Twitter and TweetDeck

It's no secret that technology is radically changing the way education takes place. This is something that teachers, students, and school leaders need to acknowledge as they begin the school year.

One way for school leaders to hit the ground running is to utilize Twitter. In using Twitter, school leaders can share details about upcoming campus-wide events, tweet about school activities, or even share accomplishments of those in the community. Twitter can also be used as an approach for staying up to date with pertinent technology and information that influences the school setting.

One way to remain current while using Twitter is to take advantage of an application called TweetDeck. TweetDeck allows a user to view multiple timelines while viewing one screen. Additionally, one can schedule future tweets, build tweet collections, and even manage more than one Twitter account while using the application. This could be useful to school leaders that manage personal accounts, school accounts, and classroom accounts.

To create an account with TweetDeck simply login to your Twitter account and then proceed to the TweetDeck website. Creating an account is simple and free. Another positive aspect of TweetDeck is the fact that it is a tool that is ran by Twitter. This ensures privacy and security as one uses the application.

I personally enjoy using TweetDeck so much since it allows me to organize my timeline into manageable columns. When first opening a TweetDeck account the application automatically creates columns for your timeline, interactions, activity, and messages. These are all visible on the same screen and one can either add or delete columns from this list.

As someone with a Type A personality I love being able to create lists of specific accounts, mark tweets as read, and even follow specific keywords. Here is a detailed explanation on creating lists, however, I found the task to be self-explanatory.

Above I have included a photo of my own TweetDeck account. You can see that I have created columns for the #edtech hashtag, the #blendedlearning hashtag, the #growthmindset hashtag, and the #21stedchat hashtag. I follow these specific hashtags because I find them interesting and I like being able to access all of them at one time. This makes it easier for me to stay up-to-date on topics that I find engaging.

Terry Heick states, "In technology today's visionary expert is tomorrow's stubborn and outmoded idiot. Don't be afraid to grow". In order to refrain from being obsolete, school leaders need to continually grow and enhance their professional learning community. This is the only way in which school leaders may remain effective. Twitter chats can assist school leaders in growing and remaining relevant.

A Twitter chat is a public conversation on Twitter that is based on a hashtag. The conversation occurs at a set time in which a host often asks or moderates questions while discussion is encouraged. One can simply follow this hashtag as people discuss, ask questions, and generate knowledge based on the particular hashtag or they can actively participate. Here is a step-by-step guide to participating and understanding a Twitter chat.

Below I have created an infographic with useful Twitter chats and hashtags that school leaders would benefit from viewing. Each of the items listed would help school leaders grow professionally and, in turn, show that using TweetDeck to follow Twitter chats is an effective practice. Although there are numerous ways for school leaders to use Twitter, I believe personal development is one of the most crucial.

References

[Picture of twitter] Retrieved from http://www.educationdive.com/user_media/cache/b8/ca/b8ca068104b14717db389a36baafd5ad.jpg

Twitter as Professional Development Tool

I have personally been using Twitter since March of 2012, however it was around 2014 that I realized what a useful tool this is for professional development.

Let me explain. You see, when using Twitter one simply signs up for an account and then "follows" people using the "Follow" button. It is a simple process and when you decide to follow someone, whatever they tweet (post) or retweet will show up in your feed.

People are then able to follow you and see whatever you decide to tweet or retweet. I have my account set on private, meaning in order for people to follow me they must have my permission. Note that this does not prevent me from following other people. As you can see from this picture, I currently have 14 pending requests to follow me!

The only bad thing about my account being on private is that it makes it more difficult to communicate with people if they do not follow me. Despite this, I personally like this private setting as it keeps the number of those that see my information smaller.

But how does this all tie into professional development? Twitter is actually a great resource for connecting with other educators. It also gives you the opportunity to not only see what they are doing in their own classrooms, but also ask other people for their opinion or advice on anything.

You can ask someone for their opinion by directly tweeting at them, or even direct messaging them if they follow you. If you want to communicate with multiple people, you even have the ability to use a hashtag.

