Tag Archives: snapchat

Educational software is changing for us, and us for it.

18 Tuesday Oct 2016

Posted by in ECI 833

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Snapchat-Based Reflection

Educational Software & Media
Snapchat – Not a conventional educational app – but in terms of responsible use of media and digital citizenship.

Perception vs reality and impacts on education:
Perception – it is a distraction in school OR it is an amazing way to connect with friends and others. Life is more disconnected than ever: Prince Ea: Can we auto-correct humanity
Reality – it IS a distraction BUT it is an incredible opportunity to enhance connectedness between students. I would argue students are better connected now than ever – we can share and observe others lives together. (Connect to Distance Ed) later.

Proponents, opponents, and adopters of these technologies:
If you’re against it, you do not enjoy the distraction of it in classes.
If you adopt it, you’re using it to connect with students.

Effects positive and negative on teaching and learning:
Positive – warm and energetic atmosphere.
Negative – can decrease engagement if not patrolled.

Pedagogical advantages and disadvantages:
Advantage – it keeps us fresh on what is a large part of many of our children’s development.

Disadvantage – it can be a vehicle for abuse, harassment, and as previously mentioned a distraction.

Conclusion
Education is always key – rather than fear and taking things away because we aren’t familiar or can’t control them… educate yourself and others on its use so that you can help them use it responsibly. I’ve observed the use of Kahoot and it seems positive, while the energy that is created as a result may have some short-term management implications a distraction, like Snapchat… and it may not meet the needs of ALL learners – it engages many of them.

Tell me you aren’t feeling more connected to me because of the adorable kittens.

Reflecting on educational software and media in general

Educational software is constantly evolving so as assessment and teaching practices change and become more inclusive of all learners, so too will the educational media to accommodate the demands of educators.

However.

Snapchat is NOT a conventional educational media/software. But it is a form of media that requires education. And the learning inherent within the roots of Snapchat (connecting with others over distances) has positive implications. When we look at the opportunities presented by distance education, the term “disruptive change” rears its head, almost as terrifying as “transformational change”. While sounding negative, disruptive change can be an encouraging as it may disrupt the normal constraints of the four-walled classroom. Personally, I get an opportunity to offer a course through distance education in our division next school year and this presents a lot of challenges and potential. This extends to many educational technologies, but most importantly, in my eyes, is that it poses opportunities for learning that are not limited to classroom walls.

That being said, there are inherent values imposed by new apps that are created, like Snapchat: “why do you need to take pictures of everything you do”? Once again: opportunity. Chance at critical thinking when engaging in online media. A favourite sarcastic quote in my classroom is: “the internet said so, so it must be true”. Which is an encouraging comment… but we see the two-headed dragon of this being that fact (peer-reviewed articles) can be misinterpreted as potentially inaccurate and that only your interpretation and beliefs of the content are much more plausible. It’s okay to synthesize an opinion from various forms of content, but what happens when what is most likely right is taken with too much doubt or discounted as not credible because other sources aren’t?

Educational software and will continue to evolve to meet our needs. As professionals it is paramount we stay up to speed on new means to meet the needs of new learners: changing ourselves to better utilize programs which continue to evolve alongside our evolving educational selves.

Agree or disagree?

Comment.

Logan Petlak


When your teacher Snapchats in class.

24 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by in ECI 831

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Hi all! This week I decided to delve into Snapchat life. It may not be as entertaining as Ben Rosen’s, but feedback is welcome. I did, however, address monotony of everyday life with the title… (self-five). Anyway, I already am a user of Snapchat, but I soon learned I was very much a novice. By the way, if you want to follow me and connect with me on Snapchat, give me an add using my username: lodgelopel below! I just swiped down from the top of the middle of the main screen on the app.

Screenshot_2016-02-23-19-59-23

So! I increased my Snapchat skillset! Awesome! Very much helped in building positive relationships and connectedness in the classroom! Observe My Snapchat Story of the day below (note that you can download your own stories if you’d like, which I have done and uploaded).

Note: we have a media release waiver that these students did, in fact, have completed.

The discussion that followed after making these snaps was following people you are interested in on Snapchat – one kid cited that they posted inspirational quotes or speeches that were awesome to read in the morning. When we talk about a personal learning network, this can be part of it. I think what we don’t always have a curriculum for is the social skills and emotional development that comes through (and should come through) this.

I think it’s important to stay up to date on these social media sites as it “keeps us young” as teachers. Most importantly, it helps us connect with students. In a more defensive sense, it helps to better understand what we’re up against or should be prepared for. When I first began teaching… I was in Snapchats made by students, unknowingly. Once I installed Snapchat, I better understood it, subsequently starring in the occasional Snapchat, mostly when it wasn’t in conflict with direct teaching time. I laughed, the students laughed. Connections!

But hold on one paper-marking moment!

It’s important to note the teacher-student line of “we are not friends”… but we can be connected, professionally, of course. Some people may have different lines of this. To my students: when you’re graduated, maybe we can be friends, it’s nothing personal. You have a life you may not want to share with me, perhaps there are things I don’t want to share with you… we need boundaries and expectations. What are your boundaries and expectations?

Privacy.

Privacy is important. When a student wants to show me a picture, I always tell them I will look away until they are ready for me to look as they search through their gallery. Sometimes they have photos on their phones that they may not want me to see… there’s some digital learning to respect of privacy (both ways) within this. Some things are a given, respectfully private, but where is the line? Is an 100% private life outside of school required both ways or should we avoid activities that may not be worth sharing all together? What have we got to hide?

I remember fellow teachers who might use Snapchat with their friends (or Facebook before), documenting all their shenanigans and if those events came up in interview processes or were exposed, people would be upset that this privacy was compromised… however, I think if we live life wholly as a teacher (inside school and out) it leaves us less susceptible to this issue especially when considering how connected our world is. Or come to terms with practices we do outside of school time and not be ashamed. Potentially, people could see everything we do. Rather than the idea, “only post what you would want your grandmother to see”, try to “live the life your grandmother would want you to see”. Not to say I am not guilty of some things that I wouldn’t want to document or show, but in terms of growth and being aware of what we might be showing, this may be a fundamental part of personal development.

Questions, comments, concerns? Perhaps I am too liberal in my connections with students, let me know!

– Logan Petlak