Today’s Technologies, Tomorrow’s Learning … web 2.0
“Social networks, simulations, and digital gaming are bridging the gap between traditional scholastic culture and today’s learners”. Graf & Haas (September/October 2008) consider the way in which educators, researchers, and designers are just beginning to explore the educational benefits of social networking technologies. They believe that social networking technologies assist teachers and students “to extend their learning into an additional space, a space for communicating, collaborating, sharing ideas, and sharing learning”. Experiential learning involving hands-on, real-world experiences are the ideal way in which students actively engage in the learning process and actually learn material. The experiences involve concepts and knowledge related to classroom content. We are reminded that the use of technology, as a tool, in classroom learning situations has to be thought out clearly and purposefully. Tools, when used properly, can provide tremendous value to students and teachers.
Reflection
How would you implement social networking technologies into your classroom teaching and/or KLA?
Reference
Groff, J. & Haas, J. (September/October 2008), Learning & Leading with Technology. pp. 12-13.
October 18th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
[...] is a reactionary blog to Marees Blog. Maree mentions that social networking sites can be effective tools for learning and provide a [...]
October 19th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Although I am considered a Digital Immigrant based on my age I have always embraced the introduction of digital technologies and accepted them as inevitable. I am though having a few reservations (more accurately anxieties) about how it is being applied in the classroom. I need to spend more time contemplating how exactly social networking might be used in the History or English classroom. I can imagine creating a Critical Review network for students to comment on Movies, Novels and Poetry they are studying or reading at the time. As long as the students were writing posts not just videoing themselves stating their critical reflections. Lots to think about lots to think about!
Debra
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
[...] reading some posts in the global blogosphere (is that a word) I came across a rather thought provoking piece that reminded me of incidents on my practicum. The post concludes on the need to thoughtfully [...]
October 26th, 2008 at 12:58 am
[...] to Mich’s blog on Social Networking as a learning tool, which itself is a reaction to Maree’s blog on the same subject. I absolutely agree with both of them that social networking sites are powerful [...]
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:54 am
[...] agree with Maree’s post, as I discovered that users can create groups and discussion topics. It is also a way to sharing [...]
November 2nd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
[...] as Maree concludes in her recent posting, teachers and pedagogical approaches will always be the crucial factor. Regardless of the symbol [...]
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:50 pm
[...] as stated by Maree tools must be used properly in order to give value to students… technology, as Blanton says, when [...]