Social Networking Via Classroom
There are many ways to use social networking in your classroom. Currently, I communicate with parents via professional Facebook and Twitter accounts. However, it's important to note that social networking is more important than being used for communication; it can be used for education. This webpage has been designed to show how to use three basic types of social networking: Skype, Flickr, and Edmodo.
Classroom Application of Skype
Skype is an amazing tool for personal, professional and educational purposes. To get Skype, you need to visit http://www.skype.com. Set up an account for your classroom. My classroom Skype account is mrsleneway. You will also need to download Skype software onto your computer for use, you can do so here.
Skype can be used for many educational purposes, such as to interview community workers, authors or even busy parents who hold expert knowledge. You can use Skype to share different cultures around the world with your class or show them how similar second grade students are at a school just a few miles away. Skype can also be used to communicate with a classmate that has moved away or is unable to physically attend class to do illness or other circumstances.
For my purpose, I will integrate Skype into my Flat Stanley project. Access to both http://education.skype.com/ and http://www.flatterworld.com/. For both of these sites, I have created classroom accounts, using the username, mrsleneway. Once you have created your own usernames, you will want to set up a project in both sites regarding your Flat Stanley project. For my classroom purposes, we use Flat Stanley to help us study geography and culture of people around the world. You will be able to connect with someone, hopefully another educator, who is interested in communicating with you and your students by either hosting your Flat Stanley and/or communicating about their (and their classes' culture) via Skype. It's an amazing opportunity for students to connect, from an early age, with people around the globe. From my experience, students love Flat Stanley and it's a great teaching tool that provides many learning opportunities across the curriculum.
Skype can be used for many educational purposes, such as to interview community workers, authors or even busy parents who hold expert knowledge. You can use Skype to share different cultures around the world with your class or show them how similar second grade students are at a school just a few miles away. Skype can also be used to communicate with a classmate that has moved away or is unable to physically attend class to do illness or other circumstances.
For my purpose, I will integrate Skype into my Flat Stanley project. Access to both http://education.skype.com/ and http://www.flatterworld.com/. For both of these sites, I have created classroom accounts, using the username, mrsleneway. Once you have created your own usernames, you will want to set up a project in both sites regarding your Flat Stanley project. For my classroom purposes, we use Flat Stanley to help us study geography and culture of people around the world. You will be able to connect with someone, hopefully another educator, who is interested in communicating with you and your students by either hosting your Flat Stanley and/or communicating about their (and their classes' culture) via Skype. It's an amazing opportunity for students to connect, from an early age, with people around the globe. From my experience, students love Flat Stanley and it's a great teaching tool that provides many learning opportunities across the curriculum.
Classroom Application of Flickr
To use Flick in your classroom, I would suggest going to http://www.flickr.com/. From there, create a classroom account, for example, I created a classroom Flickr account under the Flickr screen name of mrsleneway. Once you have an account, you will be able to create groups which can be set to private privacy settings, meaning that only those who are invited will have access to the photos you upload to that specific group.
For my classroom purposes, I will upload pictures of my class to Flickr. Myself, my students, their parents and the principal will be the only people that have access to those photographs.
We conduct student led conferences in my district. I have chosen to use Voice Thread as a tool for my students to collect and reflect on their learning throughout the year. Now with the incorporation of my private Flickr group, students can choose photographs the wish to upload to Voice Thread and then comment on the learning that occurred within the context of that specific photograph. It gives my students more choice and ownership in their electronic Voice Thread portfolio.
For my classroom purposes, I will upload pictures of my class to Flickr. Myself, my students, their parents and the principal will be the only people that have access to those photographs.
We conduct student led conferences in my district. I have chosen to use Voice Thread as a tool for my students to collect and reflect on their learning throughout the year. Now with the incorporation of my private Flickr group, students can choose photographs the wish to upload to Voice Thread and then comment on the learning that occurred within the context of that specific photograph. It gives my students more choice and ownership in their electronic Voice Thread portfolio.
Classroom Application of Edmodo
Edmodo is a controlled social media environment for your students. What is great about Edmodo is that is allows you to create specific groups, with whom you share a special group code for access, in order to share documents, collaborate and communicate with students and other educators.
Although I use my professional Facebook and Twitter accounts to keep parents posted and apprised on the happenings within my classroom, those are very complex tools for students at grade two to use. I like the security Edmodo provides for my students and their families.
For my purposes, I created an Edmodo account, with the username mrsleneway. I can post interesting educational videos, homework assignments, extra credit opportunities, share classroom news or updates and even conduct a classroom poll (like what are everyone's weekend plans?). Edmodo helps me connect, safely with my students in a familiar and interesting environment.
Although I use my professional Facebook and Twitter accounts to keep parents posted and apprised on the happenings within my classroom, those are very complex tools for students at grade two to use. I like the security Edmodo provides for my students and their families.
For my purposes, I created an Edmodo account, with the username mrsleneway. I can post interesting educational videos, homework assignments, extra credit opportunities, share classroom news or updates and even conduct a classroom poll (like what are everyone's weekend plans?). Edmodo helps me connect, safely with my students in a familiar and interesting environment.