Social Media is one of the forms of technology that is trending right now. Facebook and Twitter are being mentioned everywhere I go. I am hearing about Pinterest, which is an online pin-board where people can organize and share the things they love. Social media has provided a way for people to create or join with communities of people who have similar interests. Some people use social networking simply for [net]working, whereas other people use it simply to connect on a personal level with family and friends. Teachers can also use social media networks to help extend teaching and learning beyond the classroom. Businesses are using social media sites such as Facebook to create fan pages that help them with advertising and promoting their product(s) to their target market.
Do you use any social media networks?
Reply from Jeff Wright
ReplyDeleteChris,
Yes, it seems that social media is indeed very trendy in most aspects of society today. Therefore, it only makes sense that it would be a more prevelant part of education. Furthermore, it seems that middle school and high school students are very much involved in social networking. In fact, it is not only evident in how they are constantly facebooking, twittering, texting, etc. but also in how they are involved socially at school. In the mornings as we are waiting for the first block bell to ring, we teachers are often standing in the hallways monitoring students as they make circles round and round the hallways. They are not really traveling anywheres per se, they are just socially networking by seeing who is there and meeting up with friends. I think that you are on to something when you state that the trend is social networking. Certainly, education can assimilate this into the curriculum in some way in order to increase learning and engagement. Thanks for your post my friend.
Blessings,
JW
Jeff,
ReplyDeleteMiddle and high school students are definitely social and very interested in knowing who is around them and what is going on. I notice, too, that many students are always going back and forth to somewhere. Many times students will come into the classroom and rush back out into the hallway until just as the tardy bell rings. I agree, too, that social media can help students to be more engaged in learning and interact with other students for the purpose of learning.
Thanks for your thoughts,
-Chris