Using social media in the Classroom

Monday 14th October

Activity 6: Using social online networks in teaching or professional development

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When I  reflected on this week's Blog topic about using social media in my classroom I considered myself to be a laggard!  Once I began looking for images relating to social media it was reassuring to know that I engaged in different forms, both professionally and personally, more than I expected.

I enjoyed watching ‘Inviting the World into the Classroom using Blogs and Twitter’ because it was based around teaching 6 and 7 year olds, same year I teach.  The teacher made a very valid point that these students have been brought up with the internet and their parents have ipads, iphones and digital tools.  As teachers, of 21st century students we need to make social media available to them at school.

My biggest concern using social media in the classroom is internet safety.  I take my responsibilities as a teacher seriously, as outlined in the NZ Education Council  PONO: showing integrity by acting in ways that are fair, honest, ethical and just.  If something inappropriate was uploaded or an image of a child that has a social media ban was used, the consequences could be far reaching.  However, on the flip side of that the Sean Lyons from Netsafe talks about how social media can be a great tool as long as the right safeguards are in place.

As I already touched on in my previous Blog, I use Seesaw as a social media platform for students to share their work and for me to message parents and whanau.   My next step is to use Seesaw as a blogging platform, which will allow the students to showcase their work from the classroom with the broader community.  Seesaw summaries Blogging... as giving students an authentic audience, their classmates, parents and other students around the globe, encouraging better work and providing opportunities for real feedback.  This will also eliminate the risk of any internet safety concerns as it only goes to the immediate family, also I need to approve any work, videos, photos that need to be uploaded.   

Social media comes with many challenges and pitfalls, however the benefit of connected classrooms and the powerful learning opportunities engaging with other students from around the world provides many opportunities for 21st century students.  As teachers, it is our responsibility to make sure our students are taught how to use social media safety. Melhuish, K.(2013) states preparing learners to be future-ready requires learning approaches that teach students to be responsible citizens, contributors and innovators, equipping them with agency and autonomy in planning what and how to learn, and helping them develop cultural and interpersonal understanding

References:

Melhuish, K.(2013). Online social networking and its impact on New Zealand educators’ professional learning. Master Thesis. The University of Waikato. Retrived on 05 May, 2015 from http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/bitstream/han.

New Zealand Teachers Council.(2012). Establishing safeguards.[video file]. Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/49216520

Sharples, M., de Roock , R., Ferguson, R., Gaved, M., Herodotou, C., Koh, E., Kukulska-Hulme, A., Looi,C-K, McAndrew, P., Rienties, B., Weller, M., Wong, L. H. (2016). Innovating Pedagogy 2016: Open University Innovation Report 5. Milton Keynes: The Open University. Retrieved from http://proxima.iet.open.ac.uk/public/innovating_pedagogy_2016.pdf