I have a blog. I've had a facebook page for several years. I haven't posted anything to my blog since 2010.
I just really didn't get it. Until now. Facebook and my blog, both just seemed to me like ways to broadcast my own sense self-importance and vanity to the world, in addition to being stealthy thieves of my most precious resource, time.
So I only visited them on a rare occasion, when sleep was hiding in the shadows or something.
But our experience using social media as a part of the Institute has made me realize a much greater purpose and usefulness for these tools.
When I first saw that our assignments for the Institute included social media contributions, I figured it was just to familiarize all of us with the resources that are available. Robin Phillips opened my eyes to ways to use social media as a marketing tool, which is very cool.
But my experience has been even richer than that. Our constant connection to the blog and FB and Twitter throughout our first week here has helped me to get to know who the other people are in our class, what their "voices" sound like and what their struggles and triumphs are. Not only that, it has created a community amongst us that wouldn't have developed as quickly or completely otherwise. It has advanced and added to the discussions that begin in class.
I know I'm a big nerd, but these educational and philosophical conversations are exciting and fascinating to me. Much more so than seeing people's vacation snapshots or random ramblings.
It is enriching and empowering to be a part of this.
So thanks to you all for the conversation. And thanks to the Institute for teaching me about it's power.
Deann McBride
Page High School
Page, AZ
I had this philosophical conversation with a few others this morning. Wish you had been there!
ReplyDeleteI think that social media has a large power and teachers have not been tapping into it. All I could think this morning was: how much better would my Romeo and Juliet unit be if students could share outside links and information with each other on Facebook or a blog? Or if my students could discuss it in a "safe" or more familiar outlet -other than speaking up in class.
What we have learned about social media is great for journalism as well. This past week I have found a real purpose to my Facebook posts. Before I would throw up a random status and no one would really comment, because no one cared. This week I have been posting news topics, interviews (whether comical or not), updates about the places I am visiting and what I am learning. And what happened? More people are responding than have ever done so before.
Suddenly, I feel like I am just finding my social media voice. I wonder, will I go back to what I did before when I get home? Then I think, no! These social media outlets can be very productive as long as there is a purpose. When I give purpose to my page and my status and links then others respond and engage. This same principle should apply to my students. If I allow them to use social media with a purpose it will be valuable to their learning.
When there is no purpose, there is no value.
Sarah Noah
Goshen High School
Goshen, Indiana
Gotta love a great "light bulb moment"! I've had quite a few myself. :)
ReplyDeleteMarlo Spritzer
Southern Lehigh HS
Center Valley PA
Truth be told, I just want participants to create content in as many forms as possible and as often as possible. The community you have created in the process, especially this year, is gratifying to see.
ReplyDeleteSteve Elliott
Arizona State University
Phoenix