Making art to summarize and think about my learning has always been a form of meditation for me. Thoughts, ideas and realizations emerge that I don't believe otherwise would. Art is a process and I never really know where it will lead. I began this project by thinking about Julia Hengstler's Five Pillars of Risk (2010, 2013): knowledge, skills & training, practice & experience, guidelines & policy and confidence. What intrigued me were the parallels between these pillars of risk and UNESCO's Four Pillars of Education: learning to be, learning to know, learning to do and learning to live together. I wanted to think more deeply about these pillars of education in relation to social media and my evolving understanding and experience with social media in education. My art meditation became this collage and through the process I made some interesting connections between my knowledge about social media, my practice and experience with social media, what I understand about social media guidelines and policy and my confidence using social media personally and professionally. I was interested in the parallels between Hengstler's Five Pillars of Risk and UNESCO's Four Pillars of Education because at the school where I work, our planning, assessment and teaching is driven by these pillars.
In the Beginning
When I started OLTD 506 in September 2013 I was a social media ostrich (Hengstler, 2011) in many ways. I get excited about the possibilities of social media in education and have experimented with a variety of tools without really understanding the importance of guidelines and policy. This was partly due to my own ignorance and partly because my school district at the time did not have a social media policy.
Where I am now
I've taken my head out of the sand in terms of guidelines and policy. Thankfully I now work for a school and district which have strong social media policies and guidelines. These are not modelled on abstinence and don't seek to limit social media use. These guidelines and policies encourage and promote responsible, respectful and ethical use of social media.
Where I'd like to go
I'd like to learn more about social media tools and how they can be used to improve learning and establish networks. George Siemens' work on connectivism reminds me of the importance of networks. As Stephen Downes mentions: "Learning is the creation and removal of connections between the entities, or the adjustment of the strengths of those connections. A learning theory is, literally, a theory describing how these connections are created or adjusted." My art project has inspired some questions I'd like to pursue as I continue to use social media in an educational context.
When I started OLTD 506 in September 2013 I was a social media ostrich (Hengstler, 2011) in many ways. I get excited about the possibilities of social media in education and have experimented with a variety of tools without really understanding the importance of guidelines and policy. This was partly due to my own ignorance and partly because my school district at the time did not have a social media policy.
Where I am now
I've taken my head out of the sand in terms of guidelines and policy. Thankfully I now work for a school and district which have strong social media policies and guidelines. These are not modelled on abstinence and don't seek to limit social media use. These guidelines and policies encourage and promote responsible, respectful and ethical use of social media.
Where I'd like to go
I'd like to learn more about social media tools and how they can be used to improve learning and establish networks. George Siemens' work on connectivism reminds me of the importance of networks. As Stephen Downes mentions: "Learning is the creation and removal of connections between the entities, or the adjustment of the strengths of those connections. A learning theory is, literally, a theory describing how these connections are created or adjusted." My art project has inspired some questions I'd like to pursue as I continue to use social media in an educational context.
This summary focuses on where I'd like to go with using social media in educational contexts. While I'm feeling confident when it comes to guidelines and policy, I feel like I have more learning to do when it comes to practicing and experiencing social media. I'm intrigued by the concept of identity and how it relates to social media and lives online. How does my online identity reflect and inform my "in person" identity? I believe that digital citizenship is a crucial area we need to examine, understand and teach. I'm inspired by Jason Ohler's work about digital citizenship and character education.
"If we want to pursue a future that celebrates success not only in terms of abundance but also in terms of humanity, we must help our digital kids balance the individual empowerment of digital technology use with a sense of personal, community, and global responsibility. School is an excellent place to help kids become capable digital citizens who use technology not only effectively and creatively, but also responsibly and wisely."
Jason Ohler, Character Education in the Digital Age
Social media plays a huge role in the people's lives these days - some may even argue that these tools are agents in shaping lives, for better or for worse. The following questions consider how UNESCO's Four Pillars of Education might inform and inspire social media use in education. I'd like to explore answers to these questions as I continue to learn about social media in education.
"If we want to pursue a future that celebrates success not only in terms of abundance but also in terms of humanity, we must help our digital kids balance the individual empowerment of digital technology use with a sense of personal, community, and global responsibility. School is an excellent place to help kids become capable digital citizens who use technology not only effectively and creatively, but also responsibly and wisely."
Jason Ohler, Character Education in the Digital Age
Social media plays a huge role in the people's lives these days - some may even argue that these tools are agents in shaping lives, for better or for worse. The following questions consider how UNESCO's Four Pillars of Education might inform and inspire social media use in education. I'd like to explore answers to these questions as I continue to learn about social media in education.
Questions re: social media use in education inspired by my artistic meditation on OLTD 506
"How can students use social media to learn to be curious, independent, creative, responsible and respectful online?"
"How can students improve learning by using social media to develop thinking and learning skills such as process, memory and concentration?
"How can students improve literacy and networking skills through social media use?"
"How can social media help students learn to live together and share (online) space effectively by developing skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, decision-making, compromising and communication?"
Hengstler, Julia, 2010 & 2013. Five Pillars of Risk.
UNESCO, The Four Pillars of Education, Retrieved October 2013 from unesco.org/delors/fourpil.htm
UNESCO, The Four Pillars of Education, Retrieved October 2013 from unesco.org/delors/fourpil.htm