What is Social Networking?
Social networking is defined as the grouping of individuals together into to specific groups, often like a small community or a neighborhood. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in schools or in the workplace, it is most popular online. This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions, if not more, of individuals who are looking to meet other internet users and develop friendships.
Our Article...
According to our article, more than 96% of teens use social networking tools, ages 9 to 17. Popular and yet controversial sites such as Facebook and Myspace are among the popular sites used by the students surveyed. Text messaging, instant messaging, chatting, blogging and email are also considered social networking tools among teens. Most schools have strict rules on the use of social networking tools during school hours, some school districts even prohibit it. According to the article because of the survey results, school leaders should consider changing the rules and find a way for students to use the social networking tools for educational purposes. Students are using these tools to discuss educational topics at home according to the survey. These networking tools have also been used for students to explore their creativity. According to the article, students surveyed said they have uploaded photos they have either created or taken and some have even created video. According to the article, 96% of the students surveyed are also given home work by the teacher's that require internet use. As a result of this survey school leaders should reconsider their strict policies on social networking during school hours.
What do we think?
As young adults, we have all known many people who use a social networking tool. Most of our friends have a myspace or facebook, and almost all use a chat system, such as AOL Instant Messenger or Skype. When a lot of people write on their "blogs" or post a "bulliten" they talk about school, work, and other educational things. At times, we all have even written blogs for classes. We wrote blogs about world politics and other hot topic issues in my creative writing class. I found this to be the only part of my class that I liked. I think that schools should reexamine their internet policy, like the article said, and incorporate social networking into allowed sites.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Thursday, November 1, 2007
***Virtual Classrooms***
Article: http://education.qld.gov.au/learningplace/onlinelearning/virtual-classroom.html
Summary:
Virtual classrooms offer homeschooled students the ability to continue their education from home and receive an education from someone with the knowledge and the expertise. Students can work at a pace that works for them with Virtual Classrooms. Teachers of virtual classrooms are available to answer questions and offer help on assignments. In some cases, virtual classrooms offer classes otherwise not available to students. For example, if a biology class is not offered because of the lack of a professor, a virtual classroom allows the students to study biology from their hometown.
Further Research:
Using a Virtual Classroom: What's In It for You? Learn theory & practical skills. The increased role of online education in institutions of higher learning, K-12 school districts, the armed forces, and corporations has produced a dramatic increase in the demand for skilled, high quality online educators who can design and deliver effective online education. Learn online. Delivered completely online, the comprehensive TVC program allows participants to learn online teaching skills and then practice these skills as they develop their own effective online courses. Learn from the experts. The program's core faculty, Drs. Rena Paloff and Keith Pratt, are well-known authors and consultants in online learning. Adjunct faculty includes Rita Marie Conrad, noted author of Engaging the Online Learner. Become an effective online educator. On completion of the TVC program, participants will understand the theory behind online learning, and will be well equipped to create and conduct successful, stimulating online courses. Work towards a doctoral degree. Fielding's Teaching in the Virtual Classroom certificate program is the only one of its kind to offer students the option to earn a certificate and apply units towards the university's doctoral program in Educational Leadership & Change.
A virtual classroom can be used as a tool to encourage learning outside the classroom along with being an alternative to a regular classroom. Teacher's can facilitate many activities 24 hours a day in a virtual classroom. A virtual classroom can contain many activities. Some activities might include: group or individual projects, chats, quizzes, surveys, and even homework. The virtual classroom can also be a tool to inform parents and students about their progress and what is going on in the classroom. For example, the virtual classroom could have announcements, a calendar, grade book, chapter overviews and student information such as photos, information or even a personal web page.
Thinking and Reflecting:
Our article this week address a subject that has been around forever but in a new way, home schooling. When I think of student who home school the virtual classroom does not come to mind, but with this new tool for parents to use they have the ability to still have their children at home with them when they reach a level of learning that is higher than the parents own teaching ability. They also have the ability to utilize a certified teacher which was not possible for home schooling of the past.
This article states that a common use of virtual classrooms is for students who are home-schooled. As the kids get older, the amount of knowledge the parents have on a particular subject may not be as high as they expect their high school students to be. Virtual classrooms are a good way for at-home students or distance learners to take a class at their own pace, without the assistance of their parents. If the parents do not want to 'force' their high school students to the big adjustment of a real high school, a virtual classroom would be a great way for their student to take a course that they are not prepared to teach.
Summary:
Virtual classrooms offer homeschooled students the ability to continue their education from home and receive an education from someone with the knowledge and the expertise. Students can work at a pace that works for them with Virtual Classrooms. Teachers of virtual classrooms are available to answer questions and offer help on assignments. In some cases, virtual classrooms offer classes otherwise not available to students. For example, if a biology class is not offered because of the lack of a professor, a virtual classroom allows the students to study biology from their hometown.
Further Research:
Using a Virtual Classroom: What's In It for You? Learn theory & practical skills. The increased role of online education in institutions of higher learning, K-12 school districts, the armed forces, and corporations has produced a dramatic increase in the demand for skilled, high quality online educators who can design and deliver effective online education. Learn online. Delivered completely online, the comprehensive TVC program allows participants to learn online teaching skills and then practice these skills as they develop their own effective online courses. Learn from the experts. The program's core faculty, Drs. Rena Paloff and Keith Pratt, are well-known authors and consultants in online learning. Adjunct faculty includes Rita Marie Conrad, noted author of Engaging the Online Learner. Become an effective online educator. On completion of the TVC program, participants will understand the theory behind online learning, and will be well equipped to create and conduct successful, stimulating online courses. Work towards a doctoral degree. Fielding's Teaching in the Virtual Classroom certificate program is the only one of its kind to offer students the option to earn a certificate and apply units towards the university's doctoral program in Educational Leadership & Change.
A virtual classroom can be used as a tool to encourage learning outside the classroom along with being an alternative to a regular classroom. Teacher's can facilitate many activities 24 hours a day in a virtual classroom. A virtual classroom can contain many activities. Some activities might include: group or individual projects, chats, quizzes, surveys, and even homework. The virtual classroom can also be a tool to inform parents and students about their progress and what is going on in the classroom. For example, the virtual classroom could have announcements, a calendar, grade book, chapter overviews and student information such as photos, information or even a personal web page.
Thinking and Reflecting:
Our article this week address a subject that has been around forever but in a new way, home schooling. When I think of student who home school the virtual classroom does not come to mind, but with this new tool for parents to use they have the ability to still have their children at home with them when they reach a level of learning that is higher than the parents own teaching ability. They also have the ability to utilize a certified teacher which was not possible for home schooling of the past.
This article states that a common use of virtual classrooms is for students who are home-schooled. As the kids get older, the amount of knowledge the parents have on a particular subject may not be as high as they expect their high school students to be. Virtual classrooms are a good way for at-home students or distance learners to take a class at their own pace, without the assistance of their parents. If the parents do not want to 'force' their high school students to the big adjustment of a real high school, a virtual classroom would be a great way for their student to take a course that they are not prepared to teach.
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