Cyberbullying
Hi everyone,
Although I am a fan of using social media within the classroom, part of me thinks that it may increase the chances of cyberbullying. Granted, as teachers, we can't always know what our students are doing online, but it worries me that if teachers use social media in the class, will it increase cyberbullying? Would it give students more of a reason to make fun of one another, etc?
On the other hand, maybe using social media within the classroom will prevent students from cyberbullying as now they are "being watched" by their teachers. It may prevent them from bullying their peers knowing that they will be accountable for their actions.
It just disgusts me how many students, children, youth, etc. who are stalked, raped, killed, commit suicide, and other unfortunate events because of cyberbullying. It makes me wonder that if social media was not as significant as it is now, would bullying decrease? Obviously there wouldn't be much cyberbullying without social media, but maybe if it is intigrated more within the classroom, students would "be afraid" of the consequences.
Here's a video I thought was interesting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5PZ_Bh-M6o
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
EDUTOPIA: Social Media Guidelines for your school
I was reading a few articles on how best to incorporate learning through Social Media and discovered a guide that the EDUTOPIA group released called "How to Create Social Media Guidelines for Your School." It turns out it was actually produced in collaboration with Facebook.
The great thing about the guide, in my opinion, is that it provides points on which to focus but also includes guiding questions on how to create a case for those points. Ironically, the points include having to work in teams of users and non-users of social media in the classroom so it's not a one-sided debate and all of the pros and cons are addressed and getting feedback from everyone involved.
Resources:
http://www.edutopia.org/how-to-create-social-media-guidelines-school
The main points of the guide are available in PDF here:
http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/edutopia-anderson-social-media-guidelines.pdf
I was reading a few articles on how best to incorporate learning through Social Media and discovered a guide that the EDUTOPIA group released called "How to Create Social Media Guidelines for Your School." It turns out it was actually produced in collaboration with Facebook.
The great thing about the guide, in my opinion, is that it provides points on which to focus but also includes guiding questions on how to create a case for those points. Ironically, the points include having to work in teams of users and non-users of social media in the classroom so it's not a one-sided debate and all of the pros and cons are addressed and getting feedback from everyone involved.
Resources:
http://www.edutopia.org/how-to-create-social-media-guidelines-school
The main points of the guide are available in PDF here:
http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/edutopia-anderson-social-media-guidelines.pdf
Monday, May 28, 2012
BYOD !
Hi Everyone,
One of the most important announcements from my school board happened a few months ago, and I think that it will profoundly change the way students learn in the classroom. It is regarding the BYOD initiative, or "Bring Your Own Device" to school. This is from a news release issued by the Peel District School Board:
I think that this investment is going to be very beneficial. Students will be able to connect and learn in ways we never would have imagined, and this will allow them to become true learners of the 21st century. Most students already have access to this technology (which includes tablets and smart phones), and some even try to sneak them into class and use them. This initiative makes sense then, that we not only allow these devices to be used, but that their use is also encouraged and welcomed in the classroom.
Since I teach elementary school, I can see of a few issues that may arise from the use of technology in the classroom. First of all, students will be coming to school with rather expensive equipment (such as an iPad), and since children will be children, these devices might be dropped or damaged. Also, having students bring these devices also increases the likelihood that they may be stolen, and of course this is an issue that may be more pronounced in a secondary school environment. The difference with elementary schools is that parents will want accountability from the schools that the devices will be safe. Unfortunately, this may put teachers in a position where they many have to keep track of the devices, which ultimately makes them responsible if something happens to them.
While I think that the BYOD initiative is a great idea, I also believe that there will be a transition time where all of the "bugs" and rules have to be worked out. Once everyone becomes clear on their responsibilities and how the devices can be used, I think that learning in the classroom will be forever changed (in a positive way of course!)
