reflection
My Reflection on
2013FA Education 2760 NET05:
Teaching with Social Media and Collaboration Tools
By: Laura Ortiz, December 13, 2013
Course Description:
Examination of collaborative pedagogies, tools, and theory to enhance student learning in an online environment. Learners will experience and evaluate a variety of online social networking tools, apply appropriate tools to a unit of instruction, and create an online professional learning network.
The most important things I learned this semester were how to utilize and optimize various online social networking and collaboration tools to improve my teaching, student engagement and everyone’s learning, including my own.
In addition to the tools themselves, and the experiential nature of the course, I also enjoyed reviewing the constructivist learning theory and learning more about collaboration theory. Studying these theories has provided me with many “aha” moments about my own learning, and also has provoked some creative thought in terms of how I might meet students where they are, and add flexibility to my delivery (facilitation of the course), so that they may continue moving forward regardless of their starting point. Now if I could only get Bill & Melinda Gates to provide me with a fabulous adaptive learning grant and all of the accompanying technology.
As the course description suggests, we covered a wide variety of online tools. I have divided them into three categories: 1) Powerful, Full of Potential & Immediately Applicable; 2) Love it, but I’m not sure how to use it professionally; and 3) Not a fan.
In category 1, I have Social Bookmarking & RSS (Diigo & Feedly). Social bookmarking is truly amazing. What a powerful tool for collaboration and individual research. If I had knowledge of these tools during my doctorate work, it would have been a significantly less painful process. I can confidently say that I can see practical applications for professors, students, committees, etc. It is efficient and effective, and when coupled with a RSS, you have a credible, timely information delivered to your in an organized, strategic manner. I was very proud to manage an aggregator before it aggregated me!
Google+, and its many features (docs/drive, circles, pics, hang-outs, communities, calendar, etc.), squarely falls in category 1. In my discussion board post two months ago, I concurred with Ed Garay who said, "I think that Google+ has the potential to become a comprehensive social learning environment." Ed Garay, Assistant Director for Academic Computing, University of Illinois at Chicago (posted on 02.20.12 in the comments section of the Teaching with Google+ article on Edutopia, posted 02.09.12). Based on this comment coupled with the last two from the video, What is Google+ (Google plus) and do I need it, "You see, you don't need to choose Google+. Sooner or later, you're going to end up using it.", have convinced me that Google+ is very intentionally being designed for extensive use in both education and business.
Based on the videos and readings that were assigned in this module, I could definitely see the benefits for communication, project management and collaboration, as pointed out in the Teaching with Google+ article (Edutopia, February 9, 2012). Additionally, as expressed in the video, Pay Attention, it does provide an engaging environment for our digital learners that were born A.G. (After Google), and readily recognizes the value of the three new R's, Rigor, Relevance and (meaningful) Relationships. Personally, I would anticipate incorporating many elements of Google+ into my future courses (Language Practice Community, Hangouts for group work, conversational practice with classmates, and virtual office hours, circles for collaborating and sharing ideas, thoughts and resources, etc.). It is a user-friendly, familiar, visual, powerful platform, that would enable our students to learn together in an educational and entertaining environment.
The last to make it into category 1 is LinkedIn. Although I already had a profile established prior to this course, I had a very rudimentary understanding of the uses and features. In fact, after receiving feedback from my peers and watching the Lynda.com modules, I realized that I have significant work to do. Regardless, I would suggest that LinkedIn is essential for professional development, networking and seeking employment. It is also an excellent way to gain a broader/deeper understanding of issues and opportunities within one’s field by connecting with a network of professional colleagues whose aim is also to collaborate with others on problem-solving and growth strategies. The other thing that deeply impressed me was the sheer size of the network and their simple, yet meaningful mission -- “Welcome to LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network with 250 million members in over 200 countries and territories around the globe. Mission: Our mission is simple: connect the world's professionals to make them more productive and successful. When you join LinkedIn, you get access to people, jobs, news, updates, and insights that help you be great at what you do.
