It's actually quite funny that you bring this topic up because personally I know that I use personal types of technologies way more than any other technology there is. For example, I know that I use my cell phone, radio, Facebook, and Myspace more then I use Microsoft PowerPoint, yet I say that PowerPoint would be a beneficial technology to use in the classroom. I think the personal technology often bypasses our thoughts when we think about the proper types of technologies to incorporate into the classroom. The reason why I feel this way is because I am not so sure that facebook or cell phones would be appropriate to use in the classroom. Although, I know that the older students would be able to relate better to these types of technologies in the classroom because just like me, they probably use these technologies all day, every day. Despite this idea, I know that it would be inappropriate to incorporate technology in the classroom through the use of facebook and cell phones. I would not use my personal technologies in the classroom to help me teach because not only is it not the correct form of technology that should be presented to the students, but it could cause a lot of trouble with the student's parents, the other teachers, the principal and more. I think it's safe to say that I am going to keep my personal technology personal and the proper type of technology, such as PowerPoint and Assistive teaching websites, in the classroom.
- Jenna Simmonds
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I completely agree with you. I couldn't really think of any way that Facebook or cell phones could be used in the classroom, in an appropriate educational way. With facebook, there are just too many other programs or "boxes" that can be added to personalize it, some which may not be appropriate for young students (such as booze mail -- sending friends alcoholic drinks). I feel like a blog like this one would be more appropriate than facebook and could essentially be used for whatever facebook could be used for, without all the added personalized features that aren't appropriate for a classroom setting. Same thing with the cell phone. I wrote in my blog that I could see AIM being more appropriate than a cell phone, just because it's possible that it could be monitored, but I don't know for sure. Either way, I feel like a lot of these personal technologies are lacking any way to control/monitor them to make sure students could use them in an educational way, and not a personal way; therefore, I feel that, until proved otherwise, that these personal technologies should stay as personal technologies, and shouldn't be used as "educational" technologies.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I agree with not using Facebook in the classroom. I see that their are numerous possibilities for instruction and exploration. I do believe that the teacher should be the one to set up the Facebook page, specifically for a particular class and only allow the parents and students that are apart of the class be allowed access to the site. With the proper upkeep and guidelines taken care of a teacher can communicate with parents via email about issues they may have. The students can express their opinions about a particular lesson by writing on the wall. The students as well as the teacher can post photos related to a lesson. There are so many different possibilities with Facebook that I think the teachers and students could benefit from it being utilized.
ReplyDelete-Lisa Wojcik :)