Social Media Tools

 Social websites such as facebook, myspace, and twitter create an easy environment for friends, family, coworkers, and now even students and teachers to interact.  I never thought that my teachers would be asking me to start an online blog to communicate after years of in class discussions.  There are definitely upsides to having internet connections between classmates.  With class time being only about an hour every meeting, having an outside source of communication is useful.  Twenty-four seven access is obviously beneficial.  Also questions can be easily answered without having to wait until the next class period.  

On the other hand, there are some negatives about the cyber world.  Blogging online or communicating indirectly can be impersonal.  Also phrasing or wording could be taken in different context than what was intended.  Also technology is not always reliable.  Once I woke up and went to an eight am class and arrived only to realize it had been canceled through email while the school server was down.  Although out of classroom communication is difficult to get used to, luckily we do have these social tools at our disposal to help create an extended learning environment.  

Tech-ucation

As an English major, I am understandably attached to hard copies of literature. There is something about reading on a computer screen that inhibits comprehension. Therefore, I wholeheartedly support keeping actual texts in a classroom and beyond. But for discussion and interaction within the class setting, there is no greater tool than the internet.

Posting something online gives a certain anonymity to discussing a topic, even if a name and picture accompanies that post. I am more inclined to voice my true opinion from the comfort of my dorm room than in front of my peers, even though the message is still reaching the same people. Also, a written discussion gives people time to think about what they are saying before their...my...mouth runs away from them.

And maybe we'll save a few trees in the meantime.

New-fangled Technology and Education

When I remember starting school, which seems like a long time ago but wasn't, research was done in libraries. If someone wanted to find out what other people thought about something, they would ask. Sometimes they would even call people on the phone! I still remember writing a report in second grade. My sources were books and magazines I found in the classroom. Then, lo and behold, the internet came into being. Suddenly, I could talk to all of my friends at once, even if they were in different states. I could look up information on a topic without leaving my house, let alone figuring out the catalog computers at the library. (I have no idea how people found books there before computers) Then, as if this repository of information wasn't enough, social networking tools were invented. Suddenly, everyone could know what one person was thinking or doing. People could make lists of things to share with other people. People could rant and rave and actually be accessibly published, for free!

Now many of these online social resources are used productively. While being able to follow links for hours with just one search term for a starting point can waste a lot of time, it is a good way to find information that other people think is relevant. Instead of having to read countless search results to find what I'm looking for, I might stumble upon a blog where one person reviews several sites relating to my topic of interest. I can see which ones they found helpful and go from there. I could potentially use many of the more collaborative services out there to work on group projects from the comfort of my own dorm room. I could compare the fruits of my labor to those of other people around the world who have posted their work. I could see the viewpoints of lots of people and use them to better understand a topic.

Overall, I'd say social media tools can be a huge waste of time, though very entertaining. However, with proper guidance and self control, they could be used rather effectively for certain types of educational pursuits. Instead of asking the librarian what they think of various resources, you can find out what people with similar interests and needs think. I could see a lot of workplace collaboration occurring online in the future, and there is no reason why some of that wouldn't apply to a scholastic setting.

Social Media in Education and the Classroom

It wasn't until I reached college that i began seeing social media used as a frequent classroom tool. I think that social media sites can be quite helpful in facilitating discussion and keeping the class connected and engaged in topics - a sort of platform to bounce thoughts and ideas off each other. However, I have noticed that social media tools can often become confusing to students - especially those who may not be particularly computer savvy.

I think a good way to get whole classes involved in using social media tools would be by projecting the websites on a screen and walking through students the process of setting up accounts, and the basic features of what each site is meant to be used for. I believe that one of the main problems students face regarding social media sites, is confusion and general lack of understanding of how they work. I also think it's important that each student as a clear idea of what they're supposed to post and where and when.

Randy's Pausch's "Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." Available on YouTube.

Welcome!

This is a blog in support of the course "Materialism & Idealism," an honors course taught fall semester, 2009 at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI.