Diving into some Web 2.0 websites in various genres provides a great opportunity to see how other educators are leveraging popular tools for use inside and outside the classroom.
From the creative genre I decided to take a closer look at Prezi. I used Prezi once upon a time, four or five years ago. It looked so cool when someone demoed it that I had to try it. I have 4 or 5 classes in each grade, K through 4. It is unwieldy to deal with individual projects from so many kids, so I try to create class projects when possible. I remember trying to use Prezi for a class biography project - it was not a resounding success. Yet I keep hearing how cool Prezi is, so I was glad to take the opportunity to revisit it.
From the creative genre I decided to take a closer look at Prezi. I used Prezi once upon a time, four or five years ago. It looked so cool when someone demoed it that I had to try it. I have 4 or 5 classes in each grade, K through 4. It is unwieldy to deal with individual projects from so many kids, so I try to create class projects when possible. I remember trying to use Prezi for a class biography project - it was not a resounding success. Yet I keep hearing how cool Prezi is, so I was glad to take the opportunity to revisit it.
It seems that most primary teachers are using Prezi for their own presentations rather than have students create with it. A closer look showed me why – Prezi is not COPPA compliant. Children under 13 cannot create content even with parental permission. For older students, however, the collaborative feature and the ease of adding and changing text (demonstrated in Untangling the Web) could allow for some great projects. I do plan on using it for some upcoming presentations – I should be able to wow the Home & School Association!
I spend a great deal of time looking at curation tools when I should be spending more time using them. I keep looking for one that will let me organize, file and annotate websites, projects, lessons plans – everything. I thought I had the answer with Scoop.it – until I realized that the ‘free’ version only allowed one topic page with one keyword. I checked out EduClipper once but I didn’t have the time right then to invest in learning what clips, clipboards, and all those symbols did. After reading up on EduClipper, investigating the website and hearing what Adam Bellow had to say about his innovative product (Untangling the Web) certainly changed my mind. I had no idea I could set up multiple classes, allow students (with permission) to access my clipboards, or create their own. It can handle assignments? And I can leave audio feedback for my students? So far, I haven’t been able to figure out the built in citation piece and the eduClip it button is not working for me, but that could be Chrome and my aging computer. If EduClipper does everything educators say it will be worth my time to figure it all out.
And then we get to the social arena, and Facebook. My grown daughters, my college friends, and pretty much all of my colleagues at school are on Facebook. I have never had a Facebook. My husband keeps me posted if there is something I should see. I am frequently stressed and pressed for time, I’m afraid I would either feel more stressed if I couldn’t keep up with what everyone was up to and respond or I would spend way too much time on Facebook and be up way too late.
There are many aspects of Facebook. Profiles, fan pages, photo albums, games, apps, events, likes, friends, status updates – I see why people like it, a one-stop shop for sharing with friends and colleagues. For the sake of argument, lets assume that teachers are aware of and take appropriate privacy measures. There was a lot of information available this week as Thursday, January 28, 2016 was Data Privacy Day. Hopefully, teachers have taken advantage of Facebook’s privacy checkup and these other recommended steps to keep on top of the problems that have plagued many in the education world. Is Facebook then an ideal platform for connecting with other educators? After reading a bit about how you would find like-minded people and how teachers are forming PLNs using Facebook, I still don’t see a reason to stop what I’m doing now. I’m finding the same professional connections through Twitter (including some groups and regular chats), professional organizations, some informal groups at school, and an online community of librarians.
There are many aspects of Facebook. Profiles, fan pages, photo albums, games, apps, events, likes, friends, status updates – I see why people like it, a one-stop shop for sharing with friends and colleagues. For the sake of argument, lets assume that teachers are aware of and take appropriate privacy measures. There was a lot of information available this week as Thursday, January 28, 2016 was Data Privacy Day. Hopefully, teachers have taken advantage of Facebook’s privacy checkup and these other recommended steps to keep on top of the problems that have plagued many in the education world. Is Facebook then an ideal platform for connecting with other educators? After reading a bit about how you would find like-minded people and how teachers are forming PLNs using Facebook, I still don’t see a reason to stop what I’m doing now. I’m finding the same professional connections through Twitter (including some groups and regular chats), professional organizations, some informal groups at school, and an online community of librarians.
Teachers in upper grades have many positive ways to use Facebook in the classroom. They are leveraging how students are already spending their time and opening ways of communication. From offering opportunities for authentic writing to researching by interacting with real people rather than Wikipedia, Facebook offers an engaging and versatile method for connecting with students. As long as teachers maintain a professional profile and are careful about their interactions with students and parents Facebook can be a valuable tool. I teach in an elementary school. Elementary age children should not be using Facebook, and I prefer to interact with parents via email and telephone.
7 Ways for Teachers to use Prezi in the Classroom. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://edu.prezi.com/blog/2015/4/21/7-ways-for-teachers-to-use-prezi-in-the-classroom
Dembo, S., & Bellow, A. (2013). Untangling the Web: 20 tools to power up your teaching. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
EduClipper: Just-for-us discovery, collaboration and curation. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/neverendingsearch/2013/06/09/educlipper-just-for-us-discovery-collaboration-and-curation/
Facebook for Teachers: 11 Tips for Protecting your Privacy. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.webwise.ie/teachers/facebook-for-teachers/http://www.webwise.ie/teachers/facebook-for-teachers/
National Cyber Security Alliance to Coordinate Data Privacy Day. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-cyber-security-alliance-to-coordinate-data-privacy-day-128312708.html
Teens, Social Media & Technology Overview 2015. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/09/teens-social-media-technology-2015/
What's the privacy checkup and where can I find it? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/help/443357099140264
Dembo, S., & Bellow, A. (2013). Untangling the Web: 20 tools to power up your teaching. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
EduClipper: Just-for-us discovery, collaboration and curation. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/neverendingsearch/2013/06/09/educlipper-just-for-us-discovery-collaboration-and-curation/
Facebook for Teachers: 11 Tips for Protecting your Privacy. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.webwise.ie/teachers/facebook-for-teachers/http://www.webwise.ie/teachers/facebook-for-teachers/
National Cyber Security Alliance to Coordinate Data Privacy Day. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-cyber-security-alliance-to-coordinate-data-privacy-day-128312708.html
Teens, Social Media & Technology Overview 2015. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/09/teens-social-media-technology-2015/
What's the privacy checkup and where can I find it? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/help/443357099140264