Social Learning in Practice (and VoiceThread)
What is social learning? How do we use it to help our students achieve more?
Social learning fits right in with last week’s post about Constructionism. Social learning according to Dr. Orey (2010a) is when students are actively engaged in learning. With social learning students work together, collaboratively, to complete a project.
There are many ways to do this. Many teachers have group projects they do in class. Each person in the group has a title or job that they must do in order for the project to be successful. Now we bring these projects to the 21st century. We add computers and the internet.
Students can use many online resources and work collaboratively on a project. Wikis, blogs, and websites just to name a few. A few examples mentioned in Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works (2007) are having students create a video, become part of the JASON project, make or follow a webquest, make a website, or use a simulation game. Each of these examples allows students to work with other students, either in the classroom or across the world. These students work together in order to complete a project.
I think it is important for us, teachers and parents, to remember that the jobs our students and children will be doing in twenty years, do not exist today. We are preparing our youth for a future we are not sure about. One of the best ways to help prepare our youth is to give them the opportunities that are available.
Many companies use a form of social learning and social collaboration. This saves time and money for a company. A worker in Japan can communicate and collaborate with a worker in New York. This can be done in live time or on their own time. In 2008 workforce.com published an article about how corporations were going to e-learning because of cost and the ability to reach a wide range of employees. Today we have all watched the commercials that endorse people to work at home. They are all business attire up top, then the camera scrolls down; they are in pajamas and slippers.
Many fortune 500 companies take advantage of social media. Fifty-eight percent of fortune 500 companies have a Facebook page (Kramer, 2012). “35 percent of the top 100 Fortune 500 companies have a corporate blog compared to 14 percent of those Fortune 500 companies in the bottom 300-500 of the category. Hmmm, top companies devoting more attention to their corporate blogs than those in the bottom of the pack—no surprise to us” (Kramer, 2012). Our students are going to have to know how to use a blog, how to use social media and how to collaborate with one another in order to be successful.
As George Siemens (2010b) states, the lessons we are teaching need to be practical. They need to apply to what students are learning. Don’t use technology just for technology’s sake (Pitler, Hubble, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007). Students need the real world application when they are using technology. An example might be a Wiki. A student could make a Wiki with a group, just to make a Wiki; however, it would be more beneficial if the students are applying what they have learned from class. Tie in a reading, math, science, or social studies lesson. It also is very beneficial to help students see how using a Wiki will be usable in the future. This might be easier for high school students. Explaining to them that many companies use a form of internet based collaboration.
When people think of Social Learning or Social Networking many people think of Facebook or MySpace. These are applications that many companies have taken advantage of. Some teachers, schools, classrooms have Facebook pages. They are used to communicate with parents, students, and the community. I personally use Facebook a lot with my job with Special Olympics. Special Olympics has taken Facebook and turned it into the main form of communication between coaches, employees, and staff members.
There are fears with using social media. The biggest paper in Montana, Billings Gazette, published an article this week about how cyber criminals are using social media sights to gain personal information. The cyber criminal will send a bogus friend request with a malicious link (Associated Press, 2012), people then click on the link and are taken to a site where they are asked to fill out information.
After my principal read my blog and listened to my class VoiceThread she reminded me of the Billings Gazette article. It was one more reason to be cautions of social networking. She can see the good in social media/social networking; however, she is trepidations about using it in the school. Facebook has not played a positive role in our school this year.
This brings me to my VoiceThread. VoiceThread is new to me. VoiceThread is a way for people to communicate with others. Please take a minute to watch this VIDEO to help you understand VoiceThread. (Click on the word VIDEO)
I was asked to make a VoiceThread for my graduate class. I was asked to “think of a need, problem, or situation you are confronted with in your classroom or school today.” The need I feel my school needs is more education about social networking/social media. Please take a minute (or two) and listen to my VoiceThread. I would love your feedback.
How do you use Social Learning and Social Networking, safely, in your personal and professional life?
references
Associated Press (2012, June 1). Cyber criminals using new tricks for break-ins. Billings
Gazette. Retrieved from http://billingsgazette.com/news/national/cyber-criminals-using-
new-tricks-for-break-ins/article_e1b7f999-895b-576b-807c-0ee150c9b344.html
Karmer, Shelly (2012, May 28). How fortune 500 companies use social media. V3 integrated
marketing. Retrieved from http://www.v3im.com/2012/05/how-fortune-500-companies- use-social-media/#axzz1wmkjMciu
Kranz, Gary (2008, February 26). E-learning hits its stride. Workforce. Retrieved from
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010a). [Webcast]. Social learning theories.
Baltimore: Laureate Media.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010b). [Webcast]. Connectivism as a learning
theory. Baltimore: Laureate Media.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom
instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
I hesitate to use social media as a teacher as I have seen many cases of inappropriate comments and posts. I also think it would be good to set an example of how to use technology effectively.
ReplyDeleteProfessionally, I have used social media tools to work together on projects for my ed. leadership classes and collaboration was much easier. I believe that technology is not going away and schools need to address the problems and work to overcome them.
Book Reader-
DeleteI totally agree with you! I wonder how we, schools and communities, can overcome the problems associated with social media. It would be nice to have a class for parents and community memebers where they are educated about proper use of social media/networking. I would also think that teachers should attend this class.
