Comments on: Social media in schools

By: admin

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 01:42:40 +0000

Hi Douglas!
Glad you found my post!
Can you please send me the link to the tool that tracks students’ eye - Very very interesting - considering what I do with eye tracking!
See you at soon!
JB

By: Douglas

Douglas — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 01:27:31 +0000

Attended an interesting ICT Colloquium last week at DET NSW about the future of technology (incl social media) in the classroom.

Most radical innovation being trialled in some schools right now is that of a virtual classroom environment, akin to Second Life, where student avatars and the avatar of the teacher/ facilitator, interact with each other in learning. The software used has the ability to track eye movements of individual students and use this to assess engagement levels of individual students. Teacher/ facilitator can see at a glance on their PC which students are/ are not active in lessons. Interesting concept.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:38:00 +0000

My friend on Facebook says, “Uphill battle there, most teachers see it [social media] as born by satan”
Oh, how S A D
They need to pull their head out of the sand!

By: admin

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:34:32 +0000

Hi Liz,
What’s IB?
It would be good even if schools just dipped their toes in the water, like Simon does with blogs. Or maybe a class could set up a delicious account and have students do a collaborative research project. Maybe even a share flickr account for pics of their art in art class. It can even be private (for the class only)
JB

By: Liz

Liz — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 06:04:40 +0000

Another point to consider is the element of control that schools (like any organisation) may feel they lose when they open up the environment for all to participate in as equals. Perhaps social media might be more willingly embraced by institutions that offer the IB curriculum program.

By: Simon

Simon — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:59:41 +0000

Many of which you have listed I have been saying (an using) for some time to fellow teachers and banging my head against the wall with the administration.
My mantra has been since I first saw an Apple IIE was “use the technology not a toy but as a learning tool”
It annoys the me deeply when I see schools teaching ICT as a separate subject rather than integrating into all learning experiences.
I would have web conferences with other schools and use “blogger” for the class to write reflections on their work.
I like to view all the technology, laptops,iPhones etc as the new electronic pencil case for students.
Social media should be used to help students work smarter, more collaboratively rather than a one off “gee whizz” project. (I HATE PowerPoint).
I will keep working towards my goal of utilising the social media in the everyday classroom, real or virtual.