To Tweet or Not to Tweet?

I came a across a Tweet the other day and found this chart of four levels of questioning by @michellek107. It demonstrates two things for me.

MT @MrsTelie: Love this questioning graphic by @michellek107 #INeLearn pic.twitter.com/v8XpG3URON” 

— Daniel Gibson (@hoosier_teacher) February 1, 2014

First of all, the chart is presented in a "fun" way to get kids to pay attention to the different levels. There are tangible concepts attached to each of the levels. For instance, students all know what robots, detectives, judges, and inventors are or can relate to these concrete examples after a quick explanation. Rather than assigning professional terminology to each level, these are all written in kid-friendly language.  So yea, this chart could be a all right resource the classroom, but more importantly it demonstrates the importance of teachers leveraging the power of Social Media.

Secondly, this find demonstrates why Twitter is awesome. If teachers become an active user, follow different EDU Hashtags, and/or participate in Tweetups, Twitter can provide invaluable resources to improve the teaching profession. It draws on a collective intelligence that is made up of a network of teachers across the world. We need to develop this community of sharers and ask more teachers join to strengthen our professional learning networks. So, start searching the Twittersphere for help, resources, or connections with like-minded professionals, and give it more than one day to learn how to navigate through this tool.

Social Media in the Classroom #Infographic

I didn't create it, but I wanted to share this infographic on social media's use and place within school systems.  Embrace these communication and connection tools.  What are your thoughts about Social Media being used at the classroom, school, and district levels?

Source: The Use of Social Media in School

JFK and Instagram

Last school year, I snapped photos from my trip to Dallas, TX and the location where John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald.  Although I am somewhat hesitant to share these images from this tragic event in American History.   I think this event needs to be discussed on it's November 22nd anniversary, while also displaying how social media can be used for instructional purposes.  

To promote social media and it's value for bringing Dallas to a classroom hundreds of miles away, I want to share how I didn't need to save these images onto my computer or print them at Walgreens.  Instead, because I uploaded them to Instagram, I will have these images to share with students and allow for interaction for many years to come, or at least until Instagram goes Kaput.  

To mark the JFK Assassination anniversary, I am sharing images from the location.  It's not much but a simple way to share and spark a conversation with students.  This shows how I had a teacher-eye, while on vacation and away from home.  But, the technophile in me caused the social media attack on infamous Elm Street.  Of course, before the Instagram and Vine apps were opened, I started my experience in Dealey Plaza with a FourSquare check-in.  

Please click the upper-right corner of the image to view the image on Instagram and feel free to provide a comment on these photos.  

Additional Vine Posts 

During my visit, I also took several Vine videos just to get a little perspective on the area.  In the video below, I start with the Book depository and scroll down  toward the street view.  While filming, I was about near or on the grassy knoll.  

 

Conspiracy?

This man set up a booth on top of the grassy knoll, and he believed that the government had something to do with the assignation.  What do you think?