Reflection 1.1 Instructions
Think back to the definition you gave for social media in the prior learning survey. How has the course content , the readings and resources provided extended, challenged, or deepened your initial understanding? (Cite references as appropriate.) What about educational applications of social media--has the course content (material I post in the module), the readings and resources provided extended, challenged, or deepened your initial ideas?
Think back to the definition you gave for social media in the prior learning survey. How has the course content , the readings and resources provided extended, challenged, or deepened your initial understanding? (Cite references as appropriate.) What about educational applications of social media--has the course content (material I post in the module), the readings and resources provided extended, challenged, or deepened your initial ideas?
Technology has given us opportunities to connect and network like never before, and it seems that this connected and social revolution is here to stay. Technology connects people for a variety of purposes, and has helped to redefine how people create or establish relationships. Julia Hengstler (2013), helps to define the Social Web as one “where producers of online content directly engage in discussions, collaborations, etc. with an audience(s) and build ‘networks’ of people with whom to engage.” This seemingly simple description is further broadened, such that Mark Stelzner (2009) delineates social media from social networks where “Social Media are the tools for sharing and discussing information. Social Networks is the use of communities of interest to connect to others" (Stelzner, 2009). Lankshear & Knobel (2011) note that “networks have emerged as ‘a dominant form of social organization’.” Boyd & Ellison’s (2007) research in this area expand the definition of a social network:
We define social network sites as web-based services that allow individuals to (1)construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system. (Boyd & Ellison, 2007, 211)
The growing phenomenon of using social media and social networks as a way to connect is a fascinating aspect of society. My understanding of social media is limited, as I am a less than frequent user of it. I am very much aware of our lasting digital footprint that remains (in some cases, long after you are dead). J. Hengstler (2013) work on digital footprints, Digital Professionalism and Digital Footprints, (2013), she presented research by L. Indvik (2010), in which “Today’s children are developing digital footprints earlier than ever … Indvik found that by 2 years old, 92% of all American children already had some digital presence” (Indvik, 2010). Little is known about the lasting impact of our digital footprint, but I find this very concerning for both myself and my children.
Personally, my use on the Social Web is limited to a few social networks that are useful on a personal level and what Lankshear & Knobel (2011) refer to as a strategic level, used for professional associations. I cautiously use Facebook and I am more of a skulker than an active participant; my friends and family do not receive current updates on my “status,” but I have been known to “like” and occasionally comment on a friends post. My other social networks include Twitter, Google+ (recently introduced to during OLTD 505), Delicious (bookmarks for OLTD), and Pinterest (my only addiction on the Internet). Work and family keep me quite busy, so my downtime is not spent using social media, and other than Pinterest, I do not derive a lot of pleasure from its use. That being said, I do see the educational benefits of social media.
Educators would be remiss not to see the value of social media as an information delivery tool in the classroom, and as Professor R.H. (Bob) Fryer states we must, “Start from where learners are, with their interests” (Fryer, 2013). Many students “are already using and are comfortable with [social media];” it is “where they already are” (Tarte, 2013). What educators must do is find purposeful ways to integrate it into practice. Purposeful, good educational practice for using social media must fit some of the following principles as set out by Arthur Chickering and Zelda Gamson (1987):
1. Encouraging contact between students and faculty
2. Developing reciprocity and cooperation among students
3. Encouraging active learning
4. Providing prompt feedback
5. Emphasizing time on task
6. Communicating high expectations
7. Respecting diverse talents and ways of learning
My hope is to be able to articulate a clear and solid understanding of the use of social media in the classroom, as I believe J. Tarte (2013) is correct in his assertion that our current state of affairs “call it social media as if it's some completely isolated thing, but in a few years it's just going to be called 'teaching and learning' in school (Tarte, 2013).
References:
boyd, d. & Ellison, N. (2007). Social network sites: Definition, history & scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), 210-230. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x/pdf
Chickering, A. & Gamson, Z. (1987). Seven principles for good practice in undergraduate education. The American Association for Higher Education Bulletin, March 1987. Retrieved from http://teaching.uncc.edu/articles-books/best-practice-articles/instructional-methods/7-principles
Fryer, B. (2013). Future classroom lab interview series 4. Retrieved from http://fcl.eun.org/fcl-interview-series/-/blogs/111650?utm_source=European+Schoolnet+News&utm_campaign=ca94e238de-European_Schoolnet_Newsletter_May_20135_27_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1113b32100-ca94e238de-34987121
Hengstler,J.(2013). What parents should know part 1: basic understanding of social media & digital communication. Retrieved from http://jhengstler.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/what parents-should-know-part-1-basic-understanding-of- social-media-digital-communications/
Hengstler, J. (2013). Welcome to the Social Web. Social Media Overview 2013.pdf
Hengstler, J. (2011). "Managing digital footprints: Ostriches v. eagles".(2011). In S. Hirtz & K. Kelly (Eds.), Education for a Digital World 2.0 (2nd ed.) (Vol. 1, Part One: Emerging technologies and practices). Open School/Crown Publications: Queen's Printer for British Columbia, Canada.
