Twitter is fun, don't you think? It's a great way to interact with your friends, live chat about sporting events, and share pictures of what you're eating for lunch. The same can be said about Facebook, Youtube, and any other number of social media platforms. Wouldn't it be great if we could use the mediums that we all use every day (and students use every day) to learn? Could Twitter make me a better teacher, husband, or teammate? The answer is "Yes!" A Professional Learning Network (PLN) is a series of connections that you choose to make online where you and others interested in the same topic can share ideas, resources, and learn from one another. So how does Twitter make me a better teacher? Well, I teach high school social studies and I'm interested in classroom technology. As a result I follow some of the best minds in both fields on Twitter. These individuals and organizations are always sharing articles, videos, and other bits of information that I can use in my classroom. Likewise, I have the opportunity to share what I've learned with the PLN. Additionally, I teach AP United States History. The APUSH course has been completely redesigned and many teachers out there are trying to keep up. I've learned that the best thing I can do to make sure that my students are prepared for the new exam is to connect with other teachers through discussion boards so we can share materials and stories. This is certainly easier and more enjoyable than sitting through a workshop presentation. PLNs are individualized for all people based upon their interest. I would encourage you to develop one. Find an topic you're interested in that relates to your career, hobbies, or family and see what's out there. The 5 minutes you spend looking at tweets could end up making a big impact. Plus, you'll still have time to watch a few cat videos.
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Recently, I've been learning about the trend of blogging in the classroom. To be honest, I was skeptical. Do teachers really have time to read dozens of blog posts? Will students actually take the time to blog? When I ask students to write a short answer in class they act as if I'm asking them to do the impossible. In the past week however, a very interesting thing has happened. Two students have come up to me at random asking me to read their blog. Not a blog that was assigned for a class, not a blog they were forced to do, but rather a blog that they decided to write because, well, they wanted to. A bit surprised I said, "Sure, send me a link."
This was eye-opening for me. Students have a desire to express themselves. They have a desire to be heard. For some of our students this means expressing themselves through writing. If kids are already engaging in this activity on their own, then we as educators should certainly capitalize on it. I'm now beginning to brainstorm about ways I could use blogging in my Social Studies classes (Economics, US History, and US Government). I welcome your ideas and comments. Maybe I was wrong about this whole blogging thing. Welcome to my blog! Make yourselves at home. On this blog I'll be discussing education, technology, and whatever else might be on my mind. Full disclosure: I'm starting this blog because it is an assignment for one of my graduate classes at Indiana University Southeast, so from time to time, I may very well post about whatever I'm asked to post about. That being said, I don't intend to simply use this blog as a means to an end: a Masters degree. Rather, I look forward to sharing my ideas, exploring new ideas, and hearing from you: the reader.
I hope you enjoy this blog. Please feel free to share your thoughts on education, technology, or whatever else I happen to post. I don't like the idea of simply posting my ideas as if they are gospel, so please comment and put me in my place! I hope this blog will serve as a forum for teachers and non-teachers alike to bounce ideas off of one another. |
Trent AshcraftI'm a Social Studies teacher in Louisville, KY. I teach AP US History, AP Government, and AP Microeconomics and I drink too much coffee. ArchivesCategories |