Devyn's Educational Thoughts

To start this semester when we were told that we had to commit to Twitter as part of our grades, I will admit honestly that I was not that excited. I personally do not use twitter, or most of the other forms of social media, and was not looking forward to creating another social media that has my name attached and is one more thing on the internet that gives people information about me if they want to find it. While I really enjoy the internet, I try to stay as private as possible and do not like to use social media for that reason. 

During the class, however, I do understand the usefulness of twitter especially for education and the access to new materials I did not have before. There is access to lots of professionals in the field and the interactive twitter chats were very interesting. 

I think social media space conversations added to how I think about learning by showing me that it does not have to be a teacher to student relationship for the knowledge to be absorbed or for learning to take place. The interaction and responses I received in our twitter chat assignment were so interesting, and when it happens in real-time, you do remember it much better than posting, logging off, and then reading comments or responses at another time. 

I think the most I have learned from using twitter is by the links and articles others have shared among our class. There are some really amazing activities, lessons, and books that I could see myself using in a classroom in the future. I have learned a lot by following Caitlyn Tucker, who is an EdTech Teacher and always uploads useful articles and posts from her blog about how to incorporate tech learning in the classroom. I also really enjoyed a post that Malisa shared with the class last week that included some useful books about diversity in the classroom.

My twitter chats have been enlightening and enjoyable. The first Twitter chat I participated in, in a live setting was very fun and engaging. The responses and genuine enjoyment everyone else was having in the chat was inspiring for me to engage more. While I was definitely hesitant and a little resistant to use twitter at the beginning of the class, as more time goes by I can see the value of it for not only this class but the education field. 

This week, we explored the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. The seventeen goals, created by over 178 countries at the 1992 Earth Summit, began as a way to improve human lives and the health and resources of our planet. (UN) Over the week, the course we completed showed us not only why the Global Goals were created, but ways that the UN, educators, and people around the world are trying to make it happen. 

Human rights and health, environmental health and sustainable living, as well as economic growth and innovations, are all examples of some of the Global Goals. There is at least one goal that can resonate with everyone. 

Our course through the Microsoft Educator Community showed many ways the Global Goals are being used in educational settings, and the various ways teachers can incorporate them into their lessons and programs inside and outside the classroom. The UN has created Project Paks, with over 30 lessons that help incorporate Global Goals, comic books relating to the Goals, as well as educational videos and community projects. 

In this current political and social climate, these goals are more important than ever. People should be accepted no matter who they are, and everyone should be entitled to food, water, and education no matter what socioeconomic status they have. The United Nations is trying to make that happen.

Results of the Goals in a report in 2019 have shown that while some of the goals are working well and are more or less on track, unfortunately, some are still struggling. The full results report can be found HERE.

The Second Goal, Zero Hunger, for example, has had an increase in hungry people across the world. 
From 784 million in 2015 to 821 million in 2017. 

But the Third Goal, Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Well Being for All at All Ages, has had a lot of success. 
9.8 million under 5-year-old deaths in 2000, VS only 5.4 million deaths in 2017. That is a HUGE decrease!

The United Nations Youth Summit is an annual platform for young leaders to meet, discuss, and put into action solutions to help with the Global Goals and Climate Action. Some more information about the Youth Summit can be found HERE.

While most of the Global Goals currently have varied results, we have to be able to look at the larger picture. The much needed and right changes that the UN wants to make will take time and a lot of collaborative effort from countries and people all across the world. 

Big changes start with small steps. Reducing carbon footprints and environmental impacts are some small ways the everyday person can help contribute to just a couple of the Global Goals. There is still so much more work to do! I am very happy to now have knowledge about the Global Goals and I am excited to be able to incorporate as much as I can into my future classroom! 

The tool I have chosen is Padlet. It is an amazing tool that can be used anywhere and for almost any subject. The site allows students and teachers to create online pinboards, and attach multiple resources and links to them that align with the subject they are choosing to work with.
Padlet is great for all types of learners as students can incorporate text, pictures, videos, and audio into the site created.

