Session_08

=Session 8. Wikis, blogging, social media and more= AT UPJ

Any personal devices you use for education can be subject to searches for school related matters (as I sit at home on my personal laptop typing this). Anything you have on a computer you use for school has extreme limits in terms of privacy. Personal accounts and email have the same potential problem and can be a link to personal devices. Being a new teacher, you will want to try to strike a balance between providing useful technological applications for education and your private life. Tread carefully!

Wikis As a teacher you will likely be a member of some sort of wiki to collaborate or access information for your district. You may also create wikis for various purposes.

Comparisons of wiki software, courtesy of wikipedia

Wikispaces - create an account. You will be asked to join the IT1161 wiki and contribute to expanding your colleague's knowledge base of technology (this may be a useful activity web site or software). Post a link to the site and give a description of 1) what it is, 2) features, and 3) suggestions on how it can be used.

I have placed 2 examples of the wikishare assignment on the Wikishare page. You are required submit one software or web application or program that aids in social studies ed (or education in general). This page will be shared in the final sessions when we are simulating lessons.

Blogging

Sample blog

As a new teacher, be wary of blogging. Blogging can have a use for threaded discussions over specific issues - but you will want to control the discussion. In the classroom setting, you can immediately deal with any form of verbal harassment, profanity, or other student behavior that might need correcting. On the web, comments or situations not only may come up, but there is also an electronic record of the situation. That being said, blogging can be a useful tool outside of class. You can create a blog for class and pose questions relating to content (either for regular credit or extra credit). Live blogging allows you to pose questions during a live event (presidential debate, for example) and students can respond to your questions about what is going on in real time (or watch a recording and respond to the blog prompts).

Social Media

You have likely already been warned of the dangers of social media. As a public employee, you will need to be careful of what you say and who are your "friends". Keep your facebook settings extremely limited to the public eye and avoid facebook contact with students and/or parents. An angry/disgruntled parent or student who can access your photos, posts, comments can use any information to discredit you or get you fired from your job.

Twitter can be a useful homework or classroom reminder. It is best to create a separate account for classes using the school computers and tweeting on school time.

Edmodo

Is an education social media site that has a facebook look and feel.