Twitter Within The Classroom

In today’s world, more than 80% of faculty members at colleges use some form of social media. Some sites such as YouTube have been widely accepted while others like Twitter are a bit slower to catch on as a teaching tool. In the same survey just mentioned only 2% of professors said that they use the blogging site. An instructor at Northern Illinois University reports that he uses it as more bulletin board to inform students of important news rather than chatting. An associate professor states that Twitter can go beyond the boundaries of the classroom to grow knowledge by socializing as information can only be gained by passing it from one person to another.  Here are five unique and innovative ways to enhance education using Twitter.

1. Creating A Personal Brand:

An associate director and professor created a college course to teach students what systems like Twitter can do from the perspective of branding. They were required to create a personal brand then decide what type of voice and content to express to the online community. They did the same with a professional brand for an existing company. It showed how students to benefit their own lives as well as how social media can help companies brand themselves.

2. Learning To Be Concise:

Writing a long paper pertaining to a specific topic can require a great deal of research and time however creating a response to this topic in 140 characters or less as that is Twitter’s limit is also something that would require great pondering. One professor requires students in his political science classes to summarize important political texts without going over the character limit. Students had a positive response saying that it forced them to condense their thoughts and look at the overall point of a particular text.

3. Personifying Characters On Twitter

Popular series like Twilight gain popularity in culture through its internet presence on social media. Students from a literature class were each given a character from the series to personify using Twitter and turn out to be much more effective than just sitting in a classroom discussing the characters according to the teacher.

4. Teaching Executives About Social Media

The goal of a course at a particular University in California is to give students social media tools that they can use in the business world. The class teaches students how to act and in turn react in real time using social media. One of the students said the course was “nothing more than life changing” as she knows it is a game changer in how she consumes information like many others.

5. Bringing Clients To Class

For an Entrepreneurial Strategy course at DePaul University lecture notes are available on Twitter. In the class, students consult and aid entrepreneurs in an attempt to grow local business. With the notes being available to students and public it is better for students to connect and also form relationships with the business community. Clients have reached out to the instructor and may not have found the class if it were not for Twitter. A former student mentioned gave his input saying “I honestly think this class has so much more value now than if we had taken this before Twitter existed”. The class now has a voice and opportunity to gain more experience before graduation.

What other uses can you think of for twitter in schools?

US News. U.S.News & World Report, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.

Smart Boards Losing To Tablets

It would seem that devices and tools like electronic whiteboards come with a hefty cost to budgets especially when they require repair. Back in 1983, “Steve Jobs said that one day we would be carrying a small, fully functional and networked computer device around anywhere” - Keith Fowlkes. Now there is a way for people to research and develop teaching methods from home, the office, the classroom and even a plane. This technology can do a majority of what is needed for education while remaining compact like a folder. When computers became common in the classroom in the 90’s they were not very reliable and often wasted a great deal of time for students and staff. Projectors and smart boards of the day were often out of calibration causing much frustration. Going into the 2000’s they improved however their efficiency was still very much lacking and getting them to work properly absorbed significant class time. Today though, tablet computing is a reality within financial reach for many teachers and students. Staff members can now literally carry their work with them on the go. Within a touch of a button it is possible to have access to the internet, music, books and all kinds of documents. It is simple for faculty to take their tablet and hook it up to a video projector then draw, highlight, or interact with what is on the screen without needing a smart board’s aid. Users can share their screens with the instructor in real time and vice versa. This is the higher education many have been waiting for and it is likely that IT funding will shift in favor of tablets. 

They are a ways off from perfection though and the industry will have to continue to adjust and adapt to the constantly evolving world. Applications require significant processing power and there has to be cloud services which can handle it. Audio/visual editing and statistical software are just a few examples of these types of services. Apps have to be able to support the many different tablet operating systems. The downside to the devices mobility is size so some may require attachment monitors for those who have dwindling eyesight. A standardization of wireless video connectivity should be addressed too so basically we need a web conferencing service designed for classrooms with multiple tablet types. One other issue that isn’t a simple fix is file systems meaning where people’s documents and other files are stored. Google drive, skydrive, and iCloud are a few services that exist but there is no single file system allowing users to edit in multiple apps. Along with this is the security for these storage systems as hacking is a concern of many. What are your thoughts?

"InformationWeek News Connects The Business Technology Community."InformationWeek. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2014.

Using Google Apps In Education

As school systems begin to integrate tablets and smartphones into the classroom environment you need apps to use on those devices right? Well, Google provides numerous applications which may be used in the educational process. These may range from Microsoft Office to more complex programs like website creators and email/grading systems. They are free to use and come with varying levels of privacy settings from public to certain contacts. People who tend to prefer the pen and paper have even said that they are simple to use. Having such a large variety available is great for providing different components when teaching.

So, how do you use Google Apps for teaching? This depends on where you are and what methods you want to use in lessons. In general, all your documents are kept in one location making them easily accessible.  You can create folders to separate different subjects or topics. Students can type their papers up rather than always writing and then the teacher can leave a comment directly on the document once it is shared making it more convenient to work on or change. There is a calendar that can be used to keep track of important dates plus the whole school could optimize it if they so wanted to. A teacher, Rayhan El-Alami, said “Really, once you begin using Google Apps you start discovering that there are always more things to try and more room to grow.” I myself use some of these apps on a daily basis and I know I’m not the only one. It really is a great tool that has lots of room for users to get comfortable with before implementing it into curriculum.

