing rapidly every day.  Students use technology in various ways on a daily basis.  If a teacher is not connecting with students through the use of technology, they are missing out on a HUGE part of their learners’ lives!  This unfortunate disconnect can easily be avoided by integrating technology into classroom instruction.

Overall, I believe the message of this video is the significance of relevant teaching.  In order for students to learn, an educator and their instructional strategies must be relevant to the learner.  It is important that teachers put effort into learning the culture of their students and making sure they prepare them for the real world they are actually living in.  A goal of educators should be to build lifelong learners.  In order to do this, one must spark curiosity for learning.  Technology supports and encourages these innovative teaching strategies that can interest the diverse students in today’s classrooms throughout the world!

Brave New Digital Classroom

The word technology can be very daunting and scary to a teacher.  Amongst all of the standards that must be met, tests that must be passed, curriculum to teach, and classroom management to handle, technology can often be the last thing an educator thinks about incorporating into their daily instruction.  Especially without practice and experimentation integrating technology use can be frightening.  However, after reading the first chapter of Brave New Digital Classroom: Technology and Foreign Language Learning by Robert J. Blake I have realized that teachers must be BRAVE and utilize the advantages of the wide ranged world of technology.  It can literally open up a whole new world of learning!

One idea that particularly stuck out to me in the reading was how technology and computers can encourage students to use a foreign language for communication more comfortably.  It states, “In other words, computers are social actors as well, at least from the student’s perspective, which is all that really matters….Computers can make a significant contribution to the SLA process because the students themselves feel that they are interacting with a computer in a real social manner,” (Blake, p.3).  Through the use of computers and technology, students are able to use the second language with “another person,” but without the anxiousness of practicing with peers orally in a classroom.  Additionally Blake explains, “Networked exchanges seem to help all individuals in language classes engage more frequently, with greater confidence, and with greater enthusiasm in the communicative process than is characteristic for similar students in oral classrooms” (p. 5). 

 Another important idea is the ability to access learners outside of the normal constraints of the classroom via computer.   As the beginning of the chapter indicated, the hours that a person must study a language in order for acquisition to take place is an extremely large amount.  The more hours of the day that teachers are able to encourage students to use the second language, the better!  Technology allows students to practice the language at home, on lap tops, and cell phones!

Overall, the ways to use technology in second language instruction are endless.  However, “…the mere use of technology by itself will not improve the curriculum,” (p. 9).  Instead, the methodology of instruction which uses technology is the key to success! It is not the tools that will revolutionize your teaching, but the people (teachers and students) who use them.  This is extremely important to keep in mind when using technology.  Using it just to use it will not be beneficial.  There must be meaning behind every activity!

Internet Safety

Dear Students,

Welcome to our Spanish class blog!  Through this blog we will discover new and exciting ways to use Spanish on the internet.  But before we get to posting, let's look at a few rules for using the internet both in and out of class. There are many things that you need to be aware of when using the internet to be safe.  Here is a quick list of ideas to keep you safe while online:

Rule #1: Do NOT Give Anyone Your Information
Sometimes, websites or people will ask you for information like your name and where you live. Unless you have your parent's permission, don't answer these questions. Here's a list of things you shouldn't say on the internet:

• What's your name?
• Are you a boy or a girl?
• Where do you live?
• Where do you go to school?
• What is your phone number?
• What is your email address?
• What do you look like?
• Also, it is very important never to upload any pictures of yourself or share them online with anyone.

Rule #2: Do NOT be “Click Happy”
Do not accept gift or a present from someone online; it is usually a scam! Do not install or download software/programs that could be dangerous or harmful.  Do not click on advertisements online.

Rule #3: Don't Talk to Strangers
Remember what we taught you in Kindergarten? Well that still applies on the internet! If you ever get an email or comment on your blog from someone you don't know--don't respond to it. Instead, let me or your parents know immediately.
Rule #4: Keep the Internet Bully-Free
Just like in school, we should be treating each other with respect and kindness. If you see something, say something to me or your parents. If you see any bullying on our blogs when you're at home, let me know the next time you see me in school.
Rule #5: Keep Your Own Passwords
Now that you are using the internet, you need to keep your online passwords safe and sound and to yourself! Of course, you can share them with your parents (and probably should if you are forgetful!), but never give them out to other people.
Rule #6: If you accidentally come across something that seems inappropriate leave the webpage immediately!

Here are some websites to watch videos, play games, and learn more about internet safety. Just click on the link to check them out!

Watch episodes: http://www.netbasics.org.nz/

MTV website: http://www.athinline.org/

Blog Uses

There are endless ways to incorporate student blogging in the foreign language classroom!  Three ways that I can envision using blogging in my own classroom along with the standards these uses would meet are described below!
1. I can post a cultural type photograph and ask the students to write about personal reactions and/or answer though provoking questions about the picture.  This activity can be used to introduce a "cultural" type unit in order to see what the students already know about a particular topic, introduce or conclude an in class oral discussion, or assess students about something they have learned about a Spanish-speaking culture or country. It is a good way to integrate cultural awareness, technology, and writing/reading in the target language!
The Corresponding New York State Modern Language Standards:

Standard 1: Students will be able to use a language other than English for communication.

READING & WRITING

·         write short notes, uncomplicated personal and business letters, brief journals, and short reports

Standard 2: Students will develop cross-cultural skills and understandings.

·         exhibit more comprehensive knowledge of cultural traits and patterns

·         draw comparisons between societies

2. I can post links to current events/news from Spanish websites, magazines, and newspapers and ask students to express their opinions about the topics raised, reflect on what the articles meant to them, ask questions about what they read, summarize the information, or find examples of specific grammar topics/tenses they are learning about in class in the article.  The possibilities of using links to real world Spanish news are never ending.  It enables students to connect to the language in a realistic and meaningful way while integrating culture education and reading/writing in the target language! These activities could be done as a group or individually. 

The Corresponding New York State Modern Language Standards:

Standard 1: Students will be able to use a language other than English for communication.

READING & WRITING

·         read and comprehend materials written for native speakers when the topic and language are familiar

·         read simple materials independently, but may have to guess at meanings of longer or more complex material

·         write short notes, uncomplicated personal and business letters, brief journals, and short reports

·         write in the target language in a manner that articulates similarities and differences in cultural behaviors

Standard 2: Students will develop cross-cultural skills and understandings.

·         compose short, informal notes and messages to exchange information with members of the target culture

·         understand how words, body language, rituals, and social interactions influence communication

3. I can have students write about topics using newly learned vocabulary words and/or tenses.  At times I can give students freedom in what they can write about while including certain information/grammar and other times I can ask them to write about specific topics while using information learned in class.  It gives me the opportunity to assign "homework" that doesn't seem like "homework" while reinforcing what is learned in class.

The Corresponding New York State Modern Language Standards:

Standard 1: Students will be able to use a language other than English for communication.

READING & WRITING

·         write short notes, uncomplicated personal and business letters, brief journals, and short reports

·         read simple materials independently, but may have to guess at meanings of longer or more complex material

·         draw on a broad range of learned vocabulary, idioms, and structures, including the full range of time frames, as well as language acquired through independent reading

·         use culturally appropriate learned vocabulary and structures associated with a broad range of topics, and structures such as simple and complex sentences to communicate through the full range of time frames

Resources:

Richardson, Will.  (2010) 3rd edition. Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms.  California: Corwin.