The Essential Elements!
We examined Ribble's Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship this week in #eci832. I've been reflecting how this relates to my social media journey project. I'll be looking at TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Twitter, and maybe Wakelet as I journey into the wilderness of social media and education. TikTok is the first one I am tackling. Progress has been slow. This is a bit related to being a content-catalyst for next week's ECI832 Lesson! It's hard, yet inspiring, to try to keep up with the Hollywood videos created by the amazing group last week: shout out to Catherine, Nataly, Amanda, and Melinda.
I'm especially interested in TikTok... so while I believe all these points apply to the other social media platforms I'm examining, I'm especially turning my attention to TikTok. Here they are.... Element 3. Digital Communication and Collaboration: "the electronic exchange of information". Well, TikTok allows people to exchange videos, which could have any sort of content or purpose. The most popular "purpose" I've seen in my "studies" on TikTok is that of entertainment, meme generation/spreading, and self-promotion. Element 4. Digital Etiquette: "standards of conduct or procedures and has to do with the process of thinking about others when using digital devices". There is great potential to discuss the appropriate use of Etiquette when utilizing TikTok, as you are presenting yourself to the world when you post a video. Element 5. Digital Fluency: "the process of understanding technology and its use. Includes the ability to discern good information from poor, such as “fake news” from real news." Lots of information is shared on TikTok, from memes, to reactions to current events, and news. Discerning what is valuable from what is not is certainly a part of this platform. Choosing it for entertainment or information is another. Element 6. Digital Health and Welfare: "physical and psychological well-being in a digital world. Educators need to ask the question of how much screen time is appropriate for students." My biggest downfall is opening the TikTok app. I've started setting a timer for 10 minutes, because time flows differently when you open the TikTok app. It's easy to drain an hour watching video after video. This is not OK. Definitely a discussion for students around appropriate use and screen time limits. Progress on TikTok
I've recently identified from some discussions with students ways that they think TikTok might be useful in education. We all agreed that perhaps for Drama/theater, TikTok might actually be useful for motivating students, and giving them a global audience for their performances. See the video below that I filmed today while I was having some candid conversations with some of my grade 11/12 computer science class about TikTok and how they use it.
Well, you heard it here first! Some kiddos use it as their news source (which scares me frankly). It was in another unrecorded conversation where one student suggested it'd be great for Drama/Theater. So I went to the drama teacher, and low and behold, she said that coincidentally, her grade 12 class was just talking about TikTok today! Imagine that! The butterfly effect? Who knows!
A Collaboration!
So, my colleague and I, we decided that she would try to use some TikTok in her classroom, and let me know how it goes. I'll do a quick interview with her, and post it as part of my examination of TikTok, whenever it is complete! I am excited to share the results with you!
Do any of you foresee any useful educational uses of TikTok? I really can't find much on the web that actually seems reasonable/useful, at least at the high school level. Drama/theater was a new idea for me! Till next time, Stay curious, Matteo
3 Comments
Catherine Ready
2/7/2020 05:47:28 pm
Great post! I have been having similar conversations with some of my students (Grade 7-8) about TikTok. Students are creating videos that raise awareness about social issue using apps like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, etc- do you remember the TikTok make up tutorial? https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/technology/2019/nov/27/tiktok-makeup-tutorial-conceals-call-to-action-on-chinas-treatment-of-uighurs - similar to this! BUT, I feel a little uncomfortable with actually using the apps during school time. So my work around is students will create a video in the style of TikTok, but without actually using the app during school time. I’m trying to follow my division tech guidelines, but it’s a bit confusing. I’m really curious to hear about how you use it with students! Do they use their personal devices? To they actually upload the videos to their accounts? Do we create a contract for using the app? So many questions!
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2/7/2020 10:22:08 pm
Great post! I’m really looking forward to hearing more about your ideas for tiktok in the classroom! I think you do a great post in this post creatively thinking about how Ribble’s Elements could fit into tiktok and your major project. I started thinking about how I could use it in my own classroom and I think it could be cool to do some quick poetry or use it for quick math tricks!
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2/8/2020 08:49:47 pm
Hey Matteo, I am excited to see what you are discovering as educational value for TikTok as this is something that I am struggling with. As a personal user I find that many TikTok users/creators could review Ribble’s Digital Citizenship Elements as I am finding that much of the content is not what I would describe as Digital Etiquette. I also respect the reflection on the Digital Wellbeing. TikTok is a very additive app even for me. Thus I believe that it is evermore important that we are modelling for students what is appropriate times and screen time for using apps such as TikTok. Thanks for your update!
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AuthorMy name is Matteo Di Muro, the original Prairie Boy, and I've been teaching since I was 14. I currently teach mathematics and computer science in Brandon. I try to keep on learning things, and I'm getting onboard with sharing with others, hence this site! Archives
March 2020
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