This short presentation talks about social media, what is it about, why is it relevant for education and how could social media contribute to better education.
How 2 B a Disruptive technology leader - Sociality in Media
1. Web 2.0: Sociality in Media Michael W. van Wetering CTO Kennisnet Foundation Washington DC, February 28th 2010 Email [email_address] BLOG http://mikes.typepad.com/fortytwo
Session Title: How 2 B a Disruptive Technology Leader Date: Sunday, February 28 th - 1:30pm - 4:00pm Moderator/Session Coordinator: Michael Porter, CTO - Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District, Traverse City, MI / [email_address] Panel: Bill, Todd & Michael
Why do we talk about Social Media nowadays? (our path from tribes to weak ties & network sociality) In the ‘old days’ everyone that mattered was within walking distance Growth led to leaders of groups, we still had direct communication Mobility led to distance and mediated communication: enter social media! Social Network/Media: ‘ Rediscovery’ of old friends (from school, local town, studies abroad, …) Alternative meeting space for ‘real’ friends (i.e. twitter for day-2-day vs. dinner and a good conversation every few weeks)
Social Media are just a new way to continue the conversation! Social Media enable conversation accross time and space, how does that apply to education? Both in School, at Home and in between?
Continuing the schoolyard conversation! Kids use social networks to stay in touch with their peergroup outside school THE Dutch social network is HYVES (9 million members out of 16.5 million inhabitants!)
Are we ready for cooperation in virtual teams using online services? In 2008 Ryerson University in Toronto / Canada tried to expel Chris Avenir This decision was overruled when he appealed This approach would earn him compliments at work. His university tries to expel him! What wrong with this picture? (Example from: "No Educator Left Behind“, by Mark Federman for ‘Big Ideas’ at tvo.com)
A constructive/positive approach to Social Media in Education Social Media very popular with kids, especially within their own peergroep At the moment schools ban these apps, seen as a disturbance This cannot last, how to build upon the phenomenon?
A model of opinions on Social Media in School (btw, your not supposed to be able to read this picture ;-) Student interview showed that School is a place to learn stuff to get a good job School <does not equal> FUN Meeting other students, constructing personal identity Mental distinction: School & Peergroep respect that! Take an constructive/positive approach to Social Media in Education, because Social Media very popular with kids, especially within their own peergroep At the moment schools ban these apps, seen as a disturbance This cannot last, how to build upon the phenomenon?
Don’t overestimate the digital natives Students ICT literate? Skindeep (fast at the keyboard), but no real understanding or sophisticated use Teachers think students know it all… and feel inadequate Risk: no education in ‘real’ use of internet applications Online cooperation using web 2.0 tools Combining multiple sources, filtering information Tragic mutual misunderstanding : Students (think they) allready know everything Teachers (think they) don’t know anything about (new) media But they know a lot about group processes But they know a lot about filtering information & combining sources
A (succesfull) community is formed around ‘A social Object’ (i.e. a kid with a football in the park is never alone…) What is the shared interest, problem, challange, etc. Teachers seem unwilling to share, but really fear criticism of their peers Trusted environment among peers will stimulate open discussion and exchange of materials