Week 6

ETEC 642: Week 6 • Sep 29-Oct 6 • Social media tool spotlight

A wide variety of social media tools have emerged during the Web 2.0 revolution. Some tools are entirely available for use online. Many however, as tablets and smartphones have emerged as a primary communication tool, have evolved into mobile applications and are primarily used that way.

For this week, select and study a social media tool or platform that you have not had much experience with and explore it's potential application for teaching and learning.

1. Class meeting
2. Google hangout test
3. keyword
4. Discussion on keyword
5. Weekly reflection blog post

ITEMS DUE
See course calendar and individual weekly web pages for other relevant dates.
Mon Sep 29 - Discussion post on collaborative learning (Google+ CVP community)
Mon Sep 29 - Weekly reflection blog post (Week 5)
Mon Oct 6 - Google hangout test (self-directed)
Mon Oct 6 - Social media tool spotlight (summary, post to SM4Ed)
Mon Oct 6 - Weekly reflection blog post (Week 6)

CLASS MEETING
We will meet again NEXT Monday, Oct 6, 6-8 pm to begin our Kansai-Hawaii collaborative video project (CVP). The Kansai students will join us in Collaborate. We will then break out into assigned groups (TBA before the next class) using Google hangouts.

To view recordings of previous meetings, locate the appropriate session from this list:

http://bit.ly/bert-voffice-recordings

GOOGLE HANGOUT TEST
BEFORE next Monday's class, test Google hangout, especially if you have never used it or haven't used it recently. Google has made recent updates to the hangout interface.

We will use Hangouts in breakout groups with the Kansai University students.

If you have never participated in a hangout (or started one), contact others in the class or one of our TAs to do a test. You may also test it by yourself by going to:

https://plus.google.com/hangouts/active

Click on Start a video Hangout then click on Cancel when asked to share a link or invite others. You will be the only person in the Hangout. Move your mouse (or pointer) to the top and to the left to reveal menu bars if you do not see them at the beginning.

To add another person, click on the "Invite people" icon on the top row (in white). If you have two Google accounts and two computers, you can test it with yourself as a partner.

When participating in a Hangout it is VERY IMPORTANT to use a headset to minimize feedback or distracting background noise.

Hangouts Help Center
https://support.google.com/hangouts/?hl=en#topic=2944848

Google+: The Complete Guide
http://mashable.com/2011/07/16/google-plus-guide/

SOCIAL MEDIA TOOL SPOTLIGHT
Select a SOCIAL MEDIA tool, service or platform to spotlight. Create a brief summary as a Google document, i.e., document, presentation, or drawing for your selected tool and post the link to your document in our SM4Ed Facebook group.

Generally, social media tools involve sharing content and resources among users, often among those of similar interest. They encourage their users to dialog, usually asynchronously. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Blogger & Instagram are among the most popular currently. These are EXCLUDED from selection for your study.

Select a specific tool or online service, not a category. For example, Blogger is just one of many blogging tools.

Your summary should give readers, your colleagues, a good idea of its value (or potential value) for teaching and learning.

Selection is on a first announced basis. Locate the tool spotlight post under News on our class web site. Post a reply identifying yourself and the tool selected to "claim" it. If someone else has selected the tool, you need to find another.

In your summary, identify the tool and provide a link to the tool homepage. Limit your summary to about 250 words, 4-5 short paragraphs. Post the link to your Google document or presentation in our SM4Ed Facebook group with a brief lead-in of 25 or fewer words. We encourage you to embed other images, videos or multimedia content related to the spotlighted tool.

Use the following convention for a heading: Spotlight on MyTool. For example, Spotlight on Twitter. Include appropriate references with your summary.

Use the following as a GUIDE. You need not answer ALL questions. Write your summary in essay style. DO NOT  write in a Q & A format.

• What does your tool accomplish?
• How widely used is it and by what demographic?
• How do you envision it be used for teaching and learning?
• Give or create an example for its use for a class, specifying the target audience.
• What 2-3 features do you especially like about it?
• What features could be added to improve it for educational use?
• On a five star basis, how many stars would you give as to its value (or potential value) for educators.

WEEK 6 BLOG POST
Write about your learning or thoughts about this class for your weekly blog post.

READINGS
Cheston, C. C., Flickinger, T. E., Chisolm, & M. S. (2013). Social media use in medical education: A systematic review. Academic Medicine, 88(6). doi:10.1097/ACM.0b013e31828ffc23. Retrieved from http://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/2013/06000/Social_Media_Use_in_Medical_Education___A.36.aspx

Hoffman, E. S. (2009). Social media and learning environments: Shifting perspectives on the locus of control. Education, 15(2), 23-38. Retrieved from http://ineducation.couros.ca/index.php/ineducation/article/view/54/533

Iancu, L. (2013, May 13). 5 powerful social media tools for your classroom. Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/5-powerful-social-media-tools-for-your-classroom/

Kessler, S. (2010, October 16). 7 fantastic free social media tools for teachers. Retrieved from
http://mashable.com/2010/10/16/free-social-media-tools-for-teachers/

Lepi, K. (2013, October 29) How social media is being used in education. Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/social-media-in-education/

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