Connected for Life

My seven week journey through the Connected Educator course has been extremely valuable.  I have reaffirmed that being a connected educator is a continually growing process.  But, more importantly, I have realized that I am not on this journey alone.  There will always be a new technology that needs to be explored.  Through blogs, personal learning networks and social media, I have connections that will take me beyond this course and keep me connected with the newest options available. 

I feel good about moving forward.  I had a strong technology skill set coming in and it has only grown stronger.  Every topic we covered has enhanced my abilities as an educator, sponsor and coach.  I can't wait to continually grow and share these technology tools with my students and fellow staff members. 

Google Search: What can't it do?

I am continually amazed, on this journey toward becoming a connected educator, about what Google is capable of doing.  My most recent growth in love for Google began with the discovery of the following Google Drive tools:

• Google Drive
• Word Processing
• Spreadsheets
• Presentations
• Templates
• Research/Citation Assistance 
• REFER to my previous post for videos outlining Google Drive

Then, I spent this week exploring Google's search capabilities.  I didn't realize how unaware I truly was about my search options.  Here are just a few that I really like for my classroom.

• Google Search
• Unit:  Converts units.
• Calculator:  Simply type the math problem into the search bar an it will calculate the answer.
• Dictionary: Type "Define:" and then the word.

If you would like to see them in action, here is a playlist of 15 second Google Search videos that show 17 special search options.

Pinterest IS Professional Development

Who knew my new found love for Pinterest would turn out to be so beneficial for my role as an educator. For those that are not familiar with Pinterest, this social network allows anyone to "pin" a website, similarly how we would have earmarked a favorite page in a magazine.  You are pinning topics of interest onto a virtual corkboard and then organizing them by topic.

With Pinterest, teacher collaboration has become more visual.  I can search for bulletin board ideas, for lesson ideas specific to my content area, for good technology resources, etc. based on a picture from the original source's web page.  It is much easier for me to sort through pins that pertain to my needs then to scroll through the results of a web search.  While I do not use Pinterest as my only outlet for collaborating with other educators, the large population of users makes it a valuable tool.  I have found myself using ideas from my Pinterest board more frequently over the last year and a half and I see that continuing to be a trend as its popularity continues to grow.

Through my Connected Educator course, I have also discovered that Pinterest can be used in the classroom by the students.  They could search for a specific topic to help them brainstorm for a project or paper and they could work on a project together by sharing pins/resources that group members could benefit from while researching.  When the students aren't using it for the classroom, they can also explore their own interests, books, organizational tools, sports, colleges, etc.  The extensive span of resources and options make this a valuable social media tool.

Facebook: Does it have a place in schools?

As with all pedagogical knowledge that teachers choose to explore, there exist pros and cons. The factors that best determines the success of the pedagogy is implementation and use. Like any new skill, students need to be guided in their development. Social media is not exempt. The pros that Facebook provides make it totally worth the risks involved. We can't shield students from social media forever, so why not take advantage of the opportunity to explore its capabilities in an educational setting.
With that said, my biggest concern with Facebook in schools leads into classroom management. I have heard complaints about how much students are on Facebook and would admit that I have also struggled with its presence. Classroom management is a continually developing machine that has taken on a drastic remodel. If teachers try to take on Facebook head-to-head, they will lose. We need to learn how to embrace its powers for good and find a balance that strengthens our teaching.

For more on my view of its Pros and Cons, follow this link: Facebook in Schools