Teacher Blogs
for class managment
for professional development
for educational resources
focus on technology
Student/Classroom Blogs
Nings for teacher development
- English Companion from Jim Burke
- AP English from Dawn Hogue
- Ning in Education from Steve Hargadon
- Literacy Lighthouse from Lisa Huff
- Blogs Nings and Social Networking from Dawn Hogue
More Resources
What is a teachers' lounge?
Myth: a place where teachers hang out to gossip about students
Truth: (at least my truth) a place where teachers go probably only once a day, if they're smart, to connect with their co-workers and to eat lunch in record time (there is NO lounging!)Qualities of an ideal teachers' lounge to promote professional growth:
- social
- welcoming
- diverse
- challenging
- encouraging
- limitless resources
Social networking gives each of us access to all of the above!
What does Social Networking Mean?
- Any use of the www to connect with a group of like minded people to share knowledge and experiences can be considered social networking.
- Not just facebook or MySpace (there are thousands of sites for any number of purposes; just Google "Social Networking" and you'll find them).
- Video on simple social networking from Common Craft:
"See who your friends know and who your friends' friends know."Tools:
- blogs (when used for conversation through comments, for sharing links, for uploading and sharing pictures, files, videos, etc.)
- wikis can link a common group for a common purpose (see more on Wikis)
- nings, actual SN tools (similar to facebook, MySpace)
Why is Social Networking important to teachers?
Teaching is an isolated profession. Most teachers work alone in their classrooms and connect with their colleagues only at lunch, at meetings, or at inservice sessions.
There is a need for teachers to get together to
- Express common needs and problems
- Discuss pedagogy:
- Why am I teaching what I'm teaching?
- What's the best way to teach today's students?
- How can I get better at what I love?
- Gain a diverse point of view
- Teachers who become entrenched in their own professional community may be hindered by a lack of diversity.
- Where are the new ideas coming from in your school?
Value of reading and commenting on blogs
- Blogging teachers have much to share with the broader teaching community. I can learn from their expertise.
- Bloggers list links of blogs they read which lead me to more diverse voices
- Teacher bloggers are models for what I might do
Value of being a member of a ning community
- I can connect with and learn from others who share my interests and needs
- I have access to the resources others share
- I can upload files, videos, make links, write a blog
- My view becomes more diverse, more global
Social Networking Means Teachers Teaching Teachers!
Value for students?
What do you think? How can what you've heard and thought about today be of value to your students? How might students benefit from blogging?
On your yellow exit slip, please jot down some ideas, share them with those around you, and if time allows, share with all of us. Then, and on your way out, drop them in the box. I'll post some of your thoughts in the Ning.
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Please visit Blogs Nings and Social Networking, a Ning just for you! |