Blog #1 Developing a Connected Learning Model
After reading the second chapter in the connected educator the wheels in my head began to turn. This chapter was filled with information on staying connected and also developing a connection with a learning model. During the beginning the author seems to mention that teacher's will learn and go to workshops to better their classrooms and while it is a good lesson and all is well, after they go back to the classes to test these strategies they never seem to be practiced. Most of these newer theories that are being taught for teachers to use, rarely get used.
Also another thing that is happening in schools is that teachers are losing traditional connections with the parents and the community because of the mass media. As a future educator I would take advantage of using the mass media as an example of a connected educator. I believe you can send out good messages and make good connections with the families and communities instead of them being the first to create new ones.
A great example of this is in my town to be exact. I live in a small town called Browns Mills and a lot of people from the town tend to refer to Facebook when the slightest thing goes wrong especially when it comes to the schools and their children. Now I believe if the school had a better connection and the parents also tried to play a more positive and active roll with the teachers even if it was across the internet would be beneficial. As an educator in this type of situation I would have established or tried to with all parents in the beginning of the year and offered additional ways of staying connected to better be aware of their child's education.
In the example in the book it shows a diagram of a typical teacher and also a connected teacher. The typical teacher is more old fashion and won't accept room for change to become a connected teacher. The connected teacher diagram shows a huge amount of arrows flying around a circle that interlocks with one another. This teacher is working its hardest to stay connected with its community and take on all task while using newer technology to stay connected.
There are still many ways you can connect as a teacher to parents, families, and the community. Some ways can be face to face still as a traditional and more normal connection. Another way can be global network. Using the internet to spread the world about things going on to everyone. One last way that they mentioned was just being in the community. Being an active member can go a long way and show how much your connection really means. As a future educator I believe I will try to exercise all of these into my ways of teaching and also my students lives to create a bigger impact on them and my teaching practice.
This chapter showed great amounts of ways to be an active part in your classroom, community, and also to your students and parents. As a future educator I will be sure to make it a point to stay in contact heavily with all of these parts as I start my future. Especially I hope to start on a note as good as this using these tools of connecting.
Also another thing that is happening in schools is that teachers are losing traditional connections with the parents and the community because of the mass media. As a future educator I would take advantage of using the mass media as an example of a connected educator. I believe you can send out good messages and make good connections with the families and communities instead of them being the first to create new ones.
A great example of this is in my town to be exact. I live in a small town called Browns Mills and a lot of people from the town tend to refer to Facebook when the slightest thing goes wrong especially when it comes to the schools and their children. Now I believe if the school had a better connection and the parents also tried to play a more positive and active roll with the teachers even if it was across the internet would be beneficial. As an educator in this type of situation I would have established or tried to with all parents in the beginning of the year and offered additional ways of staying connected to better be aware of their child's education.
There are still many ways you can connect as a teacher to parents, families, and the community. Some ways can be face to face still as a traditional and more normal connection. Another way can be global network. Using the internet to spread the world about things going on to everyone. One last way that they mentioned was just being in the community. Being an active member can go a long way and show how much your connection really means. As a future educator I believe I will try to exercise all of these into my ways of teaching and also my students lives to create a bigger impact on them and my teaching practice.
This chapter showed great amounts of ways to be an active part in your classroom, community, and also to your students and parents. As a future educator I will be sure to make it a point to stay in contact heavily with all of these parts as I start my future. Especially I hope to start on a note as good as this using these tools of connecting.
Jordyn, you mentioned using mass media as a method of cultivating a greater relationship among teachers and families of students. I think this is a wonderful use of what we have studied and becoming a connected educator. The ideology of a "connected educator" almost embodies utilizing social media as a platform to connect teachers to students and their loved ones. Well done!
ReplyDeleteJordyn,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when parents take to social media instead of going to teachers. Nowadays there is a disconnect when it comes to connecting with the communities and families. I think both parents and the teachers should come together and connect about their kids and not trying to make the problem go viral.
-Sarah
Jordyn-
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you say that parents tend to resort to social media whenever there is an issue with their child at school. However, I disagree with your reasoning behind it. You said that if the school had a better connection to the families, than this would not happen as often. I believe that parents complaining on social media is more about having a support system and having other parents take their side, rather than a disconnect between the school and parents.