Blogging, Tweeting and Schools

Richard Byrne brings up an interesting point on his Free Technology for Teachers blog. In a post on Don't Eat Lunch Alone he talks about the lack of a lunch room to eat with his fellow teachers at his school. He also brings up the negativity of these rooms. I have to agree with him. I was often staying clear of faculty rooms in schools either while student teaching or substitute teaching because of the sometimes negative gossip that goes on. I like Byrne's idea of a lunch tweet with fellow educators at a certain time. By having what he calls a PLN (personal learning network) with educators you can talk with numerous other educators as well as removing your self from some of negativity of "faculty" rooms.



I think by partaking in social networks for thirty minutes at lunch time can help teachers and administrators ease themselves into become tweeters (is that the correct word?). In her blog What About That Twitter Thing? Silvia Tolisano mentions how teachers, administrators, and superintendents are overwhelmed by tweeter and do not see it as relevant. I can see how they think that, but by simply using it as a tool amongst teachers in the same building, same state, same country and even the same world can give teachers the space to ask just about anything. I think in a world that is being overtaken by technology twitter can have a valuable role as a place for teachers to share and discuss their ideas with colleagues and teachers abroad.

I like love the idea of using twitter to simply talk to, question and find out what other teachers are doing. Any time you can talk to different teachers is beneficial to you and your students. I think it also gives teachers who may be shy to speak out publicly or share their ideas personally a place to simply share and post their thoughts.

Ning.....

I created a project for a graduate classes where I was able to use ning. I really liked what it had to offer for in terms of this project. I had it so students had to, in groups of four, research one of four enlightenment thinkers. Create a ning for one thinker each and then they would have to join a group that I created called enlightened thinkers and then act as if they were their enlightenment thinkers discussing their ideas. I like the idea of ning as something you can use in your classroom for students. Here is a link to my fake ning I created but it no longer works. Enlightenment Thinkers

I also ning as a tool for teachers to stay connected I really like the classroom 2.0 ning. Anywhere where teachers can go to discuss, question and post ideas for education is beneficial to both teachers and students. I remember when I first began student teaching and being stuck trying to find other ideas on how to better connect Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin and design a lesson for my students. I remember sitting at my computer trying to google different ideas. If I at the time had ning and maybe a social studies teachers ning I could have asked and looked more easily for ideas. I also like the idea of UB English Department has a ning, I think all departments should have something similar to this.

A Learner is Like A ........

I always like the idea of a learner is like a sponge...it can soak up just about anything and thus you can also squeeze anything out of it with a little pressure.


I always liked the analogy of a learner as a sponge because it represents so much of what a learner can do. I see a student as one who can absorb vast amounts of knowledge. And when you pressure (challenge) that student they can release that knowledge. Where I see constructivism fitting with my sponge analogy is that the sponge already contains substance (knowledge) and we are just adding to it and making meaning out of it. Think of the hand holding the sponge, it sees something and wants to wipe (absorb) it up. The hand is our brain and like George Siemens (click here for article) says; "learners are actively attempting to create meaning. Learners often select and pursue their own learning. Constructivist principles acknowledge that real-life learning is messy and complex.'' This quote has a lot to do with what I see education as, a space for students to create meaning. I feel assessments need to provide students with the opportunity to create. The sponge should not just dump the water into the sink but use the water to water the plant.

In the video The Impact of Social Learning (click here for video) the idea of social networking and the use of flicker in the classroom is something that is directly connected with the idea of constructivism in that but post an image and having other people comment on that image you are creating and learning in a way that is not just feeding one facts. Technology and websites like flicker are like providing the sponges with an upgrade, like instead of using a sponge we are using a shamwow (sorry about the overuse of the analogy). By using technology like flicker, like facebook, like myspace as the video states we are taking something that the students are already familiar with and giving them an opportunity to construct meaning. I can just see an assignment where I put up a picture on flicker of Andrew Jackson dressed like a king and let students discuss what they see. The possibilities are endless. Students are connected on so many levels that they need to be connected. "Learning is a process that occurs within nebulous environments of shifting core elements – not entirely under the control of the individual." The closest we can to staying connected is through these social networks and as educators why not take advantage of them? I would rather see my students comment on a picture online and enjoy themselves than sitting there staring at an overhead thinking about the next Twilight movie. Lets let students take control of their environment and their learning.