Hashtags are keywords that have this, #, symbol in front of them. They are clickable and take you to other people that have communicated using that same hashtag. Here is an article that shows you multiple educational hashtags. The article even explains in more depth how to use them.

I am interested and often follow the #edtech hashtag because I really enjoy seeing how other educators incorporate technology in their classrooms. It is also a great way to find out about new and upcoming technology and specific applications that might be relevant to my future students.

If you are just now setting up a Twitter account as an educator, I strongly recommend you "follow" edutopia. Without a doubt, they are my favorite account to follow as they have a lot of current and pertinent information when it comes to eduction.

From this picture you can see that I often "retweet" edutopia. I do this in order to be able to go back to the information or articles that they have shared. I also want other people that follow me to see this information. This allows even more people to see whatever information I am retweeting. A lot of the time, people gain followers after being retweeted.

If you don't want to retweet the information to your followers you can also simply "heart" the tweet which will save it to your likes. This is also a great way to keep track of articles or tweets that you have enjoyed.

I also follow teachers sharing information from their individual classrooms! This is another great way to get ideas and see how activities have worked for them. Catherine Reed is one individual that is a 1st grade teacher that I enjoy following.

Twitter isn't something that only educators can use! I strongly believe it can be used in the classroom as well. With younger students, perhaps you can simply show them how the program works and have a class Twitter account to share what they have been working on. This could be something that you share with parents and follow other classrooms across the nation.

For older students, there are many, many ways to implement the tool. I love this visual that incorporates Bloom's Taxonomy when using Twitter. I would love to use some of these ideas in the future and get students excited about what they are learning.

I personally love using Twitter as a professional development tool. But don't just take my word for it! Here is an article by the National Education Association talking about how tweeting can help your classroom.


References
[Picture of twitter user] retrieved from https://twitter.com/_MeganArnold

[Picture of retweet] retrieved from https://twitter.com/_MeganArnold

[Picture of blooms] retrieved from https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/22-ways-to-use-twitter-for-learning-based-on-blooms-taxonomy

Counting Bills and Coins

One functional task that many students struggle understanding is counting bills and coins. For adults, specific bills and coins have automatic meaning but for younger children this meaning is extremely abstract.

Counting Bills and Coins is an application that can be used on an iPad to teach students how to count with bills and coins.

The application does this up to a $20 amount and it allows the student to make change, make other amounts, see the values, or simply count money.

The application is extremely user friendly, free, and quick to download.

Something else that is great about this application is the fact that it comes with three different levels. These levels allow the application to become more challenging for students when it is appropriate. This great feature also allows you to use the application with students of different ages.

Here is another review on this same application. We both found the application useful, however, that it was lacking creativity. Meaning there are no exciting graphics or music to go along with the application.

One recommendation I would have to the makers of this application would be to enhance the overall design of the application. Although it is not necessarily the most exciting topic, some brighter colors and more exciting graphics could take it a long way.

On the other hand, for students who learn better when given the information in a straight-forward manner and have sensory issues, this application is perfect!

As a special education teacher I could see myself teaching a lesson about money, having students review with this specific iPad application, and then having a hands-on lesson in which students pretend they are checking something out from a grocery store.

I believe that using this application in combination with other lessons would make it most likely for students to succeed. It is also great for students to be able to review whether they are at school or at home. This constant review would help students keep the quantities of these objects fresh in their minds.

Resources
[Untitled photo of twins] Retrieved from https://blog.bankfive.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/teach-kids-about-money.jpg
[Untitled photo of girl with bank] Retrieved from http://www.mathgametime.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/coins1.jpg

Using Phonics Island

Phonics Island is an engaging iPad application that helps students learn to appropriately trace their letters and learn their sounds. The application does this as it has the student trace a letter as they progress through a game in which they are on an island with the guidance of a monkey.

Students will want to continue playing the game because there is a surprise for them at the end! The application is so engaging because it is colorful, has music, and speaks to the the student throughout the activity.

Phonics Island is extremely child-friendly and students in a kindergarten class could easily use it on their own. I would suggest for students use it by themselves but it is possible for students to take turns while playing it.

