Professional Online Social Networks - Week 30


Professional Online Social Networks - Week 30
What are some key features of social media that are beneficial for teaching and learning? Why?
In Derek's video, "Benefits of Social Media" (Education Council plus 2012) he highlights several key benefits of social media:
  • Strengthening of relationships with whanau and families 
  • A sense of connectedness in learning
  • A sense of purpose and anticipation

Karen Mulhuish Spencer also highlights key features of professional online social media networks which are beneficial for learning and teaching:

  • Being connected is critical and the chats we have with colleagues in corridors and classrooms can now be expanded beyond the boundaries of our physical location.


  • Collaboration is unlocked by social media platforms


  • The limitations of trying to get information in normal work hours disappears and we can get answers from around the world over the full spectrum of the 24 hour day


  • Social media is a vehicle to accelerate learning


  • By being able to tap into a multitude of perspectives on an issue allows for a more balanced analysis of a topic


  • Individuals who work in isolation or have limited direct contact with other teachers can now be part of a range of learning communities

(Online social networking and its impact on New Zealand educators’ professional learning- Melhuish, 2013)
Education has certainly changed over the last 20 years. I remember starting out as a beginning teacher in a rural school where no PLD was offered, No PRT programme was in place let alone a mentor. Planning was done in isolation, there was no sharing of ideas, collaboration or support. Today teachers are encouraged to collaborate within and across schools, sharing ideas, knowledge, resources, plans and much more. Social media platforms has broken the barriers of isolation, providing  collaborative learning in flexible time and location. Teachers can use online social networks to seek information, share ideas and contribute to the development of deep knowledge, giving hope to those in hard to staff areas, bringing the world to their door steps. Teachers across the global are connecting and collaborating across many different platforms from facebook to twitter, google hangouts and skype, just to name a few. Teachers build positive relationships as they engage in professional conversations and dialogue with their peers.

 How do/would you use social media to enhance your professional development? Why?

I have used social media for years but only in a personal capacity to connect with whanau and friends across the globe, using facebook and skype. Since joining mindlab my initial thought was I would learn about digital devices and educational apps that would enhance my expertise in this ever-changing technological world. Mindlab has done more than this. Check out our video link below, as it will give you a clear picture of how I use social media to enhance my professional development. 

Mindlab South Auckland Principals

Although still relatively new to the whole professional social media platforms 
it has allowed me as the leader of my school to connect with like-minded people sharing our leadership challenges, stories, wonderings and celebrations. Its given us  the opportunity to connect anytime, anywhere, and any space, without the barriers of time restraints. Below are the platforms I use to engage in collaborative PLD:
  1. Facebook - communication and sharing of ideas from all over the world
  2. Google + - community of practice with like minded leaders
  3. Blogger - professional reflective journal
  4. Mindlabs - an awareness of 21st century learning and digital content
  5. You Tube - relevant documentaries and video's
  6. Viemo - professional  videos
  7. Texting - information and messages
  8. Gmail - information 
  9. Google - search engine for resources and information. 
  10. Twitter - communication, sharing and introducing new trends.
I tend to use some of these platforms more than others, but I sure do enjoy connecting and collaborating with others on issues that support and strengthen me as an instructional leader. 


 References:
Benefits of Social Media Education Council, Derek Wenmoth 2014
Online social networking and its impact on New Zealand educators’ professional learning(Melhuish, 2013)







Comments

  1. MvdSpuy17 June 2016 at 21:24

    Kia ora Rosina

    Thank you for this post! I really enjoyed reading your view on using social media. Education has indeed changed over the last 20 years and social media is a great platform to encourage and support educators and students to be connected learners.

    It is also great to see that you as the leader of your school use social media platforms to connect and colloaborate with others.

    I am particularly interested in cultivating a partnership with parents / whānau which includes both parental involvement (which concerns the likes of but not limited to: sporting, cultural, and behavioural aspects of schooling), and also parental engagement with learning (which includes things such as: academic progress, learning conversations, and holistic pathways to activities adapted for increasing student learning outcomes) using social media. In "Socially focused, situationally driven practice: A study of distributed leadership among school principals and counselors " Militello, M., & Janson, C. (2008) explain that school leadership underpins the approach taken in engaging parents. Therefore an important factor in the impact parents have on student learning outcomes in school.

    It feel that it is our responsibility to make our community aware that digital technologies (social media) allow students to share their learning in a variety of visible, interacting and engaging ways. This will [also] help our community to be more involved with what is going on, build effective partnerships and engage them in their child's learning.

    Kia kaha

    ReplyDelete

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