Introduction to Innovation
The IT innovation reviewed on this page is using social media as a resource to help with learning and teaching in the classroom. We used resources such as Google +, tumblr, pintrest and twitter. The use of social media in the classroom helps connect teachers and institutions to share in the newest applications and ways of teaching.
What issue(s) does it address?
How does the IT innovation influence learning in schools?
This innovation has recently had an influx in popularity over the past few years due to a greater acceptance of technology in the classroom. Classroom teachers are increasingly using this technology because of its ability to both expand student learning and its accessibility to all students. Resources like google+, tumblr, pintrest, and twitter make it extremely easy for students to share their thoughts and work as well as track their learning. However, these apps can quickly take a negative turn for they allow access to inappropriate materials. This may call for constant monitoring of the students but unfortunately most teachers do not have the time or resources for this intense monitoring thus causing them to turn away from the innovation.
Insights on innovation
How does it impact on learning in school
A. What differing points of view are on this innovation?
Using technology in the classroom is a new and innovative approach to teaching and learning. One point of view on using technology in the classroom is that it is a positive new way to teach. Some points brought up are, since kids are already crazy for technology, using it in the classroom will keep them engaged as well as provide them with instant access to information that can aid their learning experience. Using technology helps kids use their imagination, allows them to use key technical skills that they will need in the 21st century, and enhances learning.
There are also numerous people who are against using technology in the classroom. This is due to the fact that technology can be distracting, it takes away from social interaction between students and not all students have equal access to technology after school.
B. What is controversial about this innovation?
Some controversial points about using technology in the classroom is that some applications do not fit in with curriculum and educational software is usually not related to the textbooks teachers use. Also, the majority of teachers in classrooms right now need to learn how to use the apps and technology before they can integrate it into their teaching.
What range of sources did you investigate?
What did you consider in evaluating the credibility of these sources?
For our group’s curating tools we investigated Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, and Storify. Pinterest and Google+ are similar. You search things and get a bunch of pictures and flashy things on your page. You then click on them to investigate what they are and if they are reliable. Twitter is slightly less flashy but still along the same idea as Google+ and Pinterest. Tumblr is more of a blog point of view. And Storify is a mix off all of the above with a little bit of randomness.
-We made sure the sources were credible by looking into whether the websites were from a reliable source. Red flags for unreliable sources would be a messy/unorganized/unprofessional looking website. Other red flags would be any obvious spelling or grammar mistakes. If at your first glance it’s looking okay we would then go to who owns the website/who is the author/who made the video. Any website made by the government or by any university is a very good choice on a reliable source. After looking into the author of the site and you find out they have been studying in what they are talking about and are an expert in that particular field you can trust that as a source as well. Although it is very simple to check whether the sites you want to use are reliable it is crucial to have a proper social media tool.
What are questions do you think we should consider further about this innovation?
The questions that we should consider further about this innovation are:
- Do the websites that we are using to teach have an option to filter out profanity?
- Are these websites safe and secure enough for young kids to use?
- What age range of children should be allowed to use these tools?
- What are some ways to make it easier for teachers to monitor the children using these apps?
What are the best five resources we can refer to in relation to this innovation?
- Google+ :
It is easy to set up your own google+ account and once you have that set up it is fun and simple to explore around. It is also simple to check whether the sources are reliable which makes using them way less stressful.
If i were to rate this source out of ten I would give it a 8/10. It is easy to use once you figure out what to do and it is very appealing to the eyes with all the colours and pictures. It was also super interesting to see different collections that were already made. When I was exploring a reliable collection I was able to see a blog with teachers actively discussing certain things on social media.
- Twitter:
I found Twitter to be an excellent tool to find new and innovative apps to use in your classroom. It is easy to set up your own twitter account and once you have an account it is simple to find pages, apps, institutions and fellow teachers to follow. It is a bit difficult to find out if sources are reliable so you do need to look into your sources. If I were to rate Twitter I would give it a 8.5/10. It is simple to use and a very popular app that millions around the world use to connect with others and share ideas.
- Storify:
I found Storify easy to set up and explore. You make an account and connect it with your social media then you have the ability to search all those websites from one spot. No more multiple open windows and getting lost as to which source is from where. One thing with storify however, is that because it brings up artifacts, (videos, tweets, blogs etc.), based on a keyword or phrase you can sometimes have to sift through a lot of pages to find something credible. I do believe that this website could be a good tool for older kids who are putting together any kind of research. They can edit and add constantly, and organize their thinking and facts in whichever way works well for them. From a teaching perspective I find that there is possibility for creating stories and sharing them with other teachers. These stories could be about lessons, games, specific subjects or really anything that the instructor thinks could be helpful.
- Pinterest:
I found pinterest to be an incredibly simple and useful tool, and could see myself using it very often as a teacher, specifically elementary! It is very easy to sign up and figure out, and it has thousands of ideas for things like crafts, organization, classroom setup, and so much more. All you have to do is type what you’re looking for in the search bar, and tons of ideas will pop up. Each post is labeled and has pictures so it’s easy to find something that will appeal to you, and all you have to do to save that idea is press ‘pin’. You can create as many boards as you like for any topic you want, and pin each of the ideas you like to them, making it easy for you to find later. It is a bit tricky to figure out if your source is credible or not, however for most crafts and setup ideas you will easily be able to tell whether something is useful to you or not. Overall I believe that Pinterest is a great site, and would recommend it to any teacher!
- Tumblr:
Tumblr is an easy to use blogging platform similar to folios. It is extremely easy to set an account up and once you have you can use it as a way to make personal blog posts, research various topics, as well as explore other bloggers ideas. I found it a bit difficult to find out if sources are reliable on this platform because anyone is free to post what they please, therefore, you need to do extra research on each post you find. If I were to rate this source out of 10 I would give it an 8/10. Although it is a fairly simple tool to use and it gives you lots of room to be creative, finding reliable sources is extremely difficult.