Social Networking

Social networking can be very beneficial in the classroom. In the past couple of weeks I've been trying to get use to facebook but am very use to myspace. In the classroom I would probably prefer facebook because of the privacy level. As a teacher I would like to use social networking as a way to stay in contact with parents and guardians. While I was volunteering at headstart, the teachers would tape important notes to the parent to the children, for example, a permission slip for a field trip would get taped around their wrist like a bracelet. They would do this to make sure that the parents would read the information and return it to school with their student. I would like to use social networking in addition to paper notes to parents because some parents will be more apt to respond to electronic communication and some will be more apt to respond to paper communications. With students I look forward to using social networking as a motivator to learn about the variety of technology available. There are many beneficial facebook applications that students can use as study aids. There was one in particular that made the state curriculum standards available to teachers, unfortunately, I didn't mark it and have been unable to find it again. I feel social networking can also be used to help build camaraderie amongst the students, help them to feel comfortable with each other and with myself, the teacher.

Powerpoint in the classroom

I like powerpoint because it's a simple, quasi-semi animation program. One of the ways I look forward to being able to use it in my classroom is as a gameshow. Everyone likes to win games. This could help motivate students to learn the material. It could easily make the students want to learn even more.
The 2nd way I would like to use powerpoint is similar to what we did in class the first day of the semester. When I was younger the first day of school always meant seeing some old faces, meeting some new ones, and talking about our summer. With powerpoint I would like to with a digital camera take a picture of every student and make "flashcards," the way we did in class, but include their favorite color, animal, and a memorable event from the summer. I would do this in class to introduce everyone to each other and help make everyone feel welcome to the new school year. When the students return the next day I would have a seating arrangement made according to favorite colors and have the slides printed up and laminated and hung up in the classroom. I would do this mainly to deter from calling each other "hey you" and emphasize learning and using names.