Confession:
Four years ago I didn’t own a smart phone and I wasn’t on social media. Fast forward to 2017 and not only do I own a smartphone, but I’ve fully embraced Twitter for professional development and as a way to connect with educators and their classrooms globally.
Social Media on the Rise:
PEW Research began tracking social media use in 2005, when just 5% of adults were connected; today 69% of the public uses some type of social media. Social Media is here to stay. Check out how powerful social media is by going to the Internet in Real Time which actively documents a variety of social media platforms.
Authentic Learning Via Twitter:
Eden Prairie Schools ties Authentic Learning to the following four tenants: task, purpose, resource and audience. Utilizing Twitter I have found what seems like a limitless number of possibilities in implementing the tenants. What follows below are three authentic learning opportunities (thank you Twitter) that are currently resonating with me:
#MysterySkype
Invented by teachers, Mystery Skype is an educational thinking challenge played by two classrooms using a video conferencing software/app such as Skype or Google Hangout. The aim of the challenge is to determine the location of the other classroom by asking each other yes/no questions and completing research. Mystery Skype is engaging and inspires learning through the use of authenticity, the 4C's, speaking and listening, technology, research, geography standards and more!
A few resources to explore in order to start your own #MysterySkype journey:
- Roles for a MysterySkype and Questions to Get You Started in MysterySkype by Pernille Ripp @pernilleripp
#QuadBlogging
Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano @langwitches in an blog post title Blogging is NOT Analog Writing in Digital Spaces, shares the following:
“Blogging in education is about quality and authentic writing in digital spaces with a global audience, while observing digital citizenship responsibilities and rights, as on documents, reflects, organizes and makes one’s learning and thinking visible and searchable!
Blogging is not analog writing in digital spaces.
Blogging is not an activity, but a process. The process includes reading, writing, commenting and connecting. It is about reciprocating and an emphasis on quality, not just publishing.”
With #QuadBlogging your class is collaborating with three other classrooms over the course of a month. Each week a different classroom’s writing is in the spotlight and the other classes are leaving quality comments. Quality (thoughtful) comments include the following:
- Make a personal connection, i.e. what resonated with you and why?
- What question(s) do you have about what was shared?
- What can you add-on that is relevant to what has already been written.
- Provide a sincere compliment.
A few resources to explore in order to start your own #QuadBlogging journey:
- Quadblogging: offers the why and how to quadblogging, support, free registration for your class, and more
- 10 + 1 Steps to Meaningful Blogging and How to do Student Blogging by Blogging Through the Fourth Dimension by Pernille Ripp (@pernilleripp)
- 10 Ways that Social Media (aka blogging) can Improve Writing in Your Classroom: the Innovative Educator, by Lisa Nielsen, guest post by Vicki Davis
#GRA17
Looking towards the 2017-18 school year?!? Global Read Aloud 2017 #GRA17 is currently signing up classrooms. This opportunity runs for six weeks from early October to mid November of 2017 and the idea is quite straightforward. Classrooms all read the same book and then connect with other classrooms around the world to share learning. The Global Read Aloud has been taking place since 2010 and has reached more than 2 million students.
Call to Action:
Make a commitment to authentic learning via twitter in your classroom! The three suggestions above are only the tip of the iceberg for options using twitter to connect. Share your favorite authentic learning experiences using twitter or other types of social media in the comment section below.
Laurie
Instructional Excellence Coordinator
Department of Personalized Learning and Instruction
No comments:
Post a Comment