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

 

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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

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These tactile blocks teach blind kids to code

In this article post I found on twitter, I learned about how a young blind student was given the tools he needed to effectively learn how to code. Below is the link of the article for you to read.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90294418/these-tactile-blocks-teach-blind-kids-to-code?partner=rss

As I read through the article I was astounded by how advanced we have come to teach children, even blind children coding. I graduated high school in 2016 and I never even learned how to code. To read about how technology for young students to create and work on coding methods is great for the future. Microsoft has provided millions of people with opportunities to be creative and make new jobs. Now they are giving students who may be left behind the opportunity to succeed despite having little to no vision.  This tool not only helps children who are visually impaired to code but it helps all children as a basic building block for years to come. This tool by Microsoft will only better our future and I fully support special education teachers to use this in their classrooms.

In this video below they discuss Microsoft’s Project Torino and how it affects and helps young learners with disabilities.

Thank you for taking the time to read from my blog this week!