"How To Start Using Google Apps In Education." Edudemic. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.

WI-FI Has Health Risks

I came across an interesting website that wants to reach out to the public about radiation that is emitted by wireless internet. These can cause damage to DNA, cancer and infertility. Research also shows that ADHD, autism and various other behavioral problems are linked to exposure to radiation from WI-FI. It uses a specific frequency to transmit data between the computer and modem or router. Technically, it is 2.4 GHz which is the same frequency as a microwave oven and also one of the most harmful out of all the choices.

Being so convenient, it would seem that we overlook the disadvantages. Some state that there is not enough conclusive evidence for RF radiation yet thousands of records exist on the effects going back as far as the 1920’s. Since the levels are below FCC regulations, people believe they are safe but these standards are set high as it is being based off of thermal effects which is how much radiation it would take your body to start cooking. Take a look at this letter:

It has been estimated that between 5 and 10% of the population currently suffers from EHS or electro-hypersensitivity syndrome that appears to be growing and at the current rate, 50% of the population will be affected by 2017. This is all based off of what I discovered and I have included a link below to the website as there are lots of videos and documents that may be of interest. I use WI-FI everyday and up until now I had no idea about these studies. What are your thoughts on what you’ve seen and/or read?

Link: WI-FI in Schools

" WiFi in Schools."  WiFi in Schools. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.

Could Tablets Replace Textbooks?

For grades K-12, publishing is a $8 billion business while tablets are a $72 billion industry. They are becoming more common as 42% of adults own a tablet right now. This has caused an increasing debate over whether schools should stick with printable textbooks or switch over to digital ones on tablets.

Supporters of the movement say that tablets are much lighter than traditional textbooks and are preferred by most students plus teachers. They also state that using this technology helps to increase test scores. Each device could store hundreds of textbooks which would help the environment by decreasing the amount of printing done. According to these people, using them would increase student creativity and interaction. It should also be noted that digital textbooks cost less than print ones do. The number of students with access to WI-FI is nearly 100% so there should be a low likelihood for excuses of not being able to get internet because it is so common nowadays.

Now for those on the other side who are not so fond of the idea there are reasons for that. They disagree with the others saying that tablets are expensive and not cheap. Also, it is stated that these devices would be too distracting for students which I agree with to an extent as the individual must learn control with possible privileges like this. It is said that the devices can break easily and that is true for the most part but that is why the school could purchase cases to protect the tablets. If they did break though, the cost of fixing them would be fairly significant. Some mention how their use leads to headaches, eye strain and blurred vision but I guess that would somewhat depend on screen time.

In my opinion, I think that schools should at least begin to collaborate digital textbooks into the learning environment and could use it as a test trial before making it more widespread. Would you rather use a tablet or printed textbook in the classroom?

"Tablets vs. Textbooks - ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2014.

Cons in the Classroom

Having the ability to use a smartphone at school is great and its likely going to be integrated into the education system no matter what but there are some possible dangers. Some think that it is too early to be bringing this technology into the classroom. While it can be used as a tool to gather information, there are other aspects that aren't easy to control such as texting or tweeting. Now it is possible to work around some of these areas by configuring the network to block access to certain sites and setting strict policies. However, these methods can only be effective to a certain extent. There is also no evidence to prove that technology makes students get higher grades like many advocates try to push.

People should realize too that making wireless technology a part of the curriculum is different than just letting students bring in whatever devices they would like. A study back in 2008 with laptops showed that those who used them were multitasking and scored lower than those who didn't use a laptop because they were more focused with less distractions. Students favor using mobile devices or having power point presentations rather than normal lectures in class though this preference has no real change on marks received. It has been stated that technology can not replace skillful teachers who keep students from being distracted and focus their attention on staying engaged.
Would you be able to remain focused if you could use your phone in school?

"Smartphones Do Not Benefit Classroom Learning." Smartphones. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Don't Give Students More Tools of Mass Distraction." Maclean's (28 Sept. 2010).Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.

Benefits to the Classroom Environment

A professor at the University of Maryland believes that within just five years every student K-12 will have a mobile device for learning. According to him, mobile phones are the preferred tool for today's generation and to learn 21st century skills it is important to have 21st century technology. The kids bring their devices with them and are very capable of bringing those skills that they've learned outside of school into the classroom. These phones are also fairly affordable compared to other devices.

They are used to the small screen size making them more comfortable working with that technology. Having a smaller device allows for simple portability which triumphs over everything else. It is key to have mobility so being able to have instant access while on the go is huge in today's world. Mobile devices let students do almost anything that they could do on a laptop. Cell phones are considered a game changer and would allow for basically all the time learning. Smartphones are constantly advancing so who knows what they could be like in a year or two. Perhaps being able to project the
screen onto another surface is in the near future.

Would you use a mobile device in the classroom if you haven't already?

Soloway, Elliot. "Smartphones Will Benefit Classroom Learning." Smartphones. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Will Smart Phones Eliminate the Digital Divide?" THE Journal (1 Feb. 2011).Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.