I personally got the free version of the game, however there is also a Phonics Island that you can buy. The free version is still great and worth the download. On top of tracing, the free version also includes a feature where students identity letters with the sounds that match them.

Teachers are able to decide whether students are using uppercase or lowercase letters. I wish that the application would allow you to use both uppercase and lowercase letters combined throughout the game, but this is not available in the free version.

Despite this, the application is excellent! In my future classroom I believe that this application would be great to allow students to practice tracing their letters when they are finished with their work or if they ever have free time.

I love the fact that when using this application students use many of their senses. They see the letters and animal it corresponds to, they hear the letter sound as they trace it, and they get to actually do something with the app because they are in charge of tracing the letter. If they do not trace the letter correctly they have to do it again until they get it right!

When a student has to retrace a letter nothing discouraging occurs. Rather the music simply continues, along with the letter sound. As a result of nothing bad occurring, students will not get discouraged and want to give the game up.

This is great for those students that usually rush on with their work and leave it sloppy. Getting in the habit of tracing the letters slowly and correctly on the game will allow them to transfer this neatness when they are writing on a piece of paper!

As a result of the application speaking to the students, it also helps students identify what sounds go with what letters and words. This is an essential part of the Common Core Standards: ELA-Literacy.RFK.2: Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds.

Exposing students to this way of tracing letters and these sounds that play along with them, they will be better prepared to sound out a word they do not recognize in the future. Here is an interesting article on the benefit and importance of tracing letters.

Given these points, I would without a doubt use this application in my future classroom. I think that the use of multiple senses while using an application is great and the knowledge Phonics Island provides students is wonderful. On top of this, the application is something that I believe students will enjoy a great deal and actually want to play.

References

Student using iPad. (n.d.) Retrieved February 23, 2016. http://media.148apps.com/screenshots/467337049/us-iphone-5-kindergarten-phonics-island-adventure-learn-to-read-montessori-games-with-puzzle-animal-train-for-kids-hooked-on-reading-by-abby-monkey.jpeg

Phonics Island.(n.d.) Retrieved February 23, 2016.
https://lh6.ggpht.com/JlHhsNoLRI58o7M2T3xQ5o3GKMgGuFVBxSxoM2gxg30eOtpmPge4v2lxuVc7Yaef20A=h900

The letter p. (n.d.) Retrieved February 23, 2016. http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple/v4/6b/fa/bb/6bfabb82-b4fc-9956-aeef-fa7fe58a462b/screen568x568.jpeg

Using Socrative in the Classroom

Socrative is an iPad application that provides an engaging way in which one can determine if students understood a lesson. In order to use the application, teachers should use the Teacher Edition, while students should obviously use the Student Edition. In order to use the Teacher Edition, one must sign up for it. The process is not difficult and only takes about a minute or two. To use the student edition signing up is not necessary. 

The fact that there are two different editions for this app makes it a little bit confusing. One could also complain that creating short quizzes like this constantly is too time-consuming. However, I believe that the immediate feedback is important and worth the time. Socrative allows for formative assessment whether it be in the form of a multiple choice quiz, ticket out the door, a quick question, or even space race.

Assessing student's learning is a crucial part of being a teacher. Simply teaching students a concept does not mean that they understand it. Assessment allows the teacher to either move to a new concept, or approach the concept that had just been covered in a different manner. Essentially, assessment should drive instruction. 

Socrative allows this to occur in a manner in which students enjoy. Assessment does not need to be something that is stressful. Socrative allows the assessment to be laid-back yet at the same time, provide useful feedback from students to the teacher. 

A teacher could use Socrative in their classroom a number of different ways. 

The multiple choice quiz that Socrative provides could simply be used at the end of a class to see if the students understood the lesson that they had just received. However, a multiple choice quiz could also be used at the start of a class to see if students had done their homework, or even to assess if students remembered what they had learned last class.

Socrative's ticket out the door is not simply one question. Rather it allows the teacher to ask students three questions: 

1. How said student felt about the lesson.
2. What they actually learned from the lesson.
3. A response to a specific question that the teacher asks the class as a whole.

