Blog #4

    When I first started using social media tools like Pinterest and Instagram, I mainly saw them as ways to connect with friends. Over time, I realized they could also help me build a Personal Learning Network. On Pinterest, I began following teachers who shared creative classroom management ideas and lesson plans. On Instagram, I connected with other education majors and found accounts that post strategies for teaching reading and math. These interactions have been helpful because I am learning from people with real classroom experience, and it makes me feel more prepared for my future career. I think these platforms will continue to help me as a teacher by giving me access to new ideas and keeping me updated with best practices.

    When I think about the digital divide, I realize that I was fortunate to attend a very tech based school. Every student had their own iPad, and most of our work was completed digitally instead of on paper. This gave me a lot of confidence with technology and made the transition to college much smoother because I was already used to working with online platforms, submitting assignments digitally, and using apps for learning. At the same time, I think it would have been helpful if my school had balanced digital work with more hands on, paper based tasks to strengthen skills like note taking and writing without relying on a device. Overall, though, my early experiences really supported me and gave me an advantage in adapting to college level technology.

     For collaborative writing and social annotation, I would like to use tools like Google Docs and Padlet in my future classroom. Google Docs would allow students to work together on the same piece of writing, share ideas, and give each other feedback. Padlet could be used as a shared space where students post responses to a text and comment on each other’s thinking. For example, if I was teaching a lesson on a story, students could work in groups to annotate important parts of the text on Padlet and then use Google Docs to write a summary together. To prepare my students, I would start by modeling how to comment respectfully and contribute meaningful ideas. These tools would encourage collaboration, thinking, and communication, which are skills they will need beyond the classroom.