Networked Classroom Reflection

                                    

When I hear "networked classroom", I automatically think of students being engaged through the use of technological tools that are connected to a technological device used by a teacher.  I picture enriched learning taking place with the use of YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, Google, wikis, web pages, etc. After looking over the required reading for this week and doing research, below are the advantages and disadvantages that stood out to me.  

Advantages:

• Written interactions, collaboration, and discussion that is direct, immediate and responsive
• Learning being enhanced due to the meaningful communication
• Writing coming alive with real authors in action who are able to inform, persuade, entertain, develop social relationships, and formulate ideas
• Teacher modeling good writing and the writing process through the exchange of conversations
• Teacher working as the facilitator and collaborator instead of lecturer or discussion leader, but still keeping it teacher directed
• Students speaking and writing who might not normally participate because they felt threatened and can now feel like they are just talking to a friend

Disadvantages:

• Lack of technology or support 
• Lack of time because of a busy curriculum 
• Managing might be overwhelming
• Students might get off task, so could be a distraction
• Teachers could lose some of the control they had before
• Not as much face-to-face communication
• Keeping students safe especially from cyberbullying

From everything I've read, the advantages seem to outweigh the disadvantages.  Networking your classroom would have to be done very slowly.  It would be important to use one tool at a time for a while so both the students and you could get well acquainted with the chosen tool. During the MET courses so far, my classmates and I have created several tools, a web page, a wiki, a blog, and started tweeting.  Twitter could be used to write a story tweet by tweet.  Wikis would be good for reflections or discussions as the class did research.  Each student could have their own page.  Blogs would be a good place to post answers to questions or problems,  There are endless possibilities.  

All students learn in different ways.  Technology gives them choices for taking in the information, making sense of information, and expressing what they learn, no matter their ability level.  Students can be grouped with  students they can learn from.  Technology is great for visual learners.  It also allows students to work at their own pace.  Here is a link that can help with the English-language learners.  

When it comes to the idea of a "networked classroom", you might love it or hate it.  You might even embrace or abandon it.  As educators in the 21st Century Classroom, we have to do what is best for students.  If we can pull off a networked classroom, we are doing what is best for students.  If you still are struggling with this idea, here is a link that might help you.  The Teacher's Guide to a Networked Classroom gives you five methods and many tools to use with students when creating a networked classroom.  

Do you teach in a networked classroom?  If so, please share how it is going for you.  I would love to hear about it.