PRACTICE - professional online networks

Activity 5: Using social online networks in teaching or professional development

Step 1 (Descriptive stage): Briefly describe how social media is being used in your teaching OR in your professional development. You only need to focus on either teaching or PD.

Filling in this social media tool survey will help you to focus on which social media tools you have used and and whether you have used them in your teaching practice and/or professional development. The survey is based on the Conversation Prism,a visual map of the social media landscape that Solis (2018) originally created in 2008 and has furthercontinued to updated since.

We suggest you start your reflective entry by briefly describing your current use of social media in teaching or professional development relating to the tools and their purposes as suggested in the survey. You might find it useful to refer back to the class notes and resources from Week 9, when we looked at Personal Learning Networks and Personal Learning Environments. The next steps will help you to reflect on what you’d like to do differently.

Since 2006 I have been a bandwagon jumper for all things technology. Initially in my teaching I put my laptop in the cupboard and was intimidated by the value technology could add to my practice. Thankfully I was employed by a innovative principal in a small school where my peers were reluctant to embrace. My new attitude of embracing the tech was rewarded with leadership and opportunities to advance my own, and others practice in the school. Initially we focused on apple programs, using ipods and ipads.

Over the years I have used QR codes, blogs, Padlet, Twiducate, Facebook and other tools to enhance my program and engage learners. When completing the social media survey it became apparent that I had wide reaching use over the years but need to revisit some of the tools I use.

With a focus on social media I currently have access to several Macbooks for use in the class. These are dated but still allow internet access. I manage a class blog where the children post their work. Parents are encouraged to access this but seldom do. Several individuals have personal blogs. These are viewed more often by whanau and having blogs for all would enhance this outlet. The class has a personal Facebook site which is attached to the school Facebook page. This is private and parents were invited through email to be a part of it.

Step 2 : Comparative stage

It appears that I have merely dipped my toe into the water of what is available to use and how I can use tools that I already use. The engagement of children will be enhanced by the involvement and feedback of peers, whanau and the wider community.

WIthin our school community I have peers who are currently using 1-1 devices in their classroom. I feel this is an advantage but not the be all end all. I still have access to devices that can connect. encouraging children to post and share these at home will have a knock on effect showing parents that if they stay in touch they will have an insight into their children's learning. They will also see that their children respond to feedback positively.

While tools like twitter seem to be big internationally in my experience our community is yet to embrace this relying and tuning into facebook. Despite the value of Twitter in discussion of practice and the class without community buy in the stream would become irrelevant to the children with no connection. The Facebook option is well and good for the adults in our community but the children are to young to engage this media. This however is shown in "Embracing Social Media" (Magette, 2014) to be valuable when updated and posted on regularly.

Step 3 (critical reflection): Given these various perspectives and the implications, use the following questions to guide your thoughts:

• What are the implications for using social media in teaching or professional development?
• In what ways does this reflective process inform and change your perspective?

Despite having experience using a number of social media tools I need to ensure they are used more effectively to enhance the children's learning. Focusing on how the parents and community engage with media will support this. The current Facebook page is used sporadically and needs to be addressed. Using videos and posting regularly will ensure this becomes a talking point for the whanau in my room. This will give value to the media. Providing children with an outlet using blogger and ensuring parents have links to these will also add value to their posts. With this the children will need to hone their social media safety skills and this will a focus in the class.

Magette, K. (2014). Embracing social media : a practical guide to manage risk and leverage opportunity. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.(Available in Unitec library).

Melhuish, K.(2013). Online social networking and its impact on New Zealand educators’ professional learning. Master Thesis. The University of Waikato. Retrieved on 05 May, 2015 from http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/bitstr eam/han…

Seaman, J., & Tinti-Kane, H. (2013). Social media for teaching and learning. Babson Survey Research Group. Retrieved from http://www.onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/social-media-for-teaching-and-learning-2013-report.pdf