In category 2, Love it, but I’m not sure how to use it professionally, we have Twitter, Tweet Deck and Blogging. Understanding Twitter and tweeting for the first time were both valuable, empowering events. I could not have been more proud of my Tweet Deck. I actually deemed it a “visual masterpiece” in my November 17th blog. However, even though we located 101+ uses of Twitter in the classroom, I would still suggest that it is best for the students to utilize Twitter for authentic input in the target language, not as an outlet for silencing blurters . . . Blogging falls in this category as well for me. Again, after the initial pang of anxiety, I was bursting with pride after posting my first blog. And then, when we learned to add legal images, well, another level of creativity kicked in. I truly understand the value of reflecting through writing. I think it is an excellent exercise for our study abroad students to maintain a blog throughout the experience; however, I am personally not compelled to write for myself, and I’m not convinced that my insights would be particularly valuable to others.
Finally, in category 3, not a fan, I have PLNs (Lucid Chart) and Wiki’s. Since this is a personal reflection, I hope that it is not misperceived. I enjoyed Lucid Chart for the creative aspect of mind-mapping -- finding images and arranging them in an aesthetically pleasing way, but I still do not understand how it would be utilized for professional development. Our class Wiki is actually quite impressive and I am appreciative of my peers’ research; however, I need information to be pushed to me or it is forgotten. I have not been on our Wiki since the last assignment which means I probably need to add 12 resources. I’d rather continue writing my reflection paper but it is time to conclude.
In conclusion, this course has been extremely beneficial to me, both personally and professionally. Although I would not consider myself an expert by any means, I am able to confidently uphold my side of a given conversation on social media and/or collaboration tools. It has also inspired me to continue learning and growing in this arena. It is almost unfathomable to me how this entire world existed without my knowledge. I am pleased to connect to the matrix, and I hope, that in the future, I will be able to make greater contributions to the field of online teaching and learning through the expert use of social media and collaboration tools.
2013FA Education 2760 NET05:
Teaching with Social Media and Collaboration Tools
By: Laura Ortiz, December 13, 2013
Course Description:
Examination of collaborative pedagogies, tools, and theory to enhance student learning in an online environment. Learners will experience and evaluate a variety of online social networking tools, apply appropriate tools to a unit of instruction, and create an online professional learning network.
The most important things I learned this semester were how to utilize and optimize various online social networking and collaboration tools to improve my teaching, student engagement and everyone’s learning, including my own.
In addition to the tools themselves, and the experiential nature of the course, I also enjoyed reviewing the constructivist learning theory and learning more about collaboration theory. Studying these theories has provided me with many “aha” moments about my own learning, and also has provoked some creative thought in terms of how I might meet students where they are, and add flexibility to my delivery (facilitation of the course), so that they may continue moving forward regardless of their starting point. Now if I could only get Bill & Melinda Gates to provide me with a fabulous adaptive learning grant and all of the accompanying technology.
As the course description suggests, we covered a wide variety of online tools. I have divided them into three categories: 1) Powerful, Full of Potential & Immediately Applicable; 2) Love it, but I’m not sure how to use it professionally; and 3) Not a fan.
In category 1, I have Social Bookmarking & RSS (Diigo & Feedly). Social bookmarking is truly amazing. What a powerful tool for collaboration and individual research. If I had knowledge of these tools during my doctorate work, it would have been a significantly less painful process. I can confidently say that I can see practical applications for professors, students, committees, etc. It is efficient and effective, and when coupled with a RSS, you have a credible, timely information delivered to your in an organized, strategic manner. I was very proud to manage an aggregator before it aggregated me!