For more information, please feel free to visit the following links:
The official news release from the Peel District school Board: http://www.peelschools.org/media/news2002/120328.htm
An article from the Toronto Star's "Parent Central" section discussing the initiative:
http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/education/article/1153319--in-peel-schools-the-policy-is-byod-bring-your-own-device
One of the most important announcements from my school board happened a few months ago, and I think that it will profoundly change the way students learn in the classroom. It is regarding the BYOD initiative, or "Bring Your Own Device" to school. This is from a news release issued by the Peel District School Board:
We need to expand access to current technology and encourage students to BYOD—bring your own device—to engage them in learning. The plan will also ensure equity of access to technology for all students through classroom computers and tablets in schoolsThe school board is planning to invest $7 million dollars in this initiative, in the hopes that students will become more technologically engaged in the classroom. Part of this project includes making sure that every school has wireless technology in Peel's schools, and these fund would normally have been used to build "old fashioned" computer labs.
I think that this investment is going to be very beneficial. Students will be able to connect and learn in ways we never would have imagined, and this will allow them to become true learners of the 21st century. Most students already have access to this technology (which includes tablets and smart phones), and some even try to sneak them into class and use them. This initiative makes sense then, that we not only allow these devices to be used, but that their use is also encouraged and welcomed in the classroom.
Since I teach elementary school, I can see of a few issues that may arise from the use of technology in the classroom. First of all, students will be coming to school with rather expensive equipment (such as an iPad), and since children will be children, these devices might be dropped or damaged. Also, having students bring these devices also increases the likelihood that they may be stolen, and of course this is an issue that may be more pronounced in a secondary school environment. The difference with elementary schools is that parents will want accountability from the schools that the devices will be safe. Unfortunately, this may put teachers in a position where they many have to keep track of the devices, which ultimately makes them responsible if something happens to them.
While I think that the BYOD initiative is a great idea, I also believe that there will be a transition time where all of the "bugs" and rules have to be worked out. Once everyone becomes clear on their responsibilities and how the devices can be used, I think that learning in the classroom will be forever changed (in a positive way of course!)
For more information, please feel free to visit the following links:
The official news release from the Peel District school Board: http://www.peelschools.org/media/news2002/120328.htm
An article from the Toronto Star's "Parent Central" section discussing the initiative:
http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/education/article/1153319--in-peel-schools-the-policy-is-byod-bring-your-own-device
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Social Media and Brain Chemistry: What this means for Teachers
Some scientific studies have found that using Social media sites like Twitter and Facebook releases the brain compound oxytocin, "the cuddle chemical" which makes humans trusting, generous and empathetic towards others. It is the essential chemical for human interaction and feelings of love. Since these social interactions produced the same release of oxytocin as face-to-face interactions, it could be said that we as humans interpret online interaction the same as in person communication.
Oxytocin has also been found in helping the body cope the loss of body vessels. It helps the brain to produce new and healthy blood vessels far more quickly. So there is something to be said about love being good for your heart...
If our students are literally "in love" with social media due to these neurological reasons, then we should harness that and develop activities which allow them to foster new relationships online as well as in the classroom. Producing more of the chemical oxytocin allows people to build deeper relationships and be more open towards one another. Understanding these neurological bases for human interactions helps us as teachers see the bigger picture on why and how we need to start using technology effectively.
Further Reading:
Relationship between Students' Emotional Intelligence, Social Bond and Interactions in Online Learning
Sources:
New Role for 'Hormone of Love' Oxytocin in Brain: Helps Direct Development of Brain-Body Interface
Social Networking – “It’s Almost Like Being In Love”
Oxytocin has also been found in helping the body cope the loss of body vessels. It helps the brain to produce new and healthy blood vessels far more quickly. So there is something to be said about love being good for your heart...
If our students are literally "in love" with social media due to these neurological reasons, then we should harness that and develop activities which allow them to foster new relationships online as well as in the classroom. Producing more of the chemical oxytocin allows people to build deeper relationships and be more open towards one another. Understanding these neurological bases for human interactions helps us as teachers see the bigger picture on why and how we need to start using technology effectively.
Further Reading:
Relationship between Students' Emotional Intelligence, Social Bond and Interactions in Online Learning
Sources:
New Role for 'Hormone of Love' Oxytocin in Brain: Helps Direct Development of Brain-Body Interface
Social Networking – “It’s Almost Like Being In Love”
Friday, May 25, 2012
EDUTAINMENT and Gamification! Let’s Play and Learn?!
