I found myself smirking as I read chapter 7 of Library
2.0. I remember getting the internet at
our house during the summer before my 4th grade year. I basically grew up with the internet and I remember
calling my friend to make sure she was home and then telling her to hang up and
get online before someone called and broke the connection. We would then Instant Message or IM on AOL
for the next twenty minutes about absolutely nothing until one of our moms
kicked us off for tying up the phone lines.
Here I am 16 years later sitting on my couch with my computer in my lap,
my cell phone right next to me and I do not even have a home phone to tie
up! It is incredible to me how quickly
technology enhances and changes, but yet some things have stayed the same.
One of the most exciting things to do when we first got the
internet at our house was to talk on IM, which was a form of social networking. Now the social network has blossomed into
this huge and great thing that has so many different faces, but yet it all still
accomplishes the same goal, collaboration.
Rather students are podcasting, “Twittering”, sharing a Wiki, or
discussing tonight’s homework on a Facebook instant message they are all still
collaborating which is the main goal of social networking. The problem is how does social networking tie
work in a school setting?
Well, yes we all know the horror stories of children using
social networks inappropriately but how do we keep this from happening since
studies show that they are beneficial.
Our school district blocks Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and all of the
social networking sites that are created more for secular reason. But because we understand the incredible
benefits that could come from a social networking site we provide all students,
teachers, and parents a social networking site that is very similar to
Facebook, but created entirely for educational purposes, it is called My Big
Campus. With this site teachers have a “wall”
similar to Facebook, they have “friends” who are automatically their students
and parents. The set up of this site is
easy for everyone to maneuver because it looks very much like the popular
social networking site that everyone has on their phones and computers. Our teachers use it to post homework and
assignments on it. The teachers can put
students into groups on this site and they can collaborate with one
another. Parents can write on the
teacher’s wall and ask questions. It
becomes a very beneficial tool when used appropriately. Another really awesome aspect of this social network
is that it comes with endless resources for Common Core and Georgia Performance
Standards. Teachers can upload resources
they create to share with others or they can pull resources that other teachers
have uploaded. The website has “bundles”
which is basically an online lesson plan and all of the needed resources all
bundled up into one location. The
website is fabulous and very beneficial.
Social networks absolutely have their place in our schools, but I feel that
if we allow students to be on Facebook at school we could be held responsible for
them finding information that they shouldn’t.
I think this educational social network is an excellent way around those
types of issues.
As I was typing the last paragraph I started thinking that I
am not utilizing this website to its full capacity as a media specialist. It is hard for me to flip the switch from
classroom teacher to media specialist when I am writing these blogs because I was
so accustomed to the teacher aspect. However,
one of the things I struggle with the most is getting to collaborate with the
teachers for my library lessons. I could
absolutely create teacher groups on My Big Campus by grade level. We could chat and discuss what they would
like for me to teach in the media center.
We could all discuss the lesson and we could go out find resources on
that lesson and upload them to the group page.
Then what I use in the media center could also be used in their
classrooms and the students would benefit so much more! Social networks have endless possibilities in
schools as long as they are used responsibly and the school district takes the
correct precautions to make sure that students can only access information that
is appropriate.
Thank you for bringing out the point of collaboration. I hope more educators will tap into this useful tool if they haven’t already. The media center I volunteer at uses Edmodo which sounds exactly like My Big Campus. Thank you for going into detail about what My Big Campus is and what one can do with it. If I am not wrong these social media networks sound to be no different than what we use here at UWG… CourseDen. Such a beneficial tool and to think it may not be utilized by some for fear of all these negative connotations attached.
ReplyDeleteTo me the number of social networks is overwhelming. Admittedly, I haven't embraced Twitter because I can barely keep up with the information on the sites I do actively follow. I had never heard of My Big Campus. Thank you for providing information about it. Educators have plenty of choices for creating a collaboration site. I feel responsible as the media and instructional technology specialist for providing the teachers at my school with information about many of the social networks. I want them to be able to make an informed choice that meets their class needs. I also believe modeling the use of sites for collaboration is important for media specialists. At my school we use Edmodo for Reading Bowl discussions and I use Edmodo for my technology classes with each grade level.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to investigating My Big Campus further!
I giggled as I simultaneously walked down memory lane as I read your post. Not so long ago, I remember having to plug an ether net cable into my desktop and laptop computers to access the internet. The internet makes conversations possible in real time and bridges gaps between the "Haves" and the "Have Nots". Students of today are able to take virtual fieldtrips and befriend people all of over the world without leaving the comfort of their homes. I doubt allowing them access to Facebook and Twitter will enhance their lives to an extent that learning will be impeded without those forums. I know there are educational links on Facebook, but there are many more on sites that are not open to allow contact with pedophiles and other undesirables.
ReplyDeleteI remember IM too! And dial-up. And like you, I now sit here with a wireless internet connection and a smart phone on the table beside me.
ReplyDeleteI have not heard about My Big Campus, but I am definitely going to check it out. One thing you mentioned about it is that it is structured and styled similarly to Facebook or Edmodo, which I think is interesting since I have also noticed how other technologies have adapted similar looks to social media sites. As social media becomes more popular, we also become more accustomed to their look and feel. I sometimes find myself (almost) instantly being comfortable with a new app or social media site because it has been designed in a way similar to something like Facebook. If students are not permitted to use Facebook at school, why not give them something similar with an educational twist? It seems to me that they would respond quite well, and I can even see many parents also utilizing such sites as many of them are now familiar with social media.
I also think you make a great point about using social media sites like My Big Campus for teacher-media specialist collaboration. I understand that it is increasingly difficult for teachers and media specialists to find the time to collaborate with one another and using social media might be a way to get everyone involved without having to send e-mails back and forth. This allows for greater collaboration since you have more people involved who can easily post their thoughts or ideas to one central place.
Hi Molly,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all way to make me feel old, talking about getting the Internet in fourth grade! I was already married with a kid before the Internet came into my life. Our social media was passing notes and trying to use the phone before anyone else needed it. Boy, has the world ever changed! I agree with the two-sidedness of social media. On one hand, we know it can be used effectively for instruction, but on the other hand it can be dangerous. I just recently heard about “My Big Campus” and I imagine other sites such as this will pop up as it is trying to provide safer and more educationally based social media. I like your idea about collaborating with teachers via the site. I know collaborating with teachers is one of the areas my media specialist struggles with. She offers and offers, but rarely is asked to teach lessons. I think using a site such as “My Big Campus” might actually pull more teachers into the media center. I am a classroom teacher and I know time is so precious. It may be difficult for a teacher to get to the media center to ask for help, but if she could pop online at any time, she may be more receptive. Great idea!
Belinda