Forum 3- EDUC 638

by iTeachWorldWide

 

The six elements mentioned by Sheninger truly has potential to help evoke change professionally within a school or institution of higher learning.

Connectedness Matters is the first of the six elements.  This element has a vast punch of potential within this element.  It provides an amazing platform for networking using social media and other heavily used connectedness platforms.  Organizations that are getting on board with a more integrated use of technology to enlarger it stakeholders and network of learning will tap into a newly sought after renewable resource of sorts.

This plays into your Vision and the second element of the six.  “The seeds for change will only germinate if a coherent vision is established.” (Sheninger, 2014)  If all stakeholders and individuals involved in the daily operation of the organization are not invested and knowledgeable of the why and how the change will be implemented, change can not be effectively made.   This leads in the third element Value.

Value in this sense is connected to the value placed on the importance of the integration, use, and overall effectiveness of technology.  The value can be strengthen professionally within an organization by emphasizing and outlining how it can be used to support learning and continue to make moments of learning meaningful for students.  Then all parties can invest in the idea which will increase the value of its use.

This leads to Support, our fourth element.  Support is always a strong factor when trying to create change within an organization.  In schools this is no different.  Here, teachers and administrators need to feel supported in the learning and implementation of the use of technology, especially new software and programming.  The highly regarded value that its users hold on the use of technology will play into how “user-friendly” it will be and how support people using it feels.  The key to this support can be utilized within the fifth element, Professional Development.

Professional Development can help to increase user ease and knowledge while implementing a heavy change of any kind.  Using technology can be difficult at times especially when it is being used to teach and target learning.  There is a level of pressure associated with using the technology properly.  Training staff and students to use it properly or just helping them stay abreast on its use will help staff and students keep a high regard for its use and truly help secure the change implementation with the last element, Embracement.

Embracement is the final element found to be critical in driving change.    Motivating staff to embrace technology as oppose to securing buy-in is the key.  (Sheninger, 2014)

 

Sheninger, E. (2014). Digial Leadership; Changing Paradiams for Changing Times . Thousand Oaks, California : Corwin.

 

 

 

 

 

Blog Forum 2

by iTeachWorldWide
Hi,  my name is Derrick Hearn and we are discussing Fullen’s six secrets of change
and potential roadblocks that may come when faced with change.  When I think
about my the institution I work at, which is an elementary school ,go Bobcats, I actually think about my principal.  She really really really possesses Fullen’s number-one secret of the 6 secretes to change and it is the love of your employees.  This is actually something that is not always the case. Surprisingly some principals and employers don’t always show that a mobility, that connectivity with their employees or just anyone in the building but, my principal just strives hard to do that but furthermore the quote that I
took from this passage really stood out to me.  I can see this this present in
my workplace the quote states that, “the key is enabling staff to learn
continuously while giving them a certain amount of autonomy to take a risk and be
innovative.”  (Sheninger, 2014).  My principle is continuously doing this.  She always gives us risk to take and allows us to take those risk while educating our students.  When it comes towards the end of the year particularly, you will always hear her say, “change the schedule how you need I give you their flexibility.” We can literally
teach each other’s classes we can do a whole group for the entire fourth grade
level for course.  If we were reviewing on something or whatever we need to do, we can do.  Even this year she’s even mentioned allowing us to go to other schools and
see how they are teaching certain concepts just to get ideas into
brainstorm. That kind of flexibility and freedom as an educator is extremely,
extremely important. It’s just knowing that we have freedom to branch out and
do all that we need to do to reach our students that is so imperative.
Yes you will come to roadblocks with change, as mentioned in the book but,  I believe just being positive and optimistic will always keep us there and ultimately these six
secrets will help promote change within our school.  Thanks!

Sheninger, E. (2014). Digital Leadership; Changing Paradigms for Changing Times. Thousand Oaks : Corwin.

 

Social Media and Education Blog #3

by iTeachWorldWide

Today, almost every students is seemingly born onto a social media platform.  Many students have never seen the world with out social media.  After reviewing the article, “How We Use and Are Used by Social Media in Education“, I agree with so much concerning this generation and social media, specifically in terms of its us in school.  Today, I have not used social media exactly in the classroom yet, variations of it that fit.  For example, YouTube is not the typical social media platform that comes to mind when someone says, “social media” however, it is a social media platform for music.  I use this in many different veins through the day.  From using music to set the mood in the room or to watch educational videos, it is used heavily.  I could see a version of Facebook or Instagram being used in a less public manner within the classroom.  Particularly, with secondary students.  Having a conversational and functional online platform like Facebook could really engage students.

Many of the social medias used in schools are usually google, or YouTube.  Many times, typically Facebook or Instagram usage is not used too often with class.  However, sometimes teachers have used Twitter to connect in various ways to engage students as well.

Concerns with these technologies are partly what I mentioned earlier. Most concerns parents and even students have with the use of social media in education is the privacy you have when using some social media tools.  Safety is the number one concern with accessing social media and different social media platforms. Once safety concerns are eschewed, there are not many other heavy concerns associated with social media in the classroom.  One last thing may be the appropriate use of the social media platform.  Our students using it for the intended purpose of class or our they simply surfing through the site.

I believe churches have tapped into the use of social media to engage their congregations more and more.  I think this is a smart and relevant for the times.  I have been able to access my church services and announcements all from Facebook.  This is something that has changed the church across the world.  Any service can be made accessible to share the good news of Jesus.  This is something no one should question.  Social media definitely can have negative aspects and some major cons however, it has been doing just as much good, if not more.

 

The Nature of Technology and its Evolution in Years to Come.

by iTeachWorldWide

Today technology is ever evolution for our future has the ability to change our classrooms and the way we learn entirely.  According to Merriam Webster technology is defined as, ” 1 a : the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area : engineering 2 medical technology b : a capability given by the practical application of knowledge 

2: a manner of accomplishing a task especially using technical processes, methods, or knowledge 

  • new technologies for information storage
3: the specialized aspects of a particular field of endeavor 

  • educational technology”  

Technology in short is the application of knowledge of something new to help improve life.  Educationally, this looks like key trends focusing on areas such as, “STEAM, measuring learning, redesigning the classroom…”, just to name a few.  (Freeman et al., 2017 p. 9).  Where as there venture are amazing, there are some barriers that have potential to prevent integration.

One major barrier in most K-12 schools is the effective use of technology integration.  According the the Horizon, Technology and digital tools have become ubiquitous, but they can be ineffective or dangerous when they are not integrated into the learning
process in meaningful ways. Both higher education and the contemporary workforce
call for digital savants who can seamlessly work with different media and new technologies as they emerge.  (Freeman et al., 2017 p. 13)  As technology advances and educational technology is increase, some veteran teachers may have difficulties trying to use and implement new technology into the classroom.  A common practice seen inside of school districts is the hiring of people with vast experience and expertise to manage these areas to ensure the proper use of any integrated technologies.  This will affect a-lot of teachers in classrooms today.  There will have to be an influx of professional developments and training to create effective use for all teachers.

 

References

Freeman, A., Becker, S. A., Cummins, M., & Davis, A. (2017). The NMC/CoSN Horizon Report: 2017 K-12 Edition(Rep.). Austin, TX: The New Media Consortium. Retrieved September 8, 2018 from The New Media Consortium website: https://cdn.nmc.org/media/2017-nmc-cosn-horizon-report-k12-EN.pdf

 

Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved September 13, 2018, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technology