There’s a long list of things I learned from guest speaker Jesse Miller in today’s class, which captivated and surprisingly maintained my interest throughout the course of his presentation. The reason this was such an interesting presentation was due to the fact that he related each topic back to the lives of his audience, and made it interactive, asking us questions and immediately creating a safe space where we weren’t afraid to answer truthfully.
I was able to gain further insight into the world of tech in the education system, and what the means for students and teachers. I was shocked to learn some facts, such as our snapchats never disappearing from the database even when deleted, something I may have assumed on some level though. Lots of questions I had previously about social media and technology in the classroom were answered during class time today. For instance, knowing what’s appropriate to share, how to present yourself online, and how to keep yourself safe from lawsuits involving social media.
One of my favourite portions of the presentation was learning how to handle students using their phones in the classroom, and how there can’t be a double standard for children, when we as adults may use our phones for research and leisure. There also needs to be a policy set in place for your students, one that will not change for one student or one situation, but a policy that can be respected and that each student understands so they can follow the expectations and rules accordingly. I also found it interesting to note that when connected to an employer’s wfi, they are able to track your information and know whether or not non-professional business is taking place.
Knowing where to share (personal, social, and professional, how to present yourself on social media in a way that’s ok to you and those viewing it, as well as knowing how to be comfortable with bringing up things that have been dragged to the surface by students or employers, are just some of the vital points I took away from this presentation.