Social Media
Image source: socialloyaltyapps.com
Prior to starting my M.Ed., the only social media website that I was involved with was Facebook. Through my use of Facebook I was able to see how it could be used as an educational tool in classrooms. However, I have never really discussed or analyzed it's implications. In addition, I was one of those opposed to the use of Twitter as a social tool because I thought it was pointless. Thus, the thought of it being used as an educational tool was beyond my comprehension. Thankfully, during my Online Technology in Education course, I was given the knowledge of various social media tools that could be used in favour of education. At the start of the course we were all told to create a Twitter account (at this time I still thought Twitter was useless and was reluctant to create an account). Throughout the course we used our Twitter account to post relevant information based on course material, ask and answer relevant questions, interact with peers and use Twitter within our presentations. Taking the Online Technology in Education course has really enlightened me and broadened my understanding of various types of social media and their uses in education. In doing this, my perception on the use of Twitter was altered. As a teacher I think it is important to know about the various types of social media that are out there and how they could be used in the classroom because many children are walking around with some sort of technological device and are a part of many social media websites. Furthermore, In my Learning with Technology class, I examined how Facebook can be used as a great educational tool in classrooms in terms of blogging.
Social media is defined as a new form of interacting that allows individuals to become a source of information via new technologies (Elmore, 2010). Those who are a part of social media websites are able to create and share user-generated content. Social Media websites include, but are not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogging, Flickr, and LinkedIn. Most of these sites allow users to post and comment on pictures, videos, and thoughts.
Social media is defined as a new form of interacting that allows individuals to become a source of information via new technologies (Elmore, 2010). Those who are a part of social media websites are able to create and share user-generated content. Social Media websites include, but are not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogging, Flickr, and LinkedIn. Most of these sites allow users to post and comment on pictures, videos, and thoughts.
Artifact 1This artifact is a collaborative PowerPoint presentation created on social media for Online Technology in Education. The PowerPoint defines social media, looks at the pros and cons of using social media in classrooms, blogging in elementary classrooms, use of Twitter in secondary classrooms and using Skype in classrooms. This artifact was important to me as a learning tool because I was able to understand the importance of various social media tools in classrooms if used correctly.
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Artifact 2This artifact is a paper that I wrote for my Learning with Technology class. The paper briefly defines what social networking is and describes Facebook as a tool. The paper focuses on analyzing Facebook's "wall" feature through various theories and it's implications and uses in classrooms. I included this artifact because through thorough examination of Facebook's "wall" feature, I have learnt how it could be used in classrooms as a blog, and as a communication method between teachers, parents and students.
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References
Elmore, K. (2010). What is social media? Kentucky Banker Magazine, , 12-13