A tool that offers many resources for the teacher in using social media in the classroom is a site called Collaborize Classroom. This site allows students to interact with prompts from the teacher in four different ways: agree or disagree, multiple choice, post responses or vote for someone else's response. As Catlin Tucker, a high school English teacher commented, this tool gives the students a voice in the classroom. Many times the discussion is limited to a few students. By offering four different ways to respond, students now can have their opinion heard. These posts and questions can also be brought into the regular classroom for further discussion. This is one resource for the classroom teacher this tool offers.
Another valuable resource is the resource pages provided by Collaborize Classroom. These pages provide prompts already used and posted by other teachers. As the curriculum standards are similar from state to state, many of the prompts provided are relevant to many teachers. An example of this is one of the prompts posted is about “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe. This is a poem that many English teachers use. As Collaborize Classroom has already had someone post a prompt for the students to respond to, what a terrific idea to share that with other teachers. This is a valuable resource especially for novice teachers.
In addition, lesson plans can also be posted with this tool. As instructors are always looking for new ways to approach a lesson, utilizing all or part of the posted lesson plans are ideal. The lesson plans are broken down by subject area, grade level, and tags. Teachers that are utilizing this site are able to post their plans so other teachers can benefit from them as well. Collaborating through this social media network enhances the teaching process. Teachers do not get as much time to collaborate as needed. Collaborize Classroom is a terrific tool that allows teachers to do just that.
Best of all though this site is free. As with most social media tools, having direct access to these sites without a fee is important to many teachers as they already have a lot of out of pocket expenses. However, that is not why teachers would use this site. This site offers the collaboration of lesson plans and prompts for students to respond to. This tool allows teachers to collaborate with each other of similar interests in one arena. Collaborize Classroom is a tool that I believe I will use as an educator.
I think that it is tremendous just how much technology is changing the classroom. It is amazing that a majority of these sites are free! Although technology offers so many different options for improving the classroom, individuals are still resistant. It is unbelievable. It isn't just educators that are resistant to use the tools. Even parents can be opposed to technology. As a whole I would say that it is improving, but it can always be better. In terms of Collaborize classroom. I think that it is a great idea and I hope that others continue to support these forms of technology.
ReplyDeleteCollaborize Classroom seems like an innovative way to teach! I always enjoy reading your blogs because most of the stuff you blog about is related to your life. The blogs include things you may use in your classroom or ideas for other educators. Your blog is a valuable place for new educators and current educators to check for ideas. Students can be directly involved with Collaborize Classroom and that is extremely valuable. Great post and keep the educational topics coming!
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