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EDUCATIONAL NETWORKING at

Work in the Classroom

By Allison Sproles

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The advent of the Internet and 21st century technology has touched our daily lives in many ways, including the art of teaching. Teachers can now collaborate with colleagues and peers from around the world and share thoughts, ideas and resources at the click of a button. Our experiences in and out of the classroom have taken on a much more global perspective as compared to just 20 years ago.

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Advantages of Technology in SchoolsThe use of this technology in schools provides many benefits to both teachers and students. According to Dan Nelson in Classroom Has Changed by Information Access, access to data and a seemingly endless amount of information has transformed classrooms from a teacher oriented, textbook dependent classroom to an interactive, engaging and increasingly cooperative one (Nelson, 2009). There are many advantages for both teachers and students to have access to the Internet and the various informational websites, networking platforms and multimedia links that are now available to them.

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Advantages of Technology

In his article, Teaching Using the Internet (Ebiefung, 2000), Dr. Aneikan Ebiefung lists several advantages of students having access to the Internet in the classroom and how technology can enhance the teaching process. His list includes the following: Motivates studentsQuestioning and discoveryCommunicating and using and sharing knowledgeProfessional development, ease of lesson planning, and collaboration among professional educators and administratorsBetter classroom managementCooperative learning among students within a class and between classes and schools

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PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING

The increased connectivity has given rise to inventive ways to collaborate with peers worldwide. One such way is through social and/or professional networking. There is an abundance of social and professional networking sites, but I have found two that I think could potentially be very beneficial to me as an educator and help me to be a more educated and effective educator. These two Sites are The Schools United and Wikieducator (Hargadon, 2010).

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The Schools United According to Steve Hargadon’s list of networking sites (Hargadon, 2010), the Schools United is “a networking site dedicated to the educational community worldwide. It provides schools and staff with a no cost facility to share educational resources, ideas and experiences. The site encourages schools from around the globe to ‘link’ with each other.” There are many advantages in participating in this network of educators. First, it provides a wide range of perspectives and helps to develop multicultural awareness and understanding. This platform also allows for the exchange of information and ideas, as well as providing a backboard and discussion forum to bounce ideas off other professionals that may have had the same experiences or ideas. Most importantly, this forum allows for opportunities to collaborate with teachers worldwide and to use that collaboration to enhance student experiences and learning.

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Wikieducator

Wikieducator takes the concept of the Schools United to the next level. This site allows for the same potential collaborations and sharing of ideas and resources. However, Wikieducator goes beyond being a discussion forum to being an interactive site that provides a variety of options and digital resources. The Wikieducator, according to Hargadon (Hargadon, 2010), is “turning the digital divide into digital dividends using free content and open networks.” One of the main advantages to this site is the selection of educator professional development courses. Teachers can sign up to take these online courses and can access the course material and information at their own pace.

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WikieducatorOther benefits are:•Ways to present content and resources to students•Allow for the sharing of ideas and feedback•Provide an arena for reflection•Student teaching tool where possible scenarios and relevant resources to address the scenario can be posted•Interactive platform to engage educators and students•Cooperative learning and collaboration•Access to digital and multimedia resources and tools

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These two websites offer many potential uses in the classroom and resources for me as an educator. They are, however, by no means the only networking platforms available. In addition, I

find that when accessing such sites, I often find additional benefits or applications than I previously realized. The benefits

discussed in this slideshow is just the tip of the iceberg, and I am excited about the possibilities!

Conclusion

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ReferencesEbiefung, A. (2000). Teaching Using the Internet. Retrieved January 18, 2010 from

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga website: http://oneweb.utc.edu/"thecmath/tutinet.htmlHargadon, Steve. (2010). Educational Networking. Retrieved January 25, 2010 from

http://www.educationalnetworking.comThe Internet: Changing the Way We Think About Education. (2001). Retrieved January 18, 2010, from http://www.pwc.k12.nf.ca/bricketts/ppt/internet_files/frame.htm.Nelson, D. (2009, April 24). Classroom Has Changed By Information Access. Retrieved

from Online Athens website: http://onlineathens.com/stories/042609/_432592522.shtmlSchool Internet Access Widespread. (2001, June 19). Retrieved January 18, 2001,

from Nation website: www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2001-teachers.htmWiske, S. (2000). A New Culture of Teaching for the 21st Century. Retrieved

January18, 2010 from Harvard Education Letter website: http://learnweb.harvard.edu/wide/en/