Michelle,
I could not agree with you more! We never quite evaluate the effectiveness of a tool before we change it. I call it the shiny effect! The new always catches our eye, whether it works (or not) remains a mystery!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Michelle,
We need to make sure that they can exist in the different media without damaging their ability to be a professional. The Internet memory is long . . . .
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Steve,
Maybe this teaches them the art of communicating professionally (and I meant the word art). Great points!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Steve,
What a great post. Would you look at vocabulary in the discipline. I think that would be interesting.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Thank you Dr. Wilkinson! Unfortunately, I have seen these and many other tools used in online classes that are truly there so they are “different.†Sometimes too much technology can have the opposite effect. I feel any “tools†we use in the classroom should be there to enhance learning. If it is causing more harm than good it should be removed. Again, that is just my opinion.
I absolutely agree Steve! It can be difficult for many students to “unlearn†how they have utilized social media in the past and use it in a more professional capacity.
Michelle - "They need to understand that using these tools is not going to be the same as posting a status update on Facebook or Twitter" This is what I worry about in using social media as part of the classroom. Students bring a history of using those sites to the class and now we will ask them to use them differently than they (and we) likely do in our social lives.
Dr. Wilkinson,
It is hard to imagine without actually evaluating work, but I can imagine student interactions on sites could be evaluated for: Knowledge (information brought to posts), Comprehension (exhibits deep understanding of subject matter), Application (applying tools of the field to solve problems), Analysis (objective and sometimes subjective analysis of results, Synthesis( bringing knowledge from various disciplines to bear on problem), and finally Evaluation (a final assessment of the best solution to a problem given tools available).
Michelle,
What a great post! You are so right. You have to have expectations. You don't want to just use this assessment tool just to be different. You want it to measure something.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
In order to truly assess the student’s understanding and mastery of the material we would need to find a way to objectively measure this. Using higher learning tools and rubrics will allow us to definitively assess if the criteria has been met.
When using social media tools there needs to be specific guidelines established. They need to understand that using these tools is not going to be the same as posting a status update on Facebook or Twitter. Applying Bloom’s principles will help increase the level of professionalism and steer the use of these tools for an academic purpose versus a social purpose.
Sharon,
I am going to use your term Bloomicize! You are right; it provides the framework for molding the professional development they need.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Bloom's Taxonomy can be used to develop the objectives for the use of social media. In this way students have a clear understanding as to why social media is being used and how they can effectively use this tool as a way to demonstrate their knowledge. In an era when social media is often used for silly or trivial information by students, Bloom's places a structure around the social media tool thereby making it effective in a learning environment. Students have developed so many bad habits in the use of social media that 'Bloomicizing' the use of social media sets the tone as being more serious and professional/formal, encouraging students to be more thoughtful in their posts then they might be in their personal social media communications. It also establishes a benchmark on which assessment can be based.
Austin,
You are right. I think you make a great point about how to follow up after using this type of assessment.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The blooms taxonomy would help determine whether the social networking information is providing general knowledge, discussion, analysis or evaluation of the subject matter. It helps us gauge the level of discuss and how to frame follow-up questions.
Belinda,
Couldn't you also determine evaluation? I think you could push the level quite high on Bloom's
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I would use it to determine their knowledge and understanding of the topic.
Guerda,
You make such an important point. Students need to feel like "people" online not just a name.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Connecting with the students thoughts, personal background, milestones and acknowledge who they are primarily with generate a better learning environment for both parties. Once that established...introduce the topic for a more clean learning and conversing.
Arthur,
Good point! I think it is important to discuss the topic and bring everyone in the discussion. I don't think social worker is meant for every class and it is important to keep everyone on topic.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Doni,
You make such a great point. Relationships facilitate learning. Rubrics help with the relationship and the communication.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
