Week 4 EQs

EQ1: What do social technology and social networks mean to you? How can you use them in your teaching practice?

To me, social technology and social networks mean that the world is becoming smaller. With so much social technology and networks available, it is possible for us to reach people we may never thought was possible. For example, if a student is going to be sick or out of town for an extended period of time, social technology can give us the opportunity to reach that student and keep them up to date with lessons and assignments.

It also means that I can connect with my students, parents, administrators, and others involved in the school in order to create a collaborative effort in education.
However, I am still leery about some social networking sites, such as, Facebook. I believe that there are some social networking sites that should not be utilized in a school setting. I believe they are counterproductive and some teeter on the edge of privacy.

Furthermore, I think sites like Delicious.com would be a great tool for use in my teaching practice. I would be able to keep everything I need in one place and be able to access it from any computer. I think web conferencing applications cold be extremely beneficial for collaboration, as well. However, some require a monetary contribution involved and it may be difficult to sustain a program like that. Skype would be a great addition to my teaching practice; however, it would require all parties involved to have a working knowledge of the program.

I look forward to learning more and working with social technology and networking applications that may supplement my teaching practice. Those programs do have the capability to revolutionize the education system.




EQ2: After three weeks of interaction, what sense of the others in this class do you have, in terms of participation, attitudes, perspectives, and engagement? How have your views changed on the advantages of learning circles?

To be honest, when class first started, it seemed like total chaos. I was appalled to see colleagues with little positive interactions. Since we are all adults, I thought more people would act as professionals; however, I was wrong. Talking during lecture (so that I could not hear), bursting out with rude comments, and asking the same questions over and over made it hard for me to take the class seriously as a pre-service teacher. Now that we have all had time to acclimate to the class and the set-up, I think we have all come a long way. There is more participation that results in inquiry and great discussions. I love the web conferences with Brandy because the participants can speak their mind. However, the format can be daunting when it comes to reading everyone's responses. I like hearing the different perspectives as I shape my own views on the different aspects of education. I have realized now that I hold a constructivist viewpoint in education and know that I am seen as a progressivist whose views may not be received by all. This gives me the opportunity to listen to others who share and oppose my views, and I believe makes me a stronger professional.

It seems that most of the attitudes have changed to a more positive perspective. Also, the incorporation of Learning Circles have given us all a chance to collaborate with people that we may not have otherwise. Most of us know each other from previous classes and tend to stick to those we know. However, with the introduction of LCs, we can gain insights from new perspectives. I can see the point of having these groups because it gives us all a chance to step out of our comfort zones and put our thoughts together. I will definitely try to utilize LCs in my classroom.