Twitter and New Media in the Classroom

It seems like a bit of a trick question: Does this have relevance for you in your classroom? Is there space for this shape of learning? The question refers to the introduction of new literacies (twitter, online platforms, etc.) that are quickly becoming fixtures in the world--if they are not already. The trick is that, though in the world outside of the classroom these mediums are acknowledged--often through force--and used regularly, the K-12 classroom does not readily accept it. The reason behind this, however, has less to do with the classroom teachers, and more to do with the environment that education is currently in.

Before I say anything else, let me note that there are exceptions. There are always exceptions. There are the teachers posting to Digital IS; there are those with incredibly innovative lesson plans that somehow merge the old, current, and new teaching expectations. And yet, we call them exceptions for a reason--not everything is applicable/measured by these occurrences.

I recognize that in order for my students to be successful in the future--once they've left the relative safety of my classroom, and school, that they need to be able to participate in the world. Not only so that they can earn an income, but so that their voices can be heard by others. Or for the very least, so that they can compose (read: think) their own responses to what they experience in the world. The world is going digital, and regardless of what post-apocalyptic movie you may watch, this is not changing anytime soon. And yet, the K-12 classroom as note entirely adjusted, and neither have I.

In my classroom, I currently use platforms such as Schoology to get students to start having discussions online. And yet, they aren't "authentic" discussions. They are discussions that must meet the rubric that I have provided them with. There will be no rubric in their future. Yes, I work to have something in place now so that they do not need it later, but there seems to be an inherent argument in all of this that gets ignored. Where does the organic, natural, autonomous learning occur? A great deal of my personal knowledge of technology is self-taught. I determine my own parameters, product, and expectations. Yes, I have old models that I can rely on, but a the majority does not rely on this at all. For this reason, I think that what really needs to happen, is not just to embrace some "new" mode of communication, but get back to the root of education and teaching--the more abstract, essential knowledge, that these new literacies would inevitably fall under.