I grew up at a time when playing and learning did not happen at the same time. Being able to play was the reward for learning and doing what I was supposed to do. Learning was serious and playing was what I did outside of the classroom. Playing games consisted of playing outside, playing boardgames and playing make-believe. Play has a completely different meaning for kids growing up now and the social aspect of play involves different elements as well. Further to this point, it was mentioned in class that we are at a point where education as we knew it no longer exist in a sense. To the point where some assume that technology is a threat to education but does it have to be? We have moved towards collaborative learning theories and implementing those to engage learners so why not implement native online strategies to integrate play and gaming into learning. Gaming is now one of the principle forms of entertainment and teaching in a way that students will actually want to learn is equally as important. If students have a choice between writing a story/reading a book and doing something digital and playing a game, the likeliness is they will pick the digital and play option. This brings me to the concept of EDUTAINMENT that is taking on a new meaning with the concept of Gamification. Gamification is using game thinking and game mechanics to solve problems and engage people and is a technique widely used by marketers to promote loyalty. It is gaining interest among learning and development professionals as a powerful way to drive learner engagement. Gamification provides opportunities for interactive activities and we witnessed a living case study highlighting best practices in the design, development and implementation of a Gamification solution at Ford of Canada.
All this being said, we have had several workshops in my workplace about integrating Gamification into our learning programs (online and in class) and we work with adults. So, I started thinking some more and thought if adults are gaming at a much higher rate than in the past then it’s only natural that students in elementary and high school will be doing the same because there’s a natural inclination to want to play when we’re young. With considerable planning, thought and development perhaps Gamification would actually help engage students in learning especially with content heavy subjects or material. This presents a challenge with permissions, accessibility and cost among other things however scaling it and starting small, generating interest and then potentially taking larger steps could be worth a lot more than we realise because we now have the possibility of making anything and everything in learning FUN!
I watched these 2 videos among others about Gamification (The first is much shorter and the second a little long, but nonetheless interesting) Check them out!
Submitted by Safia
I grew up at a time when playing and learning did not happen at the same time. Being able to play was the reward for learning and doing what I was supposed to do. Learning was serious and playing was what I did outside of the classroom. Playing games consisted of playing outside, playing boardgames and playing make-believe. Play has a completely different meaning for kids growing up now and the social aspect of play involves different elements as well. Further to this point, it was mentioned in class that we are at a point where education as we knew it no longer exist in a sense. To the point where some assume that technology is a threat to education but does it have to be? We have moved towards collaborative learning theories and implementing those to engage learners so why not implement native online strategies to integrate play and gaming into learning. Gaming is now one of the principle forms of entertainment and teaching in a way that students will actually want to learn is equally as important. If students have a choice between writing a story/reading a book and doing something digital and playing a game, the likeliness is they will pick the digital and play option. This brings me to the concept of EDUTAINMENT that is taking on a new meaning with the concept of Gamification. Gamification is using game thinking and game mechanics to solve problems and engage people and is a technique widely used by marketers to promote loyalty. It is gaining interest among learning and development professionals as a powerful way to drive learner engagement. Gamification provides opportunities for interactive activities and we witnessed a living case study highlighting best practices in the design, development and implementation of a Gamification solution at Ford of Canada. I watched these 2 videos among others about Gamification (The first is much shorter and the second a little long, but nonetheless interesting) Check them out!
Submitted by Safia
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Collaboration and Engagement: A revolution through Social Media!
