Social Media for Social Change

During 10 sessions of Global New Media Lab organised by PH international, I learned a lot of things that I even could not think about before. These session showed me how to use all the advantages of social media in ordinary life, not just for fun, but for very useful things.

Here I would like to share with all of your a brief description that can help you to understand the usefulness of social platforms and networks:)

Blogger

It is one of the best ways to share your thoughts with the whole world and find people who have the same ideas as your to collaborate and work on something great together, spread your ideas worldwide. Many people are in the Internet and if you have creative and original thoughts on your blog you will attract a lot of people - all you need to know is how to use it properly.

Twitter

Twitter is not only one of the most popular tools used worldwide. If you use it wisely it is a great platform to collaborate, find people and specific topics that you are interested in, start a conversation on a any theme. Besides, you can share all your thoughts with the whole world.

Youtube

It is obvious that Youtube is one of the most powering platforms in the world for sharing and watching videoclips. You can also share your opinion using comments. It can be a great tool for advertasing or sharing ideas because good quality videos is a great way to make an impact on people and express them with your thoughts.

Facebook

Facebook is definitely SUPER-MEGA-POPULAR social network known worldwide - it has more than 1 billion users (!). We can use this advantage of Facebook to find as many as possible people to share our thoughts using Facebook Organisation Pages.

Instagram

This session was, probably, the most unexpected for me. I always thought that it was just a silly app for sharing photos of your food with friends! However, GNML open for me the whole box of advantages of Instagram that can make my campaign more succesful. Pictures can say a lot. It is a great way to impact on people. People who follow you will look at your pictures and listen to your ideas spreading your throughts.

LinkedIn

Using this professional online network you can collaborate with the other people who can become your partners or sponsors and help you with your campaign. Connection is a very important quality nowadays and LinkedIn let us to make connections worldwide!

GNML sessions have completely changed my mind about spending my time online, using social networks and about the whole Internet system generally. It was a very interesting experience for me that I am sure will helpme a lot in near future (and helps me right now, too, by the way:)))

Learning how to use the social tools properly can help you with your lack of time, find your like-minded persons and completely change the way you used to look at your life before.

Go, go, go, GNML!!!

P.S. Teachers need training

As more students grow up as digital natives, there is a greater need for high schools to adapt to technology changes. In a recent study by Dell, which surveyed 1,575 high school and college students, teachers, and parents in the United States, China, and Germany, 9 in 10 respondents said technology helps students' abilities to learn. But 82 percent across the globe also noted that technology needs to play a bigger role in classrooms.

While all three nations universally agree on the importance of technology in schools, China trumps the United States and Germany when it comes to using it in the classroom. According to the study, 53 percent of Chinese students reported that devices are integrated throughout their curriculum, compared with only 29 percent of U.S. students and 27 percent of German students.

Chinese students also stated that they spend more time on computers or mobile devices during school hours, with 57 percent noting that they spend one or two hours engaged in technology—compared with 34 percent of U.S. students who said they spend the same amount of time each day.

One reason for the discrepancy in the United States may be the lack of technology training some teachers receive, notes Caleb Clark, director of the educational technology program at Marlboro College Graduate School.

"The big picture is that teachers aren't trained well enough in how to integrate technology effectively into their classroom," Clark notes. "Most teachers would say they get thrown technology without having people there to train them."

Read more: here

How can the students learn with technology if the teachers do not know how to work with it? Our way to the better future is not technology but technology-trained teachers who would take all the benefits from it for our next generations.

 Question: BUT HOW TO REALIZE THIS PROJECT?

Answer: Teach a teacher - help our next generations!

Microsoft helps both students and teachers

BARCELONA, Spain, March 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday opened its annual Microsoft in Education Global Forum by emphasizing the importance of student privacy and reaffirming its commitment to helping ensure that student data is never mined for advertising and marketing purposes. The opening keynote speech, which took place in front of an audience of 1,100, including innovative educators, school leaders and government officials from nearly 100 countries, also saw Microsoft highlight its end-to-end, best-in-class solutions with student success and career and college readiness at the forefront.

