How do you communicate? Do you communicate with your voice? How about with your body movements? These are a couple of ways to communicate. But how do you communicate with the technologically savvy student? With social networking, that’s how!
Social networks can engage disengaged students. As an educator, you would need to find ways to connect with your students in creative ways. Help your students stay focused on what they are learning by mapping out how they are connecting with you on social networks. Share ebooks, websites, videos, blogs, podcasts, and collaborate on documents to engage your students.
“Teachers can manage the project by selecting the best content and conversations, and incorporating it into other parts of the curriculum.” (Bramble, 2009)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Networking in the Classroom
Social networking provides opportunities for students to accumulate information, dissuade/encourage competition, and collaborate on assignments/projects. Social networking builds cohesion too. So, within a classroom, students are able to connect with one another and are able to get to know other classmates on a different level. Students interact with each other face-to-face or virtually. While they are interacting with each other, why should they not interact with their teacher when not in the classroom? There is a real fear of students being unfocused and spending their time on time-wasting activities if they are involved in social networking activities during class time. With that said, educators should find a balance between teaching their learning activities, integrating social networking into their curriculum, and keeping their students focused on what they are teaching. With this fine balance, students will be more focused because they are using social tools that they are familiar with to enhance what they are learning.
Communication 2.0
There are numerous social networking tools that students can use in the classroom to communicate with each other and their teacher. We are going to take a look at a few of them.
The first is Google For Educators. There are activities and reference posters that educators can use to integrate into their curriculum. Through Google News students can read current events and view news on their mobile phones. Educators can personalize their news page to include topics they teach. Google Docs is good for storing and collaborating on documents and projects. Educators can use Blogger as a tool to allow students to create dynamic posts about their assignments, projects, and educational experiences. (Google for Educators, 2011)
The second communication tool is Twitter. Educators can enhance their communication with their students on Twitter by allowing their students to brainstorm, make announcements, and share websites. Students can collaborate on projects, share in campus news, and follow people or news stories for class assignments. (Online College, 2009)
Third communication tool is Moodle. As an open source course management system, educators can use Moodle to manage, deliver, and support educational activities as well as communicate with their students. Moodle educators can create effective online learning sites. Forums, databases, assignments, quizzes, and wikis can be created to give students innovative ways to communicate with each other and their teacher. (Moodle, 2011)
Under the Resources section, find links to other social networking sites that can give you ideas for your classroom.
Communicating in the classroom is an essential part of learning. How it’s done is just as important as where it’s done. Being able to learn outside of the classroom, as well as inside it, is an innovative learning experience. As educators, we should encourage innovation and open learning.
References
Bramble, N. (2009). Fifth Period Is Facebook: Why schools should stop blocking social network sites. Retrieved March 15, 2011 from http://www.slate.com/id/2239560/
Google For Educators (2011). Classroom activities - A brief overview of Google products and ideas for integrating them into classwork (all grades). Retrieved March 15, 2011 from http://www.google.com/educators/all_grades.html
Moodle, (2011). About. Retrieved March 16, 2011 from http://moodle.org/about/
Online Colleges (2009). 50 Ways to Use Twitter in the College Classroom. Retrieved March 15, 2011 from http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/06/08/50-ways-to-use-twitter-in-the-college-classroom/
Resources
25 Twitter Projects for the College Classroom
50 Terrific Twitter Tutorials for Teachers
An Infinite List of Educational Activities Supported by Technology
Assignment: 48 hours of Twitter
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