Using social media (Facebook) as a instructional tool in the classroom

Social media is a great was for people to connect and share their ideas and thoughts whether they are academic or not.  As adults we are able to sift through the garbage and only focus of the quality info, as for the classroom, much more QA (Quality assurance) is required from the teacher.

Using social media in the classroom can be a great tool if monitored properly, but un-monitored can lead to a lot of problems such as the child getting into inappropriate material and straying from the task. There are eight risks for children using the internet in the curriculum according the Bernie Poole (2011). Link here. These eight risks are objectionable or inappropriate material, cyber-bullying, online predators, invasion of privacy, inaccurate or bias information, information overload, garbage and wasted time. All of these risks have solutions like filtering software, student training and teacher vigilance but none of these can stop all the risks and make the internet completely safe. There will always be a risk, however, the decision you must make as a teacher is if the instructional value of the internet out weighs the risks. For example, an article posted on the site www.onlinecollege.org, written by the site administrator (2009) offers 100 ways to use and implement Facebook in the classroom in classes K-12. Link here.

For my classroom, I would use Facebook as a way to communicate with the children outside of school. I would post helpful sites and tips for the students to help them with their homework and the students could post questions they have and could be answered by their classmates. I would also post readings and activities for the students to do outside of class for homework instead of giving them paper assignments. It would serve as a means of communication between me and the students and from student to student. Of course I would need to acquire parental permission before doing this.

Another way I would use Facebook is for a means of presentation. The students would make small groups and create a Facebook page on something that interest them. They would research the topic and the internet and post info and websites on the Facebook page. The team would be responsible for maintaining the page and updating it.

Web 2.0 Tool

I found that www.StoryJumper.com was the most interesting site I found Larry Ferlazzo's blog. I choose this site because you can use it for younger children and it sparks creativity. StoryJumper allows children to create their own stories either using a template to get them started or from scratch. Check it out at the hyperlink above.

I would use this website for creative writing skills and computer skill building. This website is extremely easy to use and can be easily taught to all learners. For those students who have trouble with the starting idea, the website offers templates that get the story started, for the creative students, they can start from scratch and make it their own. This web site keeps the students engaged because the students it creating text and a scene, also it builds typing skills which can benefit those students who struggle with writing. 

This website is a great way to spark creative writing.  It can also be used for presentation skills as the students can order a hard copy and present it to their classmates. 

Take a look at my sample here.

WEB 2.0

As teachers to "Digital Natives" (Prensky 20010), we must understand how the specific technology is used by the students. Also we must be aware that not all students have had the same access to technology as others and not "Collapse all young people into one class" (Rosen, 2008). This is true especially with the idea of UDL (universal design learners); since all students learn different, it only makes sense that they all have had different experiences with technology.
Web 2.0 fits into UDL for the simple fact that it offers information from all different kinds of learners. Since the social sharing is a huge part of Web 2.0, students can share information in a way that makes sense to the same kind of learner. Collaboration is a valuable tool to use with the students of the digital age, especially with those students who find it easier to communicate through technology A disadvantage to using this technology is the overwhelming amount of information. When using this technology you must teach your students skills to search for the good information and ignore the rest.
The students are not the only ones who can benefit from Web 2.0. Teachers can access methods and strategies for teaching across the board.

The "Today Show" clip was interesting because the hosts didn't even know what the internet was and what it would become. They only knew it as WEB 1.0.They had no idea how it would change the workplace or schools and colleges. That is a thought we must always be aware of: technology is always changing and we must be aware of the technology the "natives" are using and how we can utilize it as a teaching tool.