"Privacy concerns are holding educators back from making the most of modern technology and preparing students to succeed in today's workplace. At the same time, many solutions being used in the classroom are unintentionally putting student data at risk," said Anthony Salcito, vice president, Worldwide Education, Microsoft. "The private sector has a responsibility to give educators the tools and resources that inspire real learning and have a real impact, while ensuring privacy isn't a barrier to bringing new and innovative technologies into the classroom. This is why Microsoft is committed to taking every measure it can to ensure student information remains safe around the world. We will not, under any circumstance, mine students' data."

Microsoft technology is used in 98 percent of schools worldwide. The company's end-to-end education solutions take the risk out of deploying the latest technologies and solve educators' most pressing challenges across the following key areas:

• Safer, more private search. Bing for Schools ensures students don't see search ads when using Bing and also enhances their privacy by preventing the use of data to create ad profiles ”” all with no compromise on the exceptional search experience delivered. No other major search engine can make the same promise.
• Management. Windows Intune is a cloud service that allows school IT administrators to manage Windows, Windows Phone, Android and iOS devices connected to their network over the Web, eliminating the need to own each device or to use onsite servers.
• Technology training. The Microsoft IT Academy provides industry-leading technology skills to more than 8.5 million teachers and students in 130 countries to help bridge the technology skills gap. In addition, Microsoft has helped educators around the world successfully incorporate technology into the classroom to enhance the learning experience for their students through programs such as Teaching With Technology.
• Device choice. Microsoft works with its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners to bring better choice and quality and more affordable devices powered by Microsoft software and services to market for educators and students around the world.
• YouthSpark Initiative. Microsoft's focus on privacy in education is part of its overall commitment to empowering youth through opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.
• Professional development. Microsoft offers resources to train teachers on new technology, including the Partners in Learning Network that reaches nearly 1 million educators worldwide and includes online professional development, how-to tutorials, andlearning activities created by teachers for teachers.

Learn more about it: read here

Do YOU want to join Microsoft and train teachers? JOIN US

Teach a teacher - help Miscrosoft!!!

7 ways to use twitter lists in the classroom

Twitter is not only one of the most powerful platforms in the world. It also can be a very useful tool for the classroom. One of the twitters opportunities - ability to make lists - can be really helpful and today we will talk about it. There are some advantages that twitter lists can give you.

1.Use Twitter Lists to engage with people and topics of interest.

Ask students to “set up Twitter lists following feeds relevant to their career goals and to keep a daily journal on any trends that crop up along the way.” A step further would be to have them reach out and ask an expert a question.

2.Participate in KQED’s weekly Twitter activity

 Students are encouraged to read about an issue or watch a video on KQED’s website, and then respond using a specified hashtag. By learning about a current topic and responding to it publicly, students have an opportunity to practice civic engagement and learn valuable digital citizenship skills simultaneously.

3.Create a chat between multiple classrooms at school.

 Carrie Kamm reported on the TeachingChannel blog how teachers in Chicago Public Schools are using Twitter creatively. One teacher reported that her elementary school students used hashtags to carry on a multi-classroom and multi-grade level conversation. “We had a great [chat] going this year between our first and fourth graders: both have hermit crabs in their classrooms and they discussed the behaviors they observed!”

4.Host a live chat during a significant news event.

“I have hosted live tweet discussions during significant events with my students,” writes high school teacher Kyle M. in our Twitter field notes. “The state of the union addresses and presidential debates were great opportunities for students to engage in a dialogue with each other about what they were hearing/watching on the TV.” Kyle goes on to explain that for students who are accustomed to using Twitter socially (about 26 percent of teens) that using it in an academic way requires an adjustment.

