Social Media and Education: An Integral Relationship

"We don't have a choice on whether we do social media, the question is how well we do it." - Erik Qualman

The quote shown above made me think abut social media in a completely new light. It seems that incorporating 21st century technology into your life has moved from being optional to obligatory rather quickly. In fact, this transition was so quick that it took a watching a video on the Social Media Revolution for me to realize how engrossed in technology our world has become. It is somewhat shocking to think about the fact that e-mailing has become outdated outside of the realm of work/school. Even watching television has become somewhat antiquated for me; why pay for cable when you can stream anything you want to watch online? This was a humbling experience for me, in the sense that I felt like just another product of my generation. However, after taking a little while to dwell on this feeling, I realized that I shouldn't shame myself or my peers for becoming immersed in computers, cell phones, etc. There is so much good that can be done with technology, especially when teaching and learning is involved.

"On our blog, my students speak up... even the shy ones." - A Vision of 21st Century Teachers

As an aspiring teacher, I should always look for ways to help align what students learn in the classroom to what happens in real life. Technology is the catalyst serving that very function; bridging the gap between classroom material and preparation for the future. It is a very powerful tool for both teachers and students. Taking advantage of technology in the classroom also encourages more global interaction, while simultaneously addressing different learning styles. A Vision of 21st Century Teachers outlines these points, and showcases a few different types of projects/assignments/activities that can be done in a variety of subject areas. Although this video was uploaded in 2010, it already seems a bit outdated (this goes to show how far high-definition video resolution has come even since only six years ago!). It would have been nice to see some of the tech they're talking about being integrated or demonstrated, instead of just seeing teachers holding up signs. Nevertheless, it was a very powerful message that still holds true. Technology will continue to become an even more influential aspect of life, and we need to embrace this in the classroom!

Blogging in the L2 Classroom

Blogging is a nifty tool that can be used in a variety of ways in the ESL classroom. As a teacher, there is no way to ensure that your students will use English when they step out of your classroom. However, it is very likely that your students will use the internet to communicate with others, look up information, or just browse the web at some point throughout the day. Creating blog exercises is a good way to bridge the gap between what happens in the classroom and the students' daily lives.

Blogging gives students a sense of what writing in the L2 looks like outside of a textbook. This is a useful tool across all skill levels, but especially advantageous for intermediate and advanced classes. Interacting with other students online will allow students to communicate with each other on a more personal level, allowing them to have more meaningful conversation.

In any classroom, it is important to acknowledge different learning styles, as well as individual strengths and weaknesses of your students. For instance, some students may find speaking tasks intimidating, while others may love them. One student might learn best through audio stimuli while another relies on visuals. As teachers we know that giving students access to a variety of stimuli is very important. With that being said, blogs can be used to share articles, photos, videos, audio clips, etc.

Overall, blogging is a refreshing change of pace. Blogs are an alternative way to express one's creative side, and I plan on incorporating them into my future classroom!


Performance Indicators:
- ESL.C.9-12.4.1.1: Students use a variety of oral, print, and electronic forms for social communication and for writing to or for self, applying the conventions of social writing.

- ESL.C.9-12.1.1.2: Students read, gather, view, listen to, organize, discuss, interpret, and analyze information related to academic content areas from various sources.

Welcome!

Hi everyone, welcome to my blog! I'm not sure what to put in here, so I will include a link to my Instagram page! I did a lot of traveling over the summer, so I figured I would share some pictures from my adventures. I look forward to working with you all this semester. :)