Introduction Aliquam lacinia What is your goal? To have students become successful at school or successful in life? Don’t be scared to take risks and screw up. This is what you tell your kids everyday in school, and we are meant to be their role models. Live your words in front of your students. My advice? When the screen pops up, to click any of these words: Accept, Next, and OK. I promise you that you will not wreck anything, but the rewards on the other side of these words are worth the risk. Go for it!
Image Credit: Kevin Bluer flickr.com/photos/kevinbluer/
The best thing about this technology is that it is built upon the same premise of good teaching: relationships. Social media is about connecting and learning from people, getting to know about other cultures and perspectives, sharing, and empowering our students to connect, not with computers, but with people. The biggest reason to use this technology is not about the “cool” factor. That wears off. It is about learning from people. By opening access to your students, you are opening their minds to perspectives and experiences that go far beyond the four walls of the classroom. Be the facilitator of these opportunities so that our students can learn in a safe and meaningful way. When they grow up, you will be held in the same regard to them as your teachers were to you. Provide opportunities and create change. I know that the learning in this book will help you to prepare your students for their future so that they will not only contribute to it, they will lead and define it. Your students are going to use this technology either because of you, or in spite of you. I know which reason I want to be. How about you? George Couros
George Couros is currently a school principal at Forest Green School and Connections for Learning, located in Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada. The schools serve ages K-12. Learn more about George in the “about the authors” pages at the end of this book.
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