Twitter
Twitter is something that I starting using this school year. Not with my students, but for PLNs. Lots of district leaders utilize Twitter in my county, so I figured this would be a good way to network and gain knowledge of upcoming district initiatives. At first, I used Twitter to follow sports teams, players, and other sports related Twitter accounts. After discovering that Twitter can assist with my professional growth, I created a professional account and use it to make connections with educators around the world. It’s not so much the tweets and words other write, but the articles that are tweeted I enjoy reading. Within my district there is a major focus on reading and writing. My district leaders often post articles about reading and how we as teachers can improve the reading skills of our students.
I never really thought much about using Twitter with my students. I teach at the elementary level, and knowing that the minimum age for a Twitter used is 13, it rarely crossed my mind. I often use Class Dojo to communicate with my parents, and Remind to communicate with the parents of the groups that I lead. Twitter may be the best way to communicate with all of the groups without having to manage multiple accounts. If parents were to follow my on Twitter, I can post all schedule changes, events, and any other information that I would need to send out. Knowing this would require parents to have a Twitter account, I would poll the parents about the best way for me to inform them about events within the school. However, this would also be another way to reach parents. My team and I currently have a website, newsletter on paper and email, Class Dojo, and Remind. Twitter would just be another was to communicate with parents.
One idea that I have developed after reading information about hashtags is to start a chat with our teachers at school. We would all agree on a day and time and begin to share lesson ideas, activities, behavior strategies, and anything else we wish to share with each other. Thinking about my current colleagues, this would be a challenge for many of them. Most use as little technology during the school day as possible, and I would assume in their personal life as well. I would start with those interested, and hope that the idea becomes popular and spreads. I will be honest and say that I have no clue how to use Twitter with my students, and I am open to any suggestions.
Podcasting
The two podcasts that I previewed were The House of #Edtech Podcast and Discussion over dinner. Ironically, the podcast I listened to for The House of #Edtech podcast was how he used podcasting in his classroom. I have not gone back to previous episodes, but this has quickly become something I am interested in. His discussions consist of how technology can be used in the classroom, and used instagram to answer questions and review recommendations from others. He reviewed chrome extensions that others have submitted, and listening has been beneficial to my tech usage with my students already. Discussion over Dinner was a longer podcast that discussed at risk students and how to better assist them in our schools.
I honestly never thought about using podcasting in my classroom. As soon as I started reading Matt Miller’s article, it stated that when students produce work, it is for one person, the teacher. If they have to present their work, reading their papers using podcasting, and make them available to others, their output may change. (Miller 2018) Communication would be a focus of mine when having my students podcast. Practicing until they are comfortable recording, and then record their information. This would also be a way for students to be creative with their podcasts. When reading writing, they can create voices for characters, and show expression within their writing. I would also create fake newscast with my students about historical events. Collaborating with other students, the group would create a news story about a historical event learned in class.
Miller, S. (2019). 50 Ways to Use Twitter in the Classroom . Retrieved from http://www.teachhub.com/50-ways-use-twitter-classroom
Listenwise (2017). The Teacher's Guide to Podcasting in the Classroom. Retrieved from http://blog.listenwise.com/2017/11/download-free-podcasting-guide-teachers-guide-podcasting-classroom/
Macpherson , E. (2014). 10 Podcasting Projects Teachers Should Try in the Classroom. Retrieved from https://www.weareteachers.com/10-podcasting-projects-teachers-should-try-in-the-classroom-2/
Twitter is something that I starting using this school year. Not with my students, but for PLNs. Lots of district leaders utilize Twitter in my county, so I figured this would be a good way to network and gain knowledge of upcoming district initiatives. At first, I used Twitter to follow sports teams, players, and other sports related Twitter accounts. After discovering that Twitter can assist with my professional growth, I created a professional account and use it to make connections with educators around the world. It’s not so much the tweets and words other write, but the articles that are tweeted I enjoy reading. Within my district there is a major focus on reading and writing. My district leaders often post articles about reading and how we as teachers can improve the reading skills of our students.
I never really thought much about using Twitter with my students. I teach at the elementary level, and knowing that the minimum age for a Twitter used is 13, it rarely crossed my mind. I often use Class Dojo to communicate with my parents, and Remind to communicate with the parents of the groups that I lead. Twitter may be the best way to communicate with all of the groups without having to manage multiple accounts. If parents were to follow my on Twitter, I can post all schedule changes, events, and any other information that I would need to send out. Knowing this would require parents to have a Twitter account, I would poll the parents about the best way for me to inform them about events within the school. However, this would also be another way to reach parents. My team and I currently have a website, newsletter on paper and email, Class Dojo, and Remind. Twitter would just be another was to communicate with parents.
One idea that I have developed after reading information about hashtags is to start a chat with our teachers at school. We would all agree on a day and time and begin to share lesson ideas, activities, behavior strategies, and anything else we wish to share with each other. Thinking about my current colleagues, this would be a challenge for many of them. Most use as little technology during the school day as possible, and I would assume in their personal life as well. I would start with those interested, and hope that the idea becomes popular and spreads. I will be honest and say that I have no clue how to use Twitter with my students, and I am open to any suggestions.
Podcasting
The two podcasts that I previewed were The House of #Edtech Podcast and Discussion over dinner. Ironically, the podcast I listened to for The House of #Edtech podcast was how he used podcasting in his classroom. I have not gone back to previous episodes, but this has quickly become something I am interested in. His discussions consist of how technology can be used in the classroom, and used instagram to answer questions and review recommendations from others. He reviewed chrome extensions that others have submitted, and listening has been beneficial to my tech usage with my students already. Discussion over Dinner was a longer podcast that discussed at risk students and how to better assist them in our schools.
I honestly never thought about using podcasting in my classroom. As soon as I started reading Matt Miller’s article, it stated that when students produce work, it is for one person, the teacher. If they have to present their work, reading their papers using podcasting, and make them available to others, their output may change. (Miller 2018) Communication would be a focus of mine when having my students podcast. Practicing until they are comfortable recording, and then record their information. This would also be a way for students to be creative with their podcasts. When reading writing, they can create voices for characters, and show expression within their writing. I would also create fake newscast with my students about historical events. Collaborating with other students, the group would create a news story about a historical event learned in class.
Miller, S. (2019). 50 Ways to Use Twitter in the Classroom . Retrieved from http://www.teachhub.com/50-ways-use-twitter-classroom
Listenwise (2017). The Teacher's Guide to Podcasting in the Classroom. Retrieved from http://blog.listenwise.com/2017/11/download-free-podcasting-guide-teachers-guide-podcasting-classroom/
Macpherson , E. (2014). 10 Podcasting Projects Teachers Should Try in the Classroom. Retrieved from https://www.weareteachers.com/10-podcasting-projects-teachers-should-try-in-the-classroom-2/