{"id":1187,"date":"2021-05-05T05:51:21","date_gmt":"2021-05-05T12:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci565\/?p=1187"},"modified":"2021-05-04T14:55:33","modified_gmt":"2021-05-04T21:55:33","slug":"social-media-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edtechuvic.ca\/edci565\/social-media-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

Social media can be a powerful platform for facilitating interaction, learning, and engagement. When designing edci335, one of the initial decisions involved selecting a social backchannel that could work for everyone. Knowing we had learners joining from all over the world, it had to be one accessible in most areas and not cost-prohibitive. We’ve used Slack previously as it was a platform we were using professionally for planning, it allows for file transfers, group and private messaging. Other edtech courses at UVic are switching to Mattermost<\/a> as it is open-source and self-hosted.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Within a single class, we can find learners and instructors on several social platforms, engaging in a\u00a0 variety of conversations. We recognize that different platforms hold various merits and limitations. Many instructors in edci courses use Twitter, Instagram, and other media to share different aspects of our lives, engage in global conversations, and learn from people we wouldn\u2019t have access to without interacting in these networks.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Using Social media is obviously a personal decision, and not one to be made lightly. There are countless concerns to be addressed in each platform, from privacy and tracking considerations, to ownership of what you create. For example, I know that the use of GSuite for Education (Google Apps) in my school district means that every document, course material, slide deck, or questionnaire that I create is owned by my district. Knowing what rights you sign away when using technology for learning is essential, especially for informing your learners about potential risks. <\/span><\/p>\n

Why Use Social Media in Learning?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Inviting the world into your learning environment, and encouraging your learners to think globally and report out to the world extends the interactivity, communication, and connection beyond your initial design. If your learners are engaged in inquiry requiring them to access materials beyond your design, it will involve developing network literacies in order to navigate the volume of information available. The expert your learner needs may not be in the room in which they are learning. <\/span>Badke (2009) states: <\/span><\/p>\n

The ability to work well with information – to define a problem, understand the nature of the information available, use the best tools well to find the information needed and then enlist the information effectively and ethically to address the problem at hand – may well be the most important skill of the 21st century.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Creating content or sharing learning on social media provides the opportunity for learners to engage with an authentic audience for their studies. Reaching out to artists, athletes, and other voices provides perspectives and conversations that extend beyond the confines of the learning environment. There are many examples of excellence in collaborative global projects shared online with the intentional goal of shrinking distance and connecting learners. One such example is the <\/span>Global Read Aloud – One Book to Connect the World<\/span><\/a> organized by <\/span>Pernille Ripp<\/span><\/a> which has grown over the last decade to connect over one million kids annually. These projects strengthen network literacies and communication skills, while creating the sense of global community.<\/span><\/p>\n

Social media plays a crucial role in social justice. The eyes of the world continue to be on the Black Lives Matter hashtag. Every day more voices are demanding change and action. Rallies and protests are continuing around the globe as people everywhere unite in taking action against oppression and racism. Social media tells the stories as history unfolds, without the wait for an \u201cevening edition\u201d or editor approval.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Teen girls organized Nashville\u2019s largest protest. They\u2019d never met before. https:\/\/t.co\/9tAMT5j4HI<\/a><\/p>\n

— Larry Ferlazzo (@Larryferlazzo) June 9, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n