Is Big Brother Watching?

I recently had the most interesting conversation with one of the technology support gurus for my school district. He told me that he does not nor will he ever have an iAnything, Twitter, blog, wiki, Facebook or Google account. He urged me to quickly shut down my accounts as "big brother is watching."  For a moment I thought I was talking to Will Smith in Enemy of the State. 

When did we become so paranoid about social networking?  As an educator, I adore the ease in which the aforementioned sites allow me to communicate with others.  As an educator I love for Big Brother to watch me use:

• Twitter to stay abreast of educational trends by following leaders in the field.
• Blogs/Wikis to provide an open forum about issues in my content area for colleagues, students and parents.
• Facebook to communicate with students and parents as well as provide a relaxed forum to educate my charges about upcoming events within my curriculum.
• Google to utilize gDocs to show students that you do not have to buy the overpriced Microsoft Office suite to prepare a PowerPoint.  Or use Google+ for communication, project management and collaboration.  Please see the previous post for more on Google+.
• My Smartphone to detail how apps can improve the value of their educational experience. Or how to do a quick Google search when all of the computers in the library are in use.

Please watch me, Big Brother, as I make strides in education the right way without putting my job in jeopardy yet maintaining strong relationships with my childhood friends. 

If you're not sure where to begin, tweet me as I'm happy to help.  Until then, continue to make strides and don't be afraid of Big Brother.  The more we use these tools, the more secondary schools will allow their use on campus. 

Happy Social Networking!

Tweets for Teachers

Educators, do you have a Twitter account?  If not, what are you waiting for? If you think Twitter is only for the Kardashians and Ashton Kutchers of the world, you're wrong.  Twitter is a useful tool for everyone to share ideas, links and news.

For eductors, Twitter can be used:

• to reate a Q&A feed for students.  This is especially beneficial to keep a running record of tips the night before a big exam.
• as a form of communication between teachers and parents.
• a live Tweet session for extra credit
• upload photos and links that will increase engagement in your content area and boost the self-esteem of your students.
• You'll find additional tips here.

One of the greatest tools for teachers are Twitter feeds for advice.  There are numerous experts in the education field who research educational trends and the only thing you have to do is follow their feed. You will find countless list of super educators online but the following link breaks up feeds by subject area.



Another valuable Twitter tool are hastags.  A hastag is simply "a convenient way of tagging and organizing ideas simply by sticking a number sign in front of any word. In Twitter, hash tags automatically become links to the entire stream of Tweets that share the same #hashtag." Source 

There are in infinite number of hastags and starting with A-Z Dictionary of Educational Twitter Hashtags is a lovely place to find exactly what you're looking for.

As you can see, Twitter goes beyond Beyonce's unborn child @BeyonceJayFetus ("I AM… Baby Fierce").  Twitter is a fantastic opportunity to reach out to students, parents and colleagues. 

Please follow me on Twitter @HolisticTechie should you have any questions about this or other posts on TTWIT.

READER RESPONSE: Please list your Twitter handle in the comments section. 

Google+: The Educational Game Changer

For the past few years educators have sought a way to utilize social networking to communicate and collaborate with other teachers, parents and students.  From Twitter to Facebook teachers have created streams to alert parents of upcoming assignments, Q&A pages and be available for students long after the school doors have closed.

The problem with most social networking sites is they are blocked by most K-12 institutions.  Attempting to keep Tweets current is next to impossible when sending them from home.  Security and privacy issues have run amuck with teachers ‘friending’ students on Facebook.  In fact, teachers have lost their job for placing school administratively deemed inappropriate photos on their wall. My school district has mandated that educators follow certain guidelines for teachers to adhere to when students or their parents attempt to become our social network friend. Some people may call this extreme but I view said guidelines as a form of protection for all involved.

With Google+ these issues are a thing of the past while adding a new spin on how to foster excitement in and out of the classroom.

• The use of circles makes it simple for teachers to separate their personal and professional lives.
• Collaboration is easily fostered with the use of circles.  Check out this idea from the folks at Stanford.
• Form a Hangout with office hours to answer questions from parents and students.
• Share ideas with teachers
• Engage introverted students
• Unlike Twitter, conversation streams are archived should discussions need to be accessed months later.

The future of Google+ in education remains to be seen.  This tool can be amazing if K-12 institutions do not block the service.  Additionally, teachers need to be trained on how to effectively utilize Google+ with stakeholders.  According to Ashley May, a teacher in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) and my former employer, “(HISD) even purchased Google Apps accounts for the kids last year.”  When the nation’s larger school districts start something, others will follow.  Jump on Google+ by viewing the video below and start building your circles today.