5. Have students write for their peers. 

Reaching out to other students beyond classroom walls is exactly what over 50 classrooms are doing in New Zealand through@KidsEdChatNz. Every Wednesday from 2 to 3 p.m., elementary school kids respond to questions using their classroom’s account and a specific hashtag. Sometimes using TweetDeck, they then watch as other students’ responses pop up in real time, responding and collaborating about interesting topics.

6. Use Twitter as an opportunity for critical thinking and analysis.

 This infographic from TeachThought includes some novel ideas for Twitter-based activities. For example, ask students to “identify five ways tone can be conveyed in a Tweet” or to “analyze a popular tweet for bias.” Ask them what they think sponsored Tweets are for? Have they ever been misled by a tweet? Why do rumors spread so fast on Twitter? Encouraging analysis of tweets turns students into educated users and spurs critical thinking about social issues along the way.

7. Use Twitter to write a Short Story Think 140 characters are too few for creative writing? 

Think again. “There is also a very specific activity I like to do with Twitter [called] ‘Twisters,’ which are short (very short) stories that are written in 140 characters or less,” writes Silas B. in a Field Note on Graphite. Silas shows students a few examples like @Arjunbasu, @Veryshortstory, and @Gumballfiction, and then encourages them to try their hands at writing their own. “It's a great way to get students to think about what they DON'T need.” 

Source: Here

Twitter is a very popular tool in the world, however, the shortness of its messages does not mean we can not use it as an educational tool. Integrating the platform, that is used by many students in their usual life, can make the process of teaching easier and the process of studying more enjoyable. All we need is to learn how to use it properly.

Students do know.

Lets teach a teacher!!!

Will classroom technology help English Language learners?

Many states have already adopted Common core, the push for more tech-centered classrooms. Now the district are buying new devices and increase their internet conductibility in order to begin the related computer based assignments. Pilar Carmina Gonzalez is a researcher for the Education Development Center. A leading expert on children and technology and a former ESL teacher, she says technology will open new avenues of learning for English language Learners (ELL students). She spoke with NAM’s Irene Florez. Lets take a look at their conversation...

What are some of the challenges facing ELL students when it comes to developing literacy?

A lot of ELLs struggle with literacy in general. They lack the vocabulary and the background knowledge. They might have the conversational English but maybe they can’t read academic English. So, if they can’t read informational texts, then they are missing out on learning.

Is there a best way to teach ELLs? Are teachers using these?

Many teachers are not trained to teach ELLs. There are strategies like providing visual and audio support to provide scaffolding. For example, pictures and text together can help them access the text. Aside from having an ESL teacher for an hour or two a day, many students might not be in a school equipped for them throughout the day.

How can technology help?

Technology has a lot of opportunities for teaching ELLs. For example sound and visuals can help ELLs access text and understand it better. If you are listening and reading at the same time, using multiple modalities, you can learn a language better. And hypertext can be helpful. They can click on a word that they don’t understand and see a definition, or a translation, an image or a video that illustrates the meaning to bridge the vocabulary hurdles. [Also], games and simulations can help. Instead of relying only on text, to explain a concept like photosynthesis they can learn about the concept in context.

What makes a software or program great? How can parents be sure their kids are using the best tools?

Unfortunately there is not enough research on the best bets. Most of the research is on how technology can help. Digital media can make it easier for teachers to access resources. For example they can look up something easily. They have information at their fingertips—information that has visuals, sound and music. They don’t have to spend hours after work learning how to help their students. But, there are applications that are labeled educational that are often [just] drills of discrete skills instead of helping kids explore and create and use higher learning skills. Some good resources include the PBS Learning Media, the Library of Congress and the HERB American Social History Project.

Is there an ideal Internet speed for learning? Or type of device?

It depends on the context. Often, tech devices are treated as a magic bullet, but that’s not what’s important, it’s how they are used. Are teachers and students engaging deeply with technology? Reading an e-book versus a book will not have that much impact. But, using a computer creatively helps—students aren’t just passive consumers, they are creating content. That requires more training and is often one expense that isn’t budgeted. Also, many schools may have broadband in name, but it’s often too slow to stream video and the school itself may be wired for Internet, but not in every classroom.

