I'm a big proponent of phones in the classroom. I think it's a way to teach responsible phone use, a quick way to look up information or remind people that they are supposed to come in for an interview, and while we are selling advertising it is an invaluable means for connecting my students with other senior parents.
Another way I've realized it helps my program is that Instagram and Twitter are GREAT PR tools for my class and my classroom. After I friended a lot of my seniors after graduation, I saw pictures of my room at Christmas, pictures of my kids working together on deadline, even pictures of random threats I had written on the board.
NUMEROUS other students had liked the photos and commented about how jealous they were or how they wished they were in newspaper. Score for me!
As Alan pointed out, if your kids aren't out there talking up your class and cheerleading what you do in newspaper and yearbook, it will be really tough to recruit a new staff or to get the students you never have in journalism excited about your publications.
It was awesome to see my kids were responding to the little things we were doing in class, even if I didn't know it at the time :)
Bailey Elise McBride
Bishop Kelley High School
Tulsa, Okla.
Back when I worked as a sub, I always fussed at kids for using phones, but this past year I took a much more relaxed approach and allowed students to use phones, as long as it was more than just texting thier buddies.
ReplyDeleteScott Davis
Westville OK High School
Did you tell your students to post stuff or did they just do it? I'm guessing they just went for it. We had some problems last year with students posting negative things about publications, which was frustrating. Next year I'm going to teach them what I expect from their social media use. I loved the Dean Callahan's idea: oh, you have a Facebook? Let's all take a look.
ReplyDeleteSarah-Anne Lanman
Munster High School
Munster, Ind.
I wish you could toggle between Instagram account like you can Twitter. We have both for our journalism staff.
ReplyDeleteJill Burns
Robinson High School
Tampa, Fla.
I guess this means I need to learn to use Instagram. I have changed my thinking on social media in the last two weeks. Instead of viewing it as a fad that kids fall into, I now see the power it holds and its potential. I appreciate your thoughts on using phones in class, Bailey, and I plan to loosen up a little in class this year.
ReplyDeleteHilari Anderson
Kentridge High School
Kent, Wash.
Bailey...
ReplyDeleteGreat post. My students are all over Instagram, Twitter, etc. We do a lot of specialized projects where my students are out in the field working with professional sports teams and celebrities. They post those pics on their social media sites, and it provides great publicity regarding the many opportunities my class gives to students. Many share the stories they produce via their personal sites and well, and when they do, the number of views sees a massive increase.
There have been times when we've discovered stuff happening on other campuses in the district during the school day via posts students have made on these sites as well. If it's interesting enough, I send a reporter out on it. We kind of use it as a news/wire feed of information to follow up on. Of course, we check the credibility factors first! My newsroom is open and encouraging of cell phone use.
Eva D. Coleman
Frisco ISD Career and Technical Education Center
Frisco, Texas
That is super cool! I think this shows that the kids care about what you are teaching them and that they appreciate the technology in ways other than making Twerk videos. I see myself on Throwback Thursdays sometimes with my former kids and it makes the heart strings pull. I hope this year to incorporate a twitter and Instagram feed to promote the High Schools Broadcast News
ReplyDelete