I have used Skype extensively in both classes and for personal use. Skype is extremely popular among deployed servicemen and women because of the video chat capability. I have used Skype as a synchronous technology for two Liberty online classes. If you only have to communicate with one other person via Skype there are really no connectivity issues. The last class I took, we tried to synch three of us total and the connectivity was degraded. It was tough to collaborate and accomplish assigned tasks because of the loss of connection with a group member. Skype for educational purposes is great because you are able to visually communicate with a partner. The connectivity is the only concern with Skype as a synchronous technology. Skype partnered with Facebook to enable users to video chat through Facebook. This added bonus on Facebook reaches out to a broader audience which provides even more flexibility for students to use the synchronous video chat capability.
Blogs are another solid social networking resource that can be tailored to fit an educational purpose. Blogs provide a forum where students can respond to a posed question and exchange ideas/opinions. In a lot of ways – Blogs are similar to discussion board forums. Teachers can use blogs as an educational site, where they post informal content on a specific lesson that students can access and read on their own time. As seen through our current course – You Tube videos is another social networking technology that can be used for educational purposes. Teachers and students can post videos about a specific topic and view them for content.
I also have used Skype for educational purposes and liked using it when it worked correctly. I too have experienced problems with connectivity when more than two people were on at the same time. If those issues could be fixed, it would be my favorite means of communicating over long distances. I also enjoy blogs. I like having the ability to read my classmates professional points of view and integrating those thoughts into my own philosophy of education. I have gotten so many good ideas from my classmates and have actually tried a few of them this school year.
ReplyDeleteAs a student, I really like our blogs, too. I appreciate reading others' ideas and perspectives. They increase my knowledge and expand my professional idea base. I have used Skype on a limited basis, so I have really not experienced issues with connectivity. I have also been able to communicate with classmates on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as a teacher, I am not a big fan of students and teachers in the K - 12 grades using social networking sites such as Facebook. I have seen too many teachers crossing the line with students. If students would use Facebook to collaborate on school work, rather than stir up drama, it could be a great tool for learning.
I agree that Skype, blogs, and Facebook can be valuable tools for education. Using blogs has been a great part of this class for me as well and I can definitely see what the benefit could be for my students when I implement this. I feel that Facebook could also be a great idea but I am a little concerned about how to monitor this process when using it. I guess it is just like anything and everything will have negative parts that have to be considered.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, congratulations to your Chargers today on their victory over my Dolphins. I think it is going to be a long season for us. As far as social networking goes, I have seen it used in the classroom very effectively by myself and also by my wife who is also a teacher. She teaches Drivers Education and has her students find articles about driving and traffic safety and has them post them to a blog where they are also required to read the articles that others post and comment on them. I took the idea and used it for my business classes to show business articles and also for other reasons. Sometimes I post thoughts on there and then the students comment on my thoughts and then are required to comment on each others replies.
ReplyDeleteDerrick Kirby
With all the recent updates to Facebook with security options and enhanced user settings, many of the concerns educators have with connecting with students in Facebook may be diminishing. I think that the more control Facebook users have over who consumes your personal (or profession) content, the more a user can feel more open to connect with a wider group of acquaintances and friends. However, I still do not believe Facebook has made personal settings and security settings user-friendly enough to just start adding all your students as friends.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Plus seems to have spurred many of Facebooks latest changes. Google Plus allows you to create “circles” of friends/acquaintances. The circle concept makes the most sense to me when I look at a circle as being like an entirely new Facebook profile. I can add who I want in each circle, and then share content/information to each circle as I see fit. This seems much easier to me than Facebook as of the date of this post.
Only time will tell which system may be most appropriate for education, but they are both valuable tools for engaging and connecting with students if properly implemented.