The Socially Networked Classroom

Book Summary

  
   Chapter 1 - The Writing Is on the Screen: Social Networking Is Here to Stay

     Chapter one, the author describes three different incidents that as the reader one can actually picture themselves in that scene or place. The use of technology has changed with this usage of social networking. Kist addresses this by using three different examples that people every day are seen using social networking. The first example the author asks the reader to picture yourself at intermission on a Broadway show. The curtains come down and you seem to question where are you and what are you doing? The second example the author describes children from the Midwest are racing to get their bookbags and coats after they have been disconnected from their cell phones, blackberries, and laptops to get back in touch with the world. The last example the author asks the readers to picture a pregnant woman giving birth in her last stages of labor with her husband by her side and medical staff. The pregnant woman is going through contractions and reaches for her cell phone to periodically post messages on Twitter to give updates on what’s happening throughout her labor and will soon give birth to her son. The author provides these examples as a way to let the reader know how the internet can keep people connected in which this is called “social networking.” There are three main topics of discussion throughout the chapter: social networking, protection of kids' childhood, and structure of this book.

Kist believes that social networking is transforming into an important part in people's lives. One can question is then has social networking also transformed the way that we "do" school? Attempting to answer this question is the goal of this book. It seems as though we are becoming a screen-based society, for instance reading and writing, are now all done on a computer screen or other forms of print communication. Many different forms of multimedia such as video, sound, visual art, and advertising are all elements of technology. Kids are more connected to others through social networking than any other time in history. The internet provides the kids to connect with others who they would probably not meet face to face. The other fear is that kids can come in contact with people who are trying to connect to cause harm to them. According to Kist, he argues that the protection of childhood from social networking now is no different than what happened years ago with children who barely had any protection had to defend for themselves. "We have an assumption that childhood is safer now than in those prescript days, but of course, that amuses everyone is following the script." (Kist 2010). As part of the state standards documents regarding this script gives clear directions on what needs to be covered, which mentions including new media, but teachers don't have time to use new media within their classrooms. Some new teachers are caught between their knowledge and the new media practices have been set for the school. It is also seen that some teachers are not comfortable or not experienced enough with new media.

The schools have not implemented new media in their classrooms, this can be sending the wrong message to students about it, and we should be incorporating it into the classrooms. Students are then networking outside of the classroom without adult supervision.

    The structure of the book “aims to mention that incorporating social networking can be messy for educators who are attempting to include social networking in schools. The teachers are dealing with all the challenges that come along with this new kind of teaching.

 

    Chapter 2 - "Short": Social Networking in a Low-Tech Environment

    In this chapter, Kist features daily work in multiple forms and that by “reading” and “writing” these new media takes some practice and reflection. The first activity the author uses with his students if for them to complete a “Literacy Autobiography” on paper. The assignment requires the students to look back over their past on reading and writing and how we have been shaped by our media experiences. Multigenre Autobiography is the activity the author uses to show how we are shaped by various forms of communication. The PowerPoint presentation uses many pictures of sitcoms, cartoons, art, book covers, and different types of music to show how these forms of communication have shaped them.

          The second activity the author uses a fun way for student to understand how do we read in a “Nonlinear” Way. This activity helps student to understand reading from beginning to the end and ending to beginning. The students are able to understand on how to put a story in order and learning the difference between linear and nonlinear reading.

        The second activity Kist has for his students is Julius Caesar, The Musical: the purpose of this activity is to get the students thinking about how to create hybrid texts. The author notes that this does not need to be done with Julius Caesar and can be done with different and any text. This shows that many texts we encounter contain multiple forms of representation. The next activity the author uses is analyzing the films element by element pertaining to texts both print and non-print. Other activities include film prompts, snapshot dramas, text comparisons across genres, text categories, finding famous fictional friends and families, and four corners are some of the activities he used with his students.

 Reference

Kist, W. (2010). The socially networked classroom: Teaching in the new media age. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.