Week 6- Assignment 2-1

While reading the first article, “Middle School Science Teachers’ Confidence and Pedagogical Practices of New Literacies,” I came a across a few striking facts. The article mentions that many science teachers are still using lecture-based lessons due to the limited technology available to them in the classroom. Many of the teachers are also teaching students by focusing on the state standard exams in mind even though they agree that this will not expand their science knowledge. The article repetitively emphasizes the importance of middle school science teachers using technology in the classroom to demonstrate inquiry related activities. Another interesting fact I learned from the article is that students’ digital literacy influences their confidence, motivation and attitude towards their learning. One result I found to be quiet shocking is that some teachers who have access to the technology in their classroom rarely uses it in their lesson.

After reading the article on “Using Social Networking Sites to Enhance Teaching and Learning in the Science Classroom,”I think it’s a great idea for students to use social networking sites. The social networking site greatly helps the peer communication by allowing them to share and discuss topic posted by the teacher. One of the advantages the article mentions is that students can upload their work on the site for their peers to provide feedback. Another benefit is that students can continue their discussions outside of the classroom without any limitation. Many teachers and parents are concerned with the privacy issues of social networking sites. I agree with the article that educators should teach students how to use social networking sites responsibly and safely. Teachers can manage all comments and content that it posted by the student to ensure there is no inappropriate usage. Social networking sites can be helpful for teachers and students in many ways. Teachers can remind students about any important announcement or assignments. They can communicate with the parents easily and keep them informed. Students can benefit by asking the teacher questions to clarify an assignment or communicate with their peers. Some students who are reluctant to ask questions in class may feel less hesitant to communicate via social networking sites. Over all, both articles focus on the importance of using technology in the classroom to enhance the learning experience of the students by allowing them to share and discuss with their peers.