In my lifetime, I have seen a huge leap forward in teaching and learning. The ways in which I learned were invaluable to me but barely resonate with the students in classrooms today. As our course syllabus outlines, lecturing was originally simply a means of the lecturer reading content to students and while this still occurs in parts of the world, in our classroom environments it doesn’t seem plausible any more. Making a move to student-centered teaching and collaborative learning in groups and through conversations, shifted the classroom dynamic further beyond what most people probably expected. The students not only have a large part in their own learning, they have started to determine and in many ways control the outcomes of what happens in classrooms. There are a number of collaborative learning theories and approaches to learning in the classroom and now mobile technology is allowing for collaborative learning to take on a whole new level using social media tools. If collaborative learning is based on the idea that learning is a naturally social act in which participants talk amongst themselves and learn through those conversations (Gerlach, 1994), then why should learning be limited to in-person conversations. Clearly, we have seen the number and variety of conversations taking place online through social media tools so what’s to stop us from using social media to promote and engage students in collaborative learning. Not only is this a way they are familiar with but they are actively and voluntarily taking part in these conversations. So the question is how can we influence students to use these social media technologies to promote collaborative learning? One simple method is a blog, similar to this one and the others being created by colleagues or twitter feeds and exchanges. Not only does this help students engage but ultimately it connects to the “real world” that many students miss and feel disconnected from when they are in the classroom. This might be a long stretch but perhaps, we won’t hear as many comments about what they’re learning not being relevant to their lives. Not only that, but learning then takes place outside of the classroom as much as does within the four walls of a typical classroom. Furthermore, learners of all learning styles engage at their own pace and comfort level which ultimately enhances learning and interactions rather than hindering them. In a classroom setting, a more introverted student may choose never to make conversation with a more extroverted student whereas online those barriers don’t exist at the same level. Essentially maximising connections students can make with each other. There are definitely challenges of distractions and quality of conversations with online collaboration but with the appropriate work, guidance and damage control in place, it could be a great way to invite students to converse, collaborate, and engage in the social atmospheres of the future! IT's become a revolution. Take a look at the following video that outlines exactly how much of a revolution it has become and where the trend might be headed when it comes to classroom interactions and collaborative learning!
THE SOCIAL MEDIA REVOLUTION:
Reference: Using Social Media to promote Collaboration: http://www.westernu.edu/bin/ime/FacDev_11_SocialMedia.pdf
THE SOCIAL MEDIA REVOLUTION:
Reference: Using Social Media to promote Collaboration: http://www.westernu.edu/bin/ime/FacDev_11_SocialMedia.pdf
Submitted by: Safia Dakri
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Using the Confusometer
Hello Everyone,
A few weeks ago, I was reading the Toronto Star online during one of my planning times. Yes, I can admit that reading the paper is a guilty pleasure when my students have left the class for music. Aside from all of the usual headlines of despair and horror, I came across an article regarding a new technology being used in a classroom at the University of Toronto. The "Confusometer" is an app developed by a professor at the University. Basically, it allows students to relay their understanding of the material being covered in a lecture in a discreet and anonymous way. Instead of students being intimidated and worried about raising their hands, they can quietly indicate their level of comfort with the topic being explained. What I found really interesting was that as the professor goes back and explains the topic again, the students have an option to click an "Understood" button.
Obviously, the implications are far-reaching. As an elementary teacher, I admit that sometimes rely on questions from students while I am teaching a lesson. Being able to have this sort of real-time information would be very beneficial when I teach my lessons; I could change the way I explain concepts or even re-teach the material if required. Some students just are not comfortable to ask a question, for fear of being labelled "stupid" or "dumb". Of course a drawback is that if a particular student continues to have difficulty, I would have to work with them one-on-one to assist them further. Yet, on the whole I think that this app would be a very worthy online technology tool that could be used in the classroom (and also in a variety of other educational settings).
The new app already seems to be getting some interest, with professors at Harvard and Stanford (along with a host of others) asking for more information. Apparently the app will be released to the public sometime later this year, and I can only imagine that the demand and interest for it will be high.
I mean, if I am interested, I can only imagine how the professors at other universities feel!
