Molly Kresta

Lamar University

EDLD 5362 – ET8014

Networking!Colleagues and Students Await!

Educational Networking. I know my content! Why do it?

Changing Students

Changing Educational

Atmosphere

Opportunities Abound

Changing StudentsToday’s students are multi-taskers. They listen,

write and text multiple people at once.

We must no longer be as concerned with their attention span as we are their attention scope. (Zaslow, 2009)

They must not only learn community citizenship, but digital citizenship. (Manzo, 2009)

Their ways and needs are changing, and we must change if we are to

succeed in teaching them.

Changing Educational AtmosphereUniversities are not the bricks and mortar, tweed

suited professor and hardbound textbook classrooms we remember.

Abilene Christian University freshmen receive an Iphone or Ipod Touch before they begin classes

At Case Western Reserve University some freshmen were given Kindles

Classrooms are high-tech marvels

Professors offer podcasted lectures and online study sessions (Gray and Erb, 2009)

We must prepare them to succeed in this changing environment!

Opportunities AboundYou Tube Section devoted to Academic Content -

“Any qualified teacher can contribute and absolutely anyone can learn.” (Gilroy, 2009)

Big Think

Education for All

Academic Earth

iTunes U

Each offers content for many subject areas including videos! The best is available at

the click of a mouse!

But I’m not ready!

How can I prepare my students for this new world if I’m not comfortable living in it?

You are not alone . . .Websites abound for teachers who are looking for a

place to ask questions and get answers from people who know.

If you are looking for information, check out:

Digital Learning Experiences – read the notes on the left side of the screen (this site speaks to many people!)

Teachers.net – a plethora of information on every subject and grade level. Very organized.

Teaching Critical Thinking – a great place to ask for help on critical thinking issues

Still looking for the site for you? Check out educationalnetworking.com for a list of educational websites to help you on your quest for knowledge!

The most practical for my situationThe Usync network looks very interesting and I will look

into using it in my classroom. Since most of my students’ work is project based, the service it offers could be an asset to my program.

Offers students an online area to work on projects and keep their work organized.

Students, teachers and others may share information and receive feedback.

Offers teachers a way to assess student work online.

And it is all done in a safe social/educational networking

environment.

Usync in my classroom Currently the only place my students can access their projects is

in my classroom. If I am able to use it, Usync would be a place for:

Students to keep photography assignments and build their portfolio.

Students to ask for and receive caption information for their photography projects.

Students to ask for and receive information from fellow students, teachers, and the community to complete desktop design assignments.

Me to offer suggestions and grade their work online.

Teachers and parents to view completed student work.

The ability to have their work available anytime would be very helpful to many of my students.

The most practical for my situation The TCEA website offers everything needed by attendees of

the annual Texas Computer Educators’ Association Convention.

Before the Convention - Registration, Housing, Maps, Schedules, Speaker information

During the Convention - Up to the minute changes and updates

After the Convention – Handouts from all convention classes after the convention

Videos taken at the convention

Links to the websites of vendors and speakers

Information on this website is invaluable

to anyone who attends TCEA!

TCEA I attend TCEA every year, and each year I come home

with information that I immediately put to work in my classroom. The website helps so much since:

All registration is done online.

Making changes to registration is quick and easy.

Handouts are accessible and ready to use in the classroom.

Videos are available and accessible after the convention and easy to share with other teachers who may not have the opportunity to attend.

Students enjoy seeing and hearing

what is on the horizon in technology.

You can do it!

All the information you need is out there and easy to obtain. Just dive in and keep your eyes open for gems!

References

Gray, K. (2009, October 6). Profs Embrace iPods, e-Readers, Artistic Apps. USA

Today, D.6. Retrieved January 22, 2010, from Sirs Knowledge Source database.

Gilroy, M. (2009, September 21). Higher Education Migrates to YouTube & Social

Networks. Hispanic Outlook, 12-14. Retrieved January 22, 2010, from Sirs

Knowledge Source database.

Manzo, K. K. (2009, September 22). Filtering Fixes. Education Week, 29, 23-25.

Retrieved January 22, 2010, from Sirs Knowledge Source database.

Zaslow, J. (2009, November 4). The Greatest Generation (of Networkers). Wall

Street Journal, D.1. Retrieved January 22, 2010, from Sirs Knowledge Source

database.