Journal 3

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One of the topics discussed in this week's readings that I found interesting was social media use in the classroom. I was first introduced to this idea when I was in high school myself and one of my teachers had us utilize Blogger to complete homework assignments, much like this course. Since then I have been interested to see how other social media can be used to encourage students' education. I think utilizing these tools in the classroom is a great way to allow students to build their technology literacy in a safe and controlled environment as they are able to explore new platforms in a low-steak climate without the need for social validation. It also brings in a new way to engage students by bringing in tools they may already be interested in. The tools being used in the classroom, in this case, a variety of computers, locked and unlocked (p. 29), allow students to engage with each other and the materials needed for class in ways they may not be able to otherwise, it also gave them more independence and flexibility when performing their tasks. One of the criticisms of the use of social media and technology in the classroom is the potential lack of accessibility to students in low-income situations. Unless the technology is provided to the students by the school it is not guaranteed that all students will have access to the technology needed to utilize these resources. There are definitely pros and cons to the use of technology and social media in the classroom but if you are in a school that provides one-one tech for all students I believe it can be extremely beneficial. 


Lankshear, C., & Knobel, M. (2013). A new literacies reader: Educational perspectives. (pp. 28-36) Peter Lang.

Comments

  1. Regan HaneySeptember 24, 2022 at 10:45 AM

    I agree that we need to make sure the students in low income areas have access. When I worked in a low income area, we sent home a technology report at the beginning of the year to find out who all had access to internet, smart phones or computers. That helped us know what to expect. Most students could not do homework on a device at home so that meant more work had to get done in school which turned out to be fine. The only issue was not moving lessons along fast enough to cover all curriculum. I have heard of some districts sending home internet hotspots and devices... maybe that is what we need in order for success in the classroom. I appreciate reading your thoughts on this!

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  2. Cianna MaffeiSeptember 25, 2022 at 9:59 AM

    I agree with what you mentioned about low income areas. I think sometimes it can be unfair for some areas to have unlimited access to resources and new types of technology and others are left out of the experience. I work in a low income area currently, and the district has actually made it a huge point to get technology into all of our schools. My school now has a class set of chrome book for every class and it has made such a difference in teaching them curriculum. I also agree that social media in the classroom can have both pros and cons, but I think if we are able to provide our students with guidelines and training, it will only benefit them in school and in the future. I don't really know if you would consider Google Classroom a form of social media, but this is something that I use in my classroom daily. It gives the students a sense of independence while logging onto the Classroom and finding their work, it allows me to individualize certain things for certain students, and it also allows them to post on the Classroom and converse amongst each other without me having to facilitate those types of discussions. Great job on your post, I felt like I was able to connect a lot to it!

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  3. Lauren RuhlSeptember 27, 2022 at 5:26 PM

    It wasn't until recently that I considered social media as a tool for education and literacy. I believe that these platforms foster a more natural and interactive method of communication and learning. Students can learn from the insights of individuals with a variety of perspectives and expertise. I love how you have mentioned that these methods allow students to explore topics and expand their understanding of technology in a low stakes environment. I believe that use of this tool sets parents, teachers, and students up for a much needed conversation regarding appropriate use of technology and tools for literacy in media.

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