Google+, and its many features (docs/drive, circles, pics, hang-outs, communities, calendar, etc.), squarely falls in category 1. In my discussion board post two months ago, I concurred with Ed Garay who said, "I think that Google+ has the potential to become a comprehensive social learning environment." Ed Garay, Assistant Director for Academic Computing, University of Illinois at Chicago (posted on 02.20.12 in the comments section of the Teaching with Google+ article on Edutopia, posted 02.09.12). Based on this comment coupled with the last two from the video, What is Google+ (Google plus) and do I need it, "You see, you don't need to choose Google+. Sooner or later, you're going to end up using it.", have convinced me that Google+ is very intentionally being designed for extensive use in both education and business.
Based on the videos and readings that were assigned in this module, I could definitely see the benefits for communication, project management and collaboration, as pointed out in the Teaching with Google+ article (Edutopia, February 9, 2012). Additionally, as expressed in the video, Pay Attention, it does provide an engaging environment for our digital learners that were born A.G. (After Google), and readily recognizes the value of the three new R's, Rigor, Relevance and (meaningful) Relationships. Personally, I would anticipate incorporating many elements of Google+ into my future courses (Language Practice Community, Hangouts for group work, conversational practice with classmates, and virtual office hours, circles for collaborating and sharing ideas, thoughts and resources, etc.). It is a user-friendly, familiar, visual, powerful platform, that would enable our students to learn together in an educational and entertaining environment.
The last to make it into category 1 is LinkedIn. Although I already had a profile established prior to this course, I had a very rudimentary understanding of the uses and features. In fact, after receiving feedback from my peers and watching the Lynda.com modules, I realized that I have significant work to do. Regardless, I would suggest that LinkedIn is essential for professional development, networking and seeking employment. It is also an excellent way to gain a broader/deeper understanding of issues and opportunities within one’s field by connecting with a network of professional colleagues whose aim is also to collaborate with others on problem-solving and growth strategies. The other thing that deeply impressed me was the sheer size of the network and their simple, yet meaningful mission -- “Welcome to LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network with 250 million members in over 200 countries and territories around the globe. Mission: Our mission is simple: connect the world's professionals to make them more productive and successful. When you join LinkedIn, you get access to people, jobs, news, updates, and insights that help you be great at what you do.
In category 2, Love it, but I’m not sure how to use it professionally, we have Twitter, Tweet Deck and Blogging. Understanding Twitter and tweeting for the first time were both valuable, empowering events. I could not have been more proud of my Tweet Deck. I actually deemed it a “visual masterpiece” in my November 17th blog. However, even though we located 101+ uses of Twitter in the classroom, I would still suggest that it is best for the students to utilize Twitter for authentic input in the target language, not as an outlet for silencing blurters . . . Blogging falls in this category as well for me. Again, after the initial pang of anxiety, I was bursting with pride after posting my first blog. And then, when we learned to add legal images, well, another level of creativity kicked in. I truly understand the value of reflecting through writing. I think it is an excellent exercise for our study abroad students to maintain a blog throughout the experience; however, I am personally not compelled to write for myself, and I’m not convinced that my insights would be particularly valuable to others.
Finally, in category 3, not a fan, I have PLNs (Lucid Chart) and Wiki’s. Since this is a personal reflection, I hope that it is not misperceived. I enjoyed Lucid Chart for the creative aspect of mind-mapping -- finding images and arranging them in an aesthetically pleasing way, but I still do not understand how it would be utilized for professional development. Our class Wiki is actually quite impressive and I am appreciative of my peers’ research; however, I need information to be pushed to me or it is forgotten. I have not been on our Wiki since the last assignment which means I probably need to add 12 resources. I’d rather continue writing my reflection paper but it is time to conclude.
In conclusion, this course has been extremely beneficial to me, both personally and professionally. Although I would not consider myself an expert by any means, I am able to confidently uphold my side of a given conversation on social media and/or collaboration tools. It has also inspired me to continue learning and growing in this arena. It is almost unfathomable to me how this entire world existed without my knowledge. I am pleased to connect to the matrix, and I hope, that in the future, I will be able to make greater contributions to the field of online teaching and learning through the expert use of social media and collaboration tools.