Blog #3: Chapter 5

     

    Now that I know how to create and integrate myself within a connected learning community or network, I can learn about the appropriate tools to help me with my connected learning. In chapter 5 of The Connected Educator, I was able to learn about many valuable tools that can help me in the future regarding these networks and communities within my career. 

    The chapter first goes over some tools that can help you keep track of what resources you have found online. These tools aim to ensure that you are "keeping track of what you've found on the web." (Hall and Nussbaum-Beach, p.74). These tools are social bookmarking, a website called Delicious (to bookmark and tag websites), and a website called Diigo (another online tool that tags websites with more enhanced features like "My Library, My Network, and My Groups").  

    Then the chapter goes on to discuss the tools for connecting and collaborating. These tools are supposed to aid in "connecting and collaborating to build your personal learning network." (Hall and Nussbaum-Beach, p.76). These examples are blogs, Edublog (an educators' blog), RSS Readers (an online platform that allows you to subscribe to certain blogs), Google Reader (a blog reader), podcasts like Podomatic (an online tool that lets you create a broadcast), microblogs like Twitter, Wikis (a webpage) like Wikispaces, and Google Documents. 

    Chapter five then dives into discussing tools for social networking. These tools have a purpose to "build and nurture your personal learning network." (Hall and Nussbaum-Beach, p.85). The tools mentioned in this section are Ning (a website that allows you to build an online social network), and Classroom 2.0 (a website that consists of nearly 58,000 educators).

    The last tools that are mentioned in chapter five are for extending learning in the classroom. These are "free and useful online tools that are plentiful for extending learning outside of the classroom." (Hall and Nussbaum-Beach, p.86). The tools for this are Video: Teachertube (an online community for sharing educational videos that are made for teachers by teachers), and Real-Time Updates: Netvibes (an all-in-one dashboard that intercepts and collects everything that is happening on your personal social web).

    The chapter wraps up by summarizing how to manage your online reputation. "In today's connected world, reputation management is an important skill." (Hall and Nussbaum-Beach, p.88). To manage your online reputation, you need to build your digital footprint and stay on top of being active. You also need to ensure that all the information you put online is positive and safe. Some tips to build your online reputation are to "build your own professional webpage or blog, stack the deck in your favor, share your insights, be professional at all times, and track yourself." (Hall and Nussbaum-Beach, p.88-89).

    As a future teacher k-6 teacher, I am definitely able to relate to the information that I learned by reading chapter 5. For me personally, reading chapter five was really helpful and gave very useful tips along with examples of real online tools that I can use in the future. For my future career, it is very important to stay connected and to collaborate well with others. I will be in constant communication with my coworkers. We will even be writing the curriculum for the entire year together. Platforms like google classroom and class dojo are really amazing online tools that allow coworkers to share ideas, stay connected, and collaborate. As an educator, it is also important to keep up good communication with students and their parents. Websites like Edpuzzle are really effective in keeping in good contact with my future students and ensuring they are on pace. I will also be sure to use social media platforms like Facebook and join groups to make sure I am connected in a network and community of teachers so I have the ability to find even more opportunities and resources outside of just the ones I have at work. I am very interested in the website Edublog that the chapter went over and I will most likely be utilizing that online tool in the future. I would like to end my blog by asking you if you think you would obtain comfort in knowing you are surrounded by resources and connections in your future? If you do, then making sure you are aware of the tools discussed in chapter 5 will aid you in gaining that comfort in your future career.

References

Nussbaum-Beach, S., & Hall, L. R. (2012). The Connected Educator: Learning and Leading in a Digital Age. Solution Tree Press.     

Comments

  1. Gregory DelGuidiceOctober 20, 2022 at 7:57 AM

    Hey Lauren,
    Chapter 5 I thought gave us some really important tools that can benefit us in the future and our careers. I think having a social network is a huge part to having success and expanding your platform. As for your career as being a future teacher, being connected and sharing and getting different inputs of different ideas is very important. You will not only express your ideas, but maybe get a different view of one. Staying connected and a big involved in your community is also a great way of connecting to others. For me, being involved in my community plays a huge role in my current job. The people will get to meet you and see that you are wanting to be involved in the community.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Camryn JuckettOctober 20, 2022 at 11:39 AM

    Hi Lauren,
    This chapter provided many helpful tools for all of us to learn about. I definitely agree that you will need some of these tools for your teaching career. Being connected and keeping communication with students, parents, and colleagues is one of the most important things. To answer the question at the end of your blog, yes I would obtain comfort in knowing these resources are available to me in my future. These tools can help in many ways. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alexis MurdockOctober 25, 2022 at 6:03 PM

    Hi Lauren,
    Your post was so well organized and easy to read, I think you gave such an amazing summary. I think for you as your future profession as a teacher, you have to maintain very authentic reputation, have you found it easier to distinguish what is safe and unsafe to post online with tips from this class? Do you think you could help others better their online reputation now that you have better knowledge? Great post! (:

    ReplyDelete
  4. Brad ParryOctober 25, 2022 at 6:54 PM

    Hi Lauren,
    I really love the connection you made with this chapter and your future career as a teacher of k-6. Being a teacher requires a ton of communication not only to your students and coworkers, but to the parents of your students as well. Especially between grades k-6. To answer your question, I do obtain comfort knowing about all of the resources around me because they will help me become a better physical therapist in the future.

    ReplyDelete

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