Padlet’s template formats range in types and use. Some of them are:
Gallery Wall – where multiple types of links can be added pertaining to the subject.
Shelf –  which splits into multiple columns and has space to add info to each and compare side by side.
Map – layouts which allows you to add content to a certain point on a map.
Timeline – which places content in a line. 

Padlet has uncountable uses in classrooms today. The templates listed above can be so useful in so many subjects and creates an interactive and visual board for students to learn from. It could be a great way to design study guides or outlines and doesn’t require students having to take copious notes to have all the information they need. With access at any time, because it is online, students are also never without the resource. 
As students grow up with better and better technology, not only are they are adept at picking up and learning new things but they are also very capable of incorporating what they learn into a technology. Padlet and its visually pleasing and easy format allows students to become creative and interactive while still absorbing and incorporating the lessons.

HERE is a youtube video explaining how Padlet can be used in a classroom.

And HERE is a link to check out a lesson plan created with Padlet to teach students a lesson involving the Civil War.

Many people use and enjoy technology and social media for all of the good things it can do. Social media allows people to share their lives, stay connected, open up outlets for people to find their passions and likeminded people, and be able to have a conversation no matter where they are in the world. 

Technology and social media have been used to share awareness, promote activism, and make real changes in the world. 

“Through social networking sites, Arab Spring activists have not only gained the power to overthrow powerful dictatorship, but also helped Arab civilians become aware of the underground communities that exist and are made up of their brothers, and others willing to listen to their stories.” (Kassim 2012)
https://www.mic.com/articles/10642/twitter-revolution-how-the-arab-spring-was-helped-by-social-media

“Perez said social media streamlined the organization of the women’s march, making it easier for people to join the movement. About 45,000 protesters with disabilities participated in the Washington march because they used social media ahead of time to make sure the demonstration was accessible.” (Carson 2017)
https://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-twitter-instagram-womens-march/

So we can all agree that social media used in these ways can be one of the most empowering and influential outlets available to people today right?

BUT… are there ways we can use social media and technology to our detriment?

The answer is yes. We can be so emboldened and ‘in the moment’ when we post sometimes that the long term effects pressing the ‘send’ button ONE time can have on our futures is lost on us. 

Especially as educators, our social media presence and the message we send on personal pages can be viewed by so many people who look to us as leaders. An educator or teacher has a responsibility to their students to be a role model and positive force in their student’s lives. If a teacher’s social media promotes the opposite, it weakens that role. 

Three safe ways to navigate using social media safely is by avoiding:

Disrespecting your company/employer or violating their codes of conduct.
a. The first and most obvious way to get in trouble over social media is to be disrespectful or slanderous to an employer or company. Posting online is not a guarantee of autonomy. 
b. While it is a personal page, many employers now require their employees to meet a code of conduct that not only describes how they are to connect themselves inside the office, but online as well.
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/posting-information-online-can-get-you-fired-2062154

Hurtful and insensitive comments.
a. Using social media etc to post anything hurtful or insensitive should be avoided at all costs, whether for an employer or not. 
b. There are things to keep in mind once you are an official representative of something (an employee/student), your voice is representing them as well. Posting hateful comments or insensitive political opinions that could directly clash with/look bad on the company could result in termination. No company wants bad PR because of an improper tweet or post, and will not keep employees around who cause these type of problems for their business. 
https://smartsocial.com/fired-for-social-media/

Using technology and social media too much and too often.
a. We are all guilty of spending too much time on social media and technologies every day. Another thing to keep in mind is how much you use these sites on ‘work time’. Employees have been fired from companies for using Facebook, Twitter, or even online shopping on company time.
b. Taking a break from work and decompressing with a scroll through twitter is one thing, Wasting hours you are getting paid to perform a task and spending it on social media is another. 
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/05/how-using-social-media-can-get-you-fired.html