Hengstler, J. (April 2012). "Digital professionalism and digital footprints". Document prepared for training session with Vancouver Island University's Administrative Assistants, April 2012. Social Media Digital Footprints 2013_v3.pdf
Hengstler, J. (2013b). "OLTD 506 (2013) backgrounder: Cloud computing, social media, privacy, & consent for educational use.oltd506_backgrounder.pdf
Lankshear, C. & Knobel, M. (2011). "Chapter 6: Everyday practices of online social networking". New literacies. 3rd ed. (174-206) Retrieved from http://viu.summon.serialssolutions.com/link/0/eLvHCXMwY2BQMDYxSUwzBjbuzQxSDAyS0hJTzFNN0iyBVb2BWYoZ-IxtxK1zSKW5mxADU2qeKIO8m2uIs4duWWZpPHQMIz4_Oc_c1MwCtJHSwFCMgTcRtPw7rwS8TSxFnIE1DRhXqeKg8lMcaJY4A0eEpV
Tarte. J. (2013). 10 reasons we need social media in education. Retrieved from http://www.justintarte.com/2013/07/10-reasons-we-need-social-media-in.html
Stelzner, M. (2009). Social Media vs. Social Networking: What's the difference? Examiner.com, May 2009. Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/article/social-media-vs-social-networking-what-s-the-difference
We define social network sites as web-based services that allow individuals to (1)construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system. (Boyd & Ellison, 2007, 211)
The growing phenomenon of using social media and social networks as a way to connect is a fascinating aspect of society. My understanding of social media is limited, as I am a less than frequent user of it. I am very much aware of our lasting digital footprint that remains (in some cases, long after you are dead). J. Hengstler (2013) work on digital footprints, Digital Professionalism and Digital Footprints, (2013), she presented research by L. Indvik (2010), in which “Today’s children are developing digital footprints earlier than ever … Indvik found that by 2 years old, 92% of all American children already had some digital presence” (Indvik, 2010). Little is known about the lasting impact of our digital footprint, but I find this very concerning for both myself and my children.
Personally, my use on the Social Web is limited to a few social networks that are useful on a personal level and what Lankshear & Knobel (2011) refer to as a strategic level, used for professional associations. I cautiously use Facebook and I am more of a skulker than an active participant; my friends and family do not receive current updates on my “status,” but I have been known to “like” and occasionally comment on a friends post. My other social networks include Twitter, Google+ (recently introduced to during OLTD 505), Delicious (bookmarks for OLTD), and Pinterest (my only addiction on the Internet). Work and family keep me quite busy, so my downtime is not spent using social media, and other than Pinterest, I do not derive a lot of pleasure from its use. That being said, I do see the educational benefits of social media.
Educators would be remiss not to see the value of social media as an information delivery tool in the classroom, and as Professor R.H. (Bob) Fryer states we must, “Start from where learners are, with their interests” (Fryer, 2013). Many students “are already using and are comfortable with [social media];” it is “where they already are” (Tarte, 2013). What educators must do is find purposeful ways to integrate it into practice. Purposeful, good educational practice for using social media must fit some of the following principles as set out by Arthur Chickering and Zelda Gamson (1987):
1. Encouraging contact between students and faculty
2. Developing reciprocity and cooperation among students
3. Encouraging active learning
4. Providing prompt feedback
5. Emphasizing time on task
6. Communicating high expectations
7. Respecting diverse talents and ways of learning
My hope is to be able to articulate a clear and solid understanding of the use of social media in the classroom, as I believe J. Tarte (2013) is correct in his assertion that our current state of affairs “call it social media as if it's some completely isolated thing, but in a few years it's just going to be called 'teaching and learning' in school (Tarte, 2013).
References:
boyd, d. & Ellison, N. (2007). Social network sites: Definition, history & scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), 210-230. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x/pdf
Chickering, A. & Gamson, Z. (1987). Seven principles for good practice in undergraduate education. The American Association for Higher Education Bulletin, March 1987. Retrieved from http://teaching.uncc.edu/articles-books/best-practice-articles/instructional-methods/7-principles
Fryer, B. (2013). Future classroom lab interview series 4. Retrieved from http://fcl.eun.org/fcl-interview-series/-/blogs/111650?utm_source=European+Schoolnet+News&utm_campaign=ca94e238de-European_Schoolnet_Newsletter_May_20135_27_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1113b32100-ca94e238de-34987121
Hengstler,J.(2013). What parents should know part 1: basic understanding of social media & digital communication. Retrieved from http://jhengstler.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/what parents-should-know-part-1-basic-understanding-of- social-media-digital-communications/
Hengstler, J. (2013). Welcome to the Social Web. Social Media Overview 2013.pdf
Hengstler, J. (2011). "Managing digital footprints: Ostriches v. eagles".(2011). In S. Hirtz & K. Kelly (Eds.), Education for a Digital World 2.0 (2nd ed.) (Vol. 1, Part One: Emerging technologies and practices). Open School/Crown Publications: Queen's Printer for British Columbia, Canada.
Hengstler, J. (April 2012). "Digital professionalism and digital footprints". Document prepared for training session with Vancouver Island University's Administrative Assistants, April 2012. Social Media Digital Footprints 2013_v3.pdf
Hengstler, J. (2013b). "OLTD 506 (2013) backgrounder: Cloud computing, social media, privacy, & consent for educational use.oltd506_backgrounder.pdf
Lankshear, C. & Knobel, M. (2011). "Chapter 6: Everyday practices of online social networking". New literacies. 3rd ed. (174-206) Retrieved from http://viu.summon.serialssolutions.com/link/0/eLvHCXMwY2BQMDYxSUwzBjbuzQxSDAyS0hJTzFNN0iyBVb2BWYoZ-IxtxK1zSKW5mxADU2qeKIO8m2uIs4duWWZpPHQMIz4_Oc_c1MwCtJHSwFCMgTcRtPw7rwS8TSxFnIE1DRhXqeKg8lMcaJY4A0eEpV
Tarte. J. (2013). 10 reasons we need social media in education. Retrieved from http://www.justintarte.com/2013/07/10-reasons-we-need-social-media-in.html
Stelzner, M. (2009). Social Media vs. Social Networking: What's the difference? Examiner.com, May 2009. Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/article/social-media-vs-social-networking-what-s-the-difference