Month: February 2019

An important issue that people need to identify when it comes to being a global educatory is the technological disadvantages some people have. In some countries, people are too poor to afford the technology necessary to communicate with the outside world. How will we be able to communicate with them when it comes down to them not having internet access, a phone, or computer. Word of mouth and mail are still prominent tools in these countries that are less fortunate.

Aside from being at an economic disadvantage, some cultures are not so accepting of new technology. Most cultures have lived so long without this technology, they believe it is not necessary for their survival. In an example from the book, The Global Educator, on page 60 Julio Rojas is an advocate for closing the technology gap. His issue is that his society is a skeptic for the use of technology. This leads to fostering positive community engagement. Encouraging families and the government to advocate for the use of technology is a huge step in bridging the gap. Their involvement in their children’s lives will impact generations to come. The sooner we start this trend the better it is for the world to come. It is up to us being fortunate enough to have this technology to spread our knowledge across the globe.

Since 2006, Twitter has become a staple social media platform for millions of people. It connects people in several different ways through only 280 characters or less a post. Twitter is used by virtually anyone, from high school aged students to the president of the United States. It combines different backgrounds of people by creating threads and hashtags people follow and comment on. It is a great way to start micro-communities about common subjects such as teaching, engineering, sports, and so much more.

In the video below a teacher uses Twitter in his classroom because he realized how his students already used their phones obsessively. He knew the only way to reach them effectively would be by engaging them in technology how they are interested. The goal for using Twitter in the classroom was solely for class participation but he soon realized that it was doing much more for his students outside the classroom. Some of his shy students became more open to society and figured out that it does not all have to be so scary.

https://youtu.be/2w9CnaeaiAE

 

The following lesson plan is an example of how Twitter was incorporated into a classroom project. The goal of this project is for students to understand the role technology has on today as well as the historical elements that went along with the unit. How could history be different if we had social media during the Civil War or perhaps World War 2?

https://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/twitter-tweets-critical-thinking-history-shtml

 

Thank you for viewing my blog this week!

Today in this week’s blog I will discuss the dangers of using technology as a teacher. Technology can be seen as a blessing and a curse. It has provided us with countless opportunities to connect ourselves to the world. But this information can also hurt us. Teachers are role models for the children around the world and if they are posting inappropriate or immature content they are painting a bad picture and losing their credibility. In an article from 2014, Governor Christie signed legislation that required school boards across the state to produce policies that restrict or censor social media use for teachers. Further information on the legislation can be found in the link below.

https://www.njsba.org/news-publications/press-releases/n-j-school-boards-association-issues-model-social-networking-policy/

 

One of the ways professionals are fired is when they “friend” their students on Facebook or other social media platforms. Teachers are supposed to keep professional relationships with their students and it should strictly be conducted within the classroom. For example, my dad who is a teacher uses his middle name as his last name on facebook. In this instance, it would be a bit harder for his students or parents to try and find his Facebook. Of course, this does not mean he can post anything he wants, but it certainly deters students or parents from finding more personal information on him.

Teachers can be fired for posting inappropriate comments or pictures on their profiles. In the following article, they discuss several examples of when teachers were fired from their positions. In one of the first examples, a teacher from Ohio posted on her MySpace, provocative and sexual comments. Other people confessed that she has also taken drugs. In another example, a teacher from Connecticut was fired after conversating with two students on MySpace. The comments he made to the student seemed harmless, but the federal court ruled that these conversations online disrupt the learning environment. Teachers have a responsibility to maintain a professional relationship with their students, not one as their peers.

http://www.nea.org/home/38324.htm

Thank you for reading my blog this week!