by
Kathy Belcher
Why
use social media technologies in the CTE classroom? As a teacher, I will have to learn what the
technologies are and how to use them, integrate them into my existing
curriculum, make the case to my principal, add planning time to my already busy
teaching schedule, and monitor their use.
What benefits could there be in extending
into the classroom this generation’s way of interacting socially, expressing
creatively, collaborating with peers, sharing knowledge, and accessing
information in real time? I will have to
do some research to be convinced.
Social media technologies can support active learning,
social learning, and student publication, by providing environments and
technologies that promote and foster these interactions (Ajjan, et al., citing
Ferdig, 2007). Researchers have found that collaborative learning helps
students retain information better than students working individually (Ajjan,
et al., citing Johnson & Johnson, 1986). As students and teachers come to
understand one another better, there is the potential for improved
student-teacher relationships and positive experiences in the classroom that
likely will lead to a positive learning environment (Teclehaimanot &
Hickman, 2011). In fostering such a positive learning environment, teachers who
use social media technologies in the classroom encourage individual sharing,
promote social interactivity, provide a virtual space where learning begun in
the classroom can continue beyond the classroom walls, and inspire lifelong
learning (Robbie, et al., 2008).
Research in the field reveals many positive student learning
outcomes using social media technologies, so let’s examine a few technologies
we might use in the classroom:
Have students:
·
Create a
collaborative website, or wiki (What I know is) to exchange
ideas and information on a collaborative project by adding, removing, or
editing site content.
·
Create a daily online journal blog (weblogs) to reflect on their
progress; read, post comments and respond to each other’s blogs for peer-review;
include images and links to web content; and express opinions.
·
Work collaboratively through social file sharing (DropBox, Google
Documents, Moodle) creating shared folders and files to retrieve and edit
documents in one location. And, create a forum for parents and others to view
their work.
·
Meet virtually in one centralized location
with numerous people to discuss and work together as a group or team in
real-time to achieve a common goal through
social collaboration (Skype, Google+Hangout); and continue the
collaboration and learning beyond the classroom walls.
·
Create
a virtual identity and connect, network and interact with family, friends,
classmates and teachers, creating and building relationships critical not only
to personal success but also to professional success through social networking (Facebook, Twitter,
Google+). And, post homework assignments and deadlines for assignments or tests,
or poll the classmates on relevant topics.
·
Sharing videos, photos, and personal
publications through social creativity sharing (YouTube,
Flickr, Writeboard) to develop as creative and innovative thinkers and leverage
social creativity.
There
are many good reasons and benefits to students for using social media
technologies in the CTE classroom, such as increased active and social learning;
improved student-teacher relationships; positive experiences in the classroom; lifelong
learning that continues beyond the classroom walls, and perhaps the one I like
best is “Social media helps students learn how to collaborate and collaboration
skills are viewed by educators as the “quintessential skill” for students in
the 21st century” (Smith, 2010).
References
-
Ajjan, H. &
Hartshorne, R. (2008). Investigating
faculty decisions to adopt Web 2.0 technologies: Theory and empirical tests. Internet
and Higher Education, (11), pp. 71-80.
doi: 10.1016/j.iheduc.2008.05.002.
-
Robbie,
D., & Zeeng, L. (2008). Engaging
student social networks to motivate learning:
Capturing, analyzing and critiquing the visual image. The
International Journal of Learning, 15(3), 153-160.
-
Smith,
N. (2010, May 4). Teachers embracing
social media in the classroom. TechNewsDaily. Retrieved from http://www.technewsdaily.com/421-teachers-embracing-social-media-in-the-classroom.html
-
Teclehaimanot.
B., & Hickman, T. (2011).
Student-teacher interactions on Facebook: What students find appropriate. TechTrends,
55(3), pp. 19-30.