For more information, you can read The Toronto Star article here:
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1173277--don-t-get-what-the-prof-s-talking-about-there-s-an-app-for-that
And of course, here is the website for the app itself:
http://understoodit.com/
A few weeks ago, I was reading the Toronto Star online during one of my planning times. Yes, I can admit that reading the paper is a guilty pleasure when my students have left the class for music. Aside from all of the usual headlines of despair and horror, I came across an article regarding a new technology being used in a classroom at the University of Toronto. The "Confusometer" is an app developed by a professor at the University. Basically, it allows students to relay their understanding of the material being covered in a lecture in a discreet and anonymous way. Instead of students being intimidated and worried about raising their hands, they can quietly indicate their level of comfort with the topic being explained. What I found really interesting was that as the professor goes back and explains the topic again, the students have an option to click an "Understood" button.
Obviously, the implications are far-reaching. As an elementary teacher, I admit that sometimes rely on questions from students while I am teaching a lesson. Being able to have this sort of real-time information would be very beneficial when I teach my lessons; I could change the way I explain concepts or even re-teach the material if required. Some students just are not comfortable to ask a question, for fear of being labelled "stupid" or "dumb". Of course a drawback is that if a particular student continues to have difficulty, I would have to work with them one-on-one to assist them further. Yet, on the whole I think that this app would be a very worthy online technology tool that could be used in the classroom (and also in a variety of other educational settings).
The new app already seems to be getting some interest, with professors at Harvard and Stanford (along with a host of others) asking for more information. Apparently the app will be released to the public sometime later this year, and I can only imagine that the demand and interest for it will be high.
I mean, if I am interested, I can only imagine how the professors at other universities feel!
For more information, you can read The Toronto Star article here:
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1173277--don-t-get-what-the-prof-s-talking-about-there-s-an-app-for-that
And of course, here is the website for the app itself:
http://understoodit.com/
Monday, May 21, 2012
Taking My Boogie Board to Class...
Hi Everyone,
Now that I have joined the “twitterverse”, I have found all sorts of random people that I am following. One of them is Nathan Fillion (who for me was AMAZING in the sci-fi series "Firefly" and "Serenity"), but some of you may know him from the current television series "Castle". He actually tweeted about a new form of technology that can be used in the classroom, and surprisingly enough he mentioned Canadian Schools.
When I clicked on the link he provided in his tweet, it brought me to this website:
http://www.improvelectronics.com/us/en/boogie-board-LCD-writing-tablet/boogie-board-8-LCD-writing-tablet.html
At first, I wasn't really sure what to make of it, but on further investigation I found that this is a simplified tablet capable of making notes and sketches using a diagonal screen size of 8.5 inches. Think of it as a fancy "Etch-a-Sketch". What really piqued my interest was that the Boogie Board is only $39.95, which is a reasonable cost for most school boards. Also, the shell (or outer case) of the Board can be customized into nine colours (which is sure to be a hit with students). The company also offers a larger version which is 10.5 inches in diagonal length, but I believe that the 8.5 inch version is suitable for most students. Being an elementary school teacher, I can immediately see some uses for this type of technology in the classroom. Students can practice their printing and handwriting, sketch solutions and diagrams to mathematics problems, and even use the Board as a fancy "to-do" list (beneficial for students who have trouble keeping track of tasks and assignments).
 |
| The 8.5" Boogie Board in Cyan |
The company touts a 40% reduction in classroom paper use and expense, and although I am dubious to this amount of a reduction, I can agree that paper use would be cut down significantly in a classroom. I also like that the company offers a version that an be attached to a 3-ring binder, which makes it all the more practical for students.
While I don't think that the Boogie Board will replace sticky-notes and paper completely, I can see this technology being very engaging for students in the classroom. Being able to have something "cool" and hi-tech is sure to be a selling feature for students, and the relatively low cost should make this appealing to teachers and administrators. I am sufficiently impressed with the Boogie Board that I will be making a proposal to my school administration to buy a few units and try them out in our school. If successful, I can see no reason why a class set of the Boards should not be purchased.
And to think, all of this inspiration came from a sci-fi actor.
Thanks for reading!
Sasha:)
For more information on Nathan Fillion visit: Nathan Fillion (wikipedia)
If you are curious about Firefly take a look at: Firefly (wikipedia)
And finally, if you are interested in reading more about the Boogie Board please visit: Boogie Boards (PRWeb Article)
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