The Oxford Dictionary defines social media as "websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking" (Oxford University Press). Applying this definition to the sites I use to inform and assist my practice include Facebook, Pinterest, Blogger and Twitter.
How do/would you use social media to enhance your professional development?
At present I am a member of the Mindlab Digital Group on Facebook as well as the NZ Teachers (Primary) page. I regularly check the NZ Teachers page for curriculum and topic specific ideas. I also enjoy reading the comments of other teachers and reflecting on my view point or understanding in relation to educational topics of interest. I have often shared these posts with my colleagues, leading to professional dialogue and conversations. This in turn influences classroom practices.
What are some key features of social media that you have identified as beneficial for teaching and learning?
Social Media allows educational themes, innovations and policy to be discussed in an informal setting. It allows people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences to share their insights with others, providing a platform for debate and discourse to ensue. Social Media keeps educational issues current and topical. It also becomes an avenue for promoting best practice. I have recently joined 'Quadblogging Aoteroa', an initiative designed to connect four classes throughout New Zealand. This gives the children's post a purpose and provides an authentic context in which to teach cyber safety.
What are potential challenges that teachers need to be aware of when integrating social networking platforms into teaching activities?
Cyber Safety - if teachers are integrating social networking platforms into their programmes they need to ensure a robust cyber safety programme is in effect. Cyber bullying is a major issue being experienced by schools. Therefore it is essential that children are taught how to be responsible users of the web as their digital footprint will exist for life. They also need to be aware of the possible dangers that social media presents and be given strategies for dealing with these dangers should they be exposed to them.
Oxford University Press. (n.d). Social Media. Retrieved
from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/social-media
Activity 8
The social media platform I feel best supports my professional development is the NZ Teachers (Primary) page on Facebook. I regularly use this site to support my classroom programme, incorporating different art ideas into my programmes after viewing them on this page or providing readings for my team that have been posted. I have also used this site to help other teachers by responding to posts with ideas and specific curriculum knowledge.
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| Reading shared with colleagues. |
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| Curriculum knowledge support given to a fellow teacher. |
Activity 9
The Board of Trustees and Senior Management team at my current school have chosen not to engage in any social media platforms due to concerns over how to monitor such sites and ensure positive dialogue is promoted. However, every class has their own blog that is monitored by the class teacher. At the beginning of the school year parents are required to sign an internet user agreement form, advising the school if they give permission for their child to work online and for their child's photos to be used on the school website or class blog. This is currently under review to incorporate student signatures, giving them greater responsibility for their online profile and making them more aware of the digital citizen code. The school stipulates that class blogs must be updated weekly (or more often) and class teachers are to monitor comments submitted. The ICT team are responsible for teaching students how to make 'good' comments that generate dialogue as well as how to comment responsibly.
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