What can you tell us about tablets?

What’s good is that they are cheaper than laptops so you can give them to more students and reach the 1-1 student-computer ratio. They are more cost effective. They are very portable—you can make videos with them. Also, they are tactile and more intuitive for young children. On the other end, they usually don’t have keyboards, they are less powerful and it’s harder to multitask. So if you have students do an involved multimedia project, then it’s hard. Then the tablets are more limiting.

Should parents be concerned about the growing collection of data on their children?

Data can be useful when doing individual assessments. If you are assessing a young child 1-1, for example, you might have the data on a tablet as you check things off while you work with the student. It can be efficient. The problem is that now there’s too much data and it loses its usefulness because teachers are overwhelmed. They don’t know what to do with all the data and it’s not presented in a good format for them. You might be wasting teaching time on assessments because you’re not tailoring your curriculum with assessment data. In addition to too much time spent on assessments at the expense of teaching, there’s the issue of data security and privacy. Student IDs and birthdates may be put at risk.

Source: Click Here

...So, as we see, there are some relly good strategies on using technology in the classroom, however, the lack of well-trained teachers who can work with innovations is very small. 

But YOU can help them!

Teach a teacher - teach yourself!

Adora Svitak: Lessons in Technology for Teachers from a Teen.

It is never too late to learn.

A proverb

How to help teachers with technology? Is it possible for just a usual teenager to make big changes? Today I would like to talk about it.

Adora Svitak is a teenage prodigy, narrator of Tech Teachers Tech (TTT), video series about technology and resources to help teachers to engage students in global issues. She believes that 21st century generation, who has been raised in new, technological environment can share their knowledge with older people as well as adults teach us. She participates in conferences and shares her knowledge all over the world. One of her keynote addresses took place at "The New Kid(s) on the Block: Youth Digital Culture and Implications for Student Voice in Education" conference at the University of San Diego.

A full article: http://www.aplatformforgood.org/blog/entry/its-time-for-teens-to-school-the-teachers

Adora is an excellent example of a teen teacher. She has a goal and does her best to achieve it. She proved to the whole world that even a teenager can help and share his knowledge with adults. So, who says that it is impossible? 

In our case, it is never too early to teach.

About teaching, teachers and technology.

Technology will never replace teachers. However, teachers who know how to use technology effectively to help their students to connect and to collaborate together online will replace those who don’t.

Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach

21st century education. What is it and how to deal with it?

Time flies. Our world changes too fast. Technology completely transformed our regular life. Most of our time we spend with technology sometimes even without noticing it. Students are not an exception. It is hard to imagine modern teenagers without technology. They use it everywhere:  listening to music, texting, playing games, reading books, taking pictures, sharing their ideas with the whole world. It is important to understand that modern teens are familiar with technology since their childhood. It is impossible to change, because they grow up with technology. Technology, technology, technology... Students use all their free time on it. After school they surround themselves by inventions of 21st century. Stop! And what about schools? What about education? How often do teachers use technology? And do they really need to use it? 

I am an exchange student from Russia. At the moment I am in the USA. American high school is a part of my experience. Honestly speaking, I never before thought about this problem. However, one of the first things that just literally changed my mind was using technology during education process. Nevertheless, it is not the most important things. I noticed how using technology in the classroom has changed educational process. It has changed teachers, students and relationships between them. Before I had a doubt about using technology but now, when I see how it works, I can understand how important it is.

