The idea of having a networked classroom is definitely something that intrigues me. A networked classroom basically has students networking or collaborating using technology tools, such as social media websites, blogs, and wiki’s. I don’t know if I would call them disadvantages, but there are a few things that scare me some when using these tools with my fourth graders. As William Kist stated in his article The Socially Networked Classroom, I think some big roadblocks are safety and time. We have had increased technology use in our fourth grade classrooms but that has also lead to students misusing their computer time. We have had instances of students getting on Facebook and YouTube without permission. We have also had some very inappropriate Google searching happening. So I think that school districts that want to encourage more online networking with students in the classroom need to have some strict guidelines and consequences for misusing technology in place. I think this will allow teachers to feel more safe using different web 2.0 tools because they know that students will be handled properly when they misuse their computer privileges.
And time. Do I hate feeling so pressured by testing to get through my curriculum? Absolutely. Does that deter me from using more web 2.0 tools and social media for collaborating? Absolutely. I do realize that my students are like sponges when it comes to technology and they will learn everything very quickly. But for the most part, this would be their first experience with blogs, wiki’s, and PLN’s, so it would take some time to teach them how to use those tools so they can comfortably navigate them.
With that being said, I think the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. I think the idea of having students communicating and collaborating through online networking tools allows for deeper learning and engagement. Not only can students collaborate with fellow classmates, but they could collaborate with other students from all over the world. I think the quieter students will feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts, the slower learners can learn right beside the quick learners, and the kids would love it! I know the few things I have tried with my students have been so exciting for them. I think the best thing for me, and other educators looking to transition to a networked classroom, is to just try it. Take it one step at a time. Find resources and ideas through your PLN’s on the best tools to use with your age group. I have already found some good ideas to try in my math classes!
You bring up some very real, and legitimate concerns with implementing new technologies - perhaps teaching digital citizenship to students may help with inappropriate use, but for what it's worth, we keep our IT department busy all of the time trying to stop misbehavior on the laptops - it's all worth it to me, but it certainly does provide for frustration at times.
ReplyDeleteTechnology can be such a double edged sword at times. Yet, I do agree that it is all worth it, but once again where do you find the time to fit those trainings in???
ReplyDeleteTechnology does bring about many frustrations! I have used an app one hour, and then the next hour, the app is not responding.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I hate to say it, but I feel like no matter how much we discuss digital citizenship, we will still have students who use technology inappropriately. I think there needs to be major consequences for students who use technology inappropriately. The students need to understand the consequences of their actions from the very beginning, and they need to sign some sort of contract or agreement.
I strongly agree with your point about misusing the technology. At the high school, it is a constant struggle to keep kids from visiting sites that have nothing to do with what we're doing. It's usually a matter of threatening to take their computers away, which is just another classroom management issue, one that feels like it's happening all the time. Yes, there are digital citizenship issues that come into play, and I think there are a lot of students who would respond positively with instruction related to digital citizenship; there are also those who are going to do the opposite of what you would like them to do regardless of the situation.
ReplyDeleteI learned a lot from the article you posted in your blog :) I think my favorite part was the idea of the students teaching a mini lesson to other students to save time and also how they talked about building choice into assignments. Every time we take a grade on a math assignment, the students who make 100% obviously know the material and steps well enough to reteach, so I always take full advantage of that. Once I grade their test, I have them reteach the students that missed problems. (Basically the students are doing the RtI piece and I learn a lot from listening to the way they explain to the other students how they solved the problem) I have actually taken notes from the students, because who to learn better from than other students??! Thanks for sharing!
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