This variety allows students to display their knowledge from the class. It also encourages students to pay attention in class in order to be able to answer these questions when class is over. A teacher could use Socrative's ticket out the door as a method to encourage students to remain engaged and assess whether or not they understood important concepts.

Socratives' quick question is just that: a quick question. Creating a quick question allows teacher flexibility in how they can use it. Whether it be for extra credit, or simply to confirm students are paying attention, there are many ways in which one could use this tool from Socrative in the classroom. 

Finally, the space race function of Socrative is most likely the most popular tool with students. Space Race divides students into teams and as they answer questions, their rocket moves across the board. The first team to answer all questions correctly then reaches the finish line first. Nicole Chubb describes here how popular the space race is amongst her students. She goes into more detail about how the game works and how to set it up. 

Overall, Socrative is extremely user-friendly. However, a user's guide can be found here. I personally found the most difficult part of using Socrative was figuring out how to end a quiz. However, after a quick Google search I found this helpful page.

I would definitely use Socrative in my future classroom. Bradley Lands is another teacher that uses Socrative in his own classroom and only has positive statements about the app.

References
Socrative banner. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2016, from https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/sbstel/files/2014/12/Soc2-Banner.png

Socrative space race. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2016, from http://blogs.nvcc.edu/fsrc/files/2015/07/socrativespace-race.jpeg

Student reading. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2016, from http://educationsc.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/10/Student-Reading-Assess.jpg

Social Media in the Classroom Today

Social Media Design

     Social Media is growing rapidly everyday and it is important to realize that the children of tomorrow will be growing up with it. There are many positive aspects of Social Media. Here is an article from CNN listing some of them: Positives of Social Media

     I personally went to a small school from Kindergarden until 12th grade located in San Diego, California. My school, La Jolla Country Day School, has an extremely specific and strict guideline in regards to it's Social Media Policy.

     Although teachers are allowed to have Facebook and similar profiles, it is against the school's guidelines for said teacher to accept "Friend Requests" from students until they are alumni and over the age of 21. On these personal profiles, teachers may not post information regarding the school's students, development plans, policies, inventions, strategies, finances, personnel, products, or services without the school's permission and approval.

     The use of social media on these personal profiles must comply at all times with the School's policies against unlawful harassment and discrimination. Consistent with these polices, teachers should not participate in communications in a manner that unlawfully harass or discriminate against another person based on that individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal or local law.

     The School's logo, letterhead, name, or any other of its intellectual property when communicating through social media without the express permission and approval of the School. It is crucial for said teacher to remain aware at all times that postings, communications, and other content transmitted on social media sites are not private.

     Given advances in technology, opinions, comments, or content will remain public, and will be archived, stored, and retrievable, indefinitely. Said teacher should consider how any communications might be perceived or what might happen if a posting or statement becomes known by third parties or is more widely shared or distributed than what they initially intended.

     The teacher should also consider how it may reflect on the person or the School or its students. Students may only be emailed by teachers through the school's email systems and teachers may under no circumstances use their personal email address to contact a student. All School-related social media groups (such as clubs and teams) must be sponsored and monitored by a current School employee.

The following content may not be posted on any form of Social Media:
- Profanity
- Non-constructive derogatory comments
- Sexually explicit language or images that are not related to coursework
- Anything that is illegal, harassing, harmful to reputation, hateful, racist, or otherwise objectionable, including without limitation comments regarding fraud, academic dishonesty, or other unethical behavior by a student or teachers
- Personal information, including phone numbers and email addresses of others

     Although there are many rules that a teacher must follow on Social Media, I find the tool to be extremely useful. Below is a fun video that shows how it can specifically be used in the first grade classroom!

Here is a link for other ideas on using Social Media, specifically in the classroom:
Other Teaching Blogs




References

Social media design. (n.d) Retrieved from http://shannonoyler.com/tag/social-media-icons-with-pinterest/

La jolla country day school. Retrieved from http://ljcds.org