Why is it so important? (for students)

I guess, every student is familiar with the situation when all you want to do during the lessons is to sleep. I am not talking about a lack of tight healthy sleep nowadays. I am talking about boring lessons. Yes, boring lessons. Why schools limit your using of technology? Why they do not want to integrate new and interesting things in educational process? Why they do not want to change? Ha, and they still ask us why we hate schools! Imagine, how cool would it be to use super-light e-books instead of these heavy gigantic textbooks. How wonderful would it be really enjoy lessons. Honestly speaking, as a student I like studying at home by my own more than at school. I can use Youtube and Wikipedia and many different educational tools. However, it is really difficult to study without a teacher. School is a place for studying so why we can not study the way we like and enjoy? I am sure, that students will want to participate if only teachers will create a comfortable for learning atmosphere. So, why not?

Why is it important? (for teachers)

The problem is that teachers can not realize that lessons are boring. They did not see technology in use when they were students. They just use experience of their ancestors to teach. I am talking about old methods of teaching and old methods of learning. I do not want to say that "old school" is something bad and useless. Just this time is different. Student are different. These changes happens too fast for teachers who are not really familiar with "miracles of 21st century". They even can not imagine how fun and easy it is. Think, how technology can help teachers? Teacher's life will become simpler and enjoyable. They can make students love their lessons (it is the thing all the teachers are dreaming of, isn't it?). What about students with bad attitude and low attention? They will participate because it is interesting. It is very important to never loose the interest. They will do their homework because they will do the things they like. But what about the quality of education? Technology in classrooms will help to improve necessary for 21st century skills. Skills that everybody needs in modern life.

Nevertheless, some teachers still try to avoid technology saying that it is useless and harmful waste of time. Why teachers are so afraid of technology? It might be strange but it is not teachers fault. So, who we need to blame?

Digital illiteracy, what it is and how to deal with it?

To understand what "digital illiteracy" means we need to understand what "digital literacy" is. Actually, we can discuss this topic for years. In brief, this is an ability to interact with any kind of technology (if you are interested in more information you can click here). 

Here is the problem. In my city (in Russia) schools spend a lot of money on computers, SMARTboards, projectors and all that stuff. However, our lessons are still very-very-very boring. Yes, our teachers do not use chalkboards anymore. They use super-expensive and super-modern SMARTboards! That is the difference. The only difference, though. We just use SMARTboard instead of chalkboard. We just write with interactive colored pens. That is all. Of course, first time it was cool to try something new. However, almost nothing has changed. So, why to buy such expensive tools if we even do not use it properly? Teachers always say to our class: "Do not come so close to the SMARTboard. You can break anything!" Honestly speaking, we are very upset because teachers do not allow us to play with the new interactive boards :'( Stop! Interactive! Hmm, let me think. But who interact with it? SMARTboard in our class is just a part of cool and fancy interior. Why?

Here is another example. Teachers are surrounded by technology in their life, too. However, they do not notice that. Sometimes out teachers are required to make report, presentations, projects using technology. By the way, that is an example of integration technology in our life and using 21st century skills. Teachers in my school often ask students how to solve some problems with computers, how to find some information, even how to find a "+" sign or how to add a new page and that stuff. I will repeat. Teachers... ask students. Ask students. That is where the shoe pinches!

My campaign or How students can help teachers?

Now, when we know the truth we can start to blame teachers that they do not know anything about technology.

My response is STOP IT! 

Just think, who taught teachers to interact with tech?

Nobody. Nobody taught them how to type, to print, to create, to text, to... do many things!

However, the main question is not who taught but who can teach?

Who can help teachers at school time and be next to them?

Who is the most tech experienced?

Who are born tech teachers?

YOUTH

My friend said: "To teach a technology native students, you need to come up with technology native teachers".

That is why I decided to create a TECH EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR TEACHERS, to show them all the possible advantages of the technology. The purpose of my campaign, as you already understand, is to make a small step for better future IN MY HOME COMMUNITY. However, do not forget that small changes always cause big changes. Do not forget that everything is in your hands. Do not forget that together we are much stronger than we can imagine. We can make our world easier. We can make our world better. We can make people happier.

TIME TO CHANGE...

TEACH A TEACHER!