Think before you click!
I agree with Book Reader. I too hesitate to use social media as a teacher because of the inappropriate content. I do feel I need to learn more about all methods of technology before I feel comfortable enough to center student learning around it. In fact, I feel that using technology in the classroom is a big weakness of mine as a teacher even though I have experienced how using technology makes my job easier and also keeps my students engaged.
ReplyDeleteJ. Jacobsen-
DeleteI think it is important to have education about the technology you are working with. I think that teachers should "play" with all kinds of technologies before they teach it. I like Wiki's and would love to use one in class. I still need to "play" around with them more in order to teach my students how to use it effectively.
What suggestions do you have to make Social Media more acceptable? How would you feel more comfortable using it?
When used correctly social media can be a wonderful tool for you to connect to students and families. It is the way many parents communicate today and that is important to be able to reach out to them and make sure they are invovled with their child's life. Also, it is showing the students how to use the tools that are available today for their future. More then likely the technology will be well advanced by the time they get there, but at least they are introduced to it at an early age and it becomes part of their life.
ReplyDeleteSocial media can contain inappropriate content, however anything can turn into something that is not acceptable if done without thought. A note, phone call or a meeting in person must be done with professionalism and that is what needs to be done with social media. You always hear about the negatives that happen, but for every negative event that occurs from it I bet that by a teacher using social media in their classroom it has helped out at least one kid or family. So I say focus on the positives it can bring and help students shine in their future with the use of it!
Traci-
DeleteThank you for your comment. You said it!!! I think that we, teachers, students, parents and community members need to stay postive. Remember what good comes out of internet use and social media.
Great comments by everyone. Like I mentioned on your voicethread Pru, until we see the problems that arise from these social networks, we cannot confront them. However, it is important that we confront them and not run away. When the pen was used for first offensive comment on the desk , did schools expel all pens and remove all desks? No, they educated the students on appropriate behavior and made students responsible for their actions by giving consequences if it was done. Did it stop the problem? No, still to this day it happens, but people are aware and students do think before they write.
ReplyDeleteI am starting to introduce teachers at my school to the power of social networking. I have started my twitter account for Mr. Huskey (not my other personal account). This account is strictly for students and teachers to get involved and socialize, of coarse, in English. It has been interesting because I only introduced it to 2 classes of about 20 students each and the word has spread around the school. "Huskey has a twitter... cool". I use it to pose questions and to start dialogue in English. Some students have started to reply while others observe from the side line but it has sparked their interests and allowed them to get involved with English without having to think about English.
For example, I played "rock, paper, and sissors" with about 11 members of the baseball team. The winner had to buy everyone a snack from the school store. I lost, so I was awarded plus 10 other membrers, with a snack that the winning baseball member bought. I took a pic and said "I played Rock, Paper, Sissors with the baseball team and lost. Thanks guys!!" One baseball player saw my comment and retweeted it. Several others soon retweeted it after and it brought us all together socializing and sharing the experience with other students online where we could not have had the chance before. This was all in English.
I am still hesitant and cautious with the social networks, but I am exploring and seeing what can be professionally used for learning.
Jeremy,
DeleteI agree, all new forms of technology have some kind of "beware" attached to them. I remember when the internet was finally something we could get where I lived. (Small town Montana, hard to get internet, even now!) It was dial up and I was 15. I remember my mom so worried about online preditors. As you said, the problems are still here. They are still around. We, people of today, are more prepared and know how to educate about internet and the fear it brings.
I like how you have a Twitter acount as a teacher. Thag is awesome. I know my school would not handle that! I'm glad it "spread like wild fire!"
What a great way to use English in your classes.
I think many people are hesitant about social networking.
I agree with you that our teaching needs to be practical and that we need to use technology in a way to benefit the students instead of just using it to say we have taught a lesson with technology. I know that as I complete different projects with my students I can see the different needs of the students with technology. Since there are a variety of needs I try to teach a technology tip every time we use the technology. Working on these projects together is a great way for students to learn the concepts, but also learn from each other.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte,
DeleteIf we are using technology just to use technology we are not benefiting anyone. Yes, we used the technology. But what are the students getting out of it?
Teaching a tip each time you use technology is a good thing. Even if you reteach the same tip. I bet the students are used to it and expect it.
I love using Voicethread and have given workshops at schools to encourage them to use voicethread. Here is the presentation I gave if you are interested (http://voicethread.com/?#u52839.b544400.i2914002)
ReplyDeleteI use social networking constantly on a daily basis. It helps me stay connected with like-minded people where I find new ideas and strategies. My online friends also are great sounding boards for me to bounce off new ideas and thoughts.
Pat,
DeleteThank you I will check out your voice thread. I am thinking that I like it a lot now. I could see how this would be fantastic in my professional life!
I use social networking all the time. I use it for Special Olympics, to keep in contact with friends and family. I see the good it brings, I would love to use it in school more.
What do you use voicethread for? Besides a workshop?
I am so happy to hear that an educator had embraced Facebook. In my professional experience Facebook was like a swear word. Your post this week is a great example of how an educator with the right intentions can really benefit from social networks like Facebook. If only my district could see that!
ReplyDeleteCole,
ReplyDeleteI am with you!!! I wish my district could also see the good. I am trying! We can only be postive and work for the better change!