Social Media in the Classroom

 For an assignment in another class, we had to develop mini-unit plans for a 5 lesson Unit. The topic of my unit was Black Abolitionists. The lessons explored Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Frederick Douglass. Throughout the lesson on Frederick Douglass we explored how Douglass used the technology of his time to bring about change in the world. Douglass created and published the North Star, an abolitionist newspaper. This would be a perfect opportunity for students to be able to see the relationship between social change and technology. Students would be able to analyze current technology and social media and develop creative ideas of how to use these to bring about change. This would hopefully bring new life into social media and technology, allowing students the opportunity to see how they can help write history by use of technology and social media.  

Interactive PowerPoint

For my final interactive PowerPoint presentation, I developed a lesson introducing metaphors and similes to 4^th graders. Most of the PowerPoints that I have created in the past have been linear, simple, and not aimed at maximizing student engagement (as most of them have been for college level courses.). After having constructed my most recent PowerPoint, I began to realize the possibilities that PowerPoint, in combination with SMARTboards can have in student engagement, taking what could have been a simple PowerPoint lesson and making it a fully interactive and engaging learning experience. In addition to having the chance to create my own interactive lesson, I gained great insight from other students and their presentations. Having a chance to share different creative and interactive PowerPoint lessons allows for a more full picture of possibilities. It was interesting to see how each person approaches lessons differently. 

Until this semester, I have not stepped into a classroom in the U.S. since I graduated from High School in 2005. Needless to say I was surprised by the lack of chalkboards in the classroom and was confused by these small white boards in the front of each classroom. However the past few years, I had been teaching English in South Korea. Having not been in a classroom in quite some time, I was overwhelmed by the amount of technology in the typical Korean classroom as well. Often I would use computers, digital devises, and smart TV’s with the students to help engage them in their learning.  But I didn’t ever feel very comfortable using the technology, as the students were always far more competent with it than I was. Even the youngest, 1^st graders, that I taught in Korea would help me to navigate through the technology that was foreign to me. Although I did make use of some of the technology in the classroom, I was never able to take full advantage of it. Fast-forward to this semester, 

I now have more confidence in using various different technology that will one day be implemented in my future career as an educator. I think it is important for teachers to feel comfortable and confident with the technology that they are using in class in order for the students to get the most out of it. At the same time, when teachers are not confident in the technology that they are using, it provides a platform for student empowerment, as many students are often well versed in technology.  

Excel

In the past, Excell has always intimidated me. I have been forced to use it throughout various different job positions that I’ve held in the past, however it often took me twice as long to complete tasks with it because of my lack of proficiency. Although the lesson was brief and not an in depth look at all of the usefulness of excel, it allowed me an opportunity to engage with excel and begin to learn how to use it’s various functions. Through this week, I also gained a better understanding on how teachers would use excel to assist their classroom (seating charts, grade book, timelines, attendance roster). Although Excel might have all the glamor of other technological tools, it will be a very useful tool to stay organized and allows teachers to save time while doing so. 

Technology: A Means to an End

After having spent a great deal of time researching different technology tools for the classroom, I have gained a new understanding of the myriad of tools available for teachers to create an engaging and interactive classroom environment, many of which I will seek to implement in the future as my role of an educator. However, for the purpose of this post, I would like to focus on a different aspect of technology in the classroom. With all the different tools and technology available to teachers, I wonder if it ever gets in the way of the focusing on teacher and student relationships and passionate teachers. Does the implementation of technology ever become more of a focus then the actual teacher or the content? I pose these questions not to question the implementation of technology in the classroom but rather questions to constantly be aware of while implementing technology in the classroom in order to create an enriched learning environment. Recently I read an article discussing the use of technology to empower people. The article argues that “technology (is) a means to an end—and that the end (is) people." Perhaps it would be beneficial to always look for ways that technology can be implemented to empower students.  

Podcasts: The Power of Student Voice

Living in a day an age where the majority of our media is owned and distributed by just a mere handful of powerful corporations, the use of podcasts can be an essential tool for students not only for their life as a students, but also for their life as a citizen.  I recently read an article that talked about an eighth grade class out of Washington D.C. using podcasts in their learning to help their local community. While researching a local HIV/AIDS organization, students conducted interviews with various staff members gaining information about HIV/AIDS, services, and prevention. In doing so they were able to identify myths and stereotypes surrounding the disease. Through use of podcasts they then shared their valuable information with their local community in hopes of community education and awareness. After reading this article I began to think of the potential that podcasts and other social can play in the role of education beyond the classroom, an education that seeks to transform the individual and the community of which he/she belongs to. In the above example students not only were able to learn about HIV/AIDS and technology, but they were also able to see how it was applicable to their lives. Students were able to see that they too regardless of the consolidation of media can produce their own media that directly helps to improve their own community.  All of this reminded from Nelson Mandela that has been circulating around recently since his death: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”