I decided to do a twitter essay on the Collaborator Module. I really enjoyed creating my twitter essay, but I found it challenging at times to stay within the word limit of each tweet. I did have a lot of fun adding in funny memes and gifs, and even took some time to explore twitter. I used to use twitter quite frequently when I was in high school, but then took a break from it while in university. Twitter has changed so much in the past few years, expanding in the amount of users, and giving users new options for users to explore. As a future teacher candidate, I now view twitter from a different perspective, looking at how it can be used in the classroom. I have realized there are SO many benefits to twitter regardless of the subject!
The collaborator module is a module that discusses the benefits of collaboration within the teaching profession, as it promotes personal and professional growth for all. As teacher candidates with minimal teaching experience, we would all benefit tremendously from collaborating with experienced teachers. They can help us out by providing us with a lot of “dos” and “don’ts” within the classroom!
Digital technologies play a huge role in collaboration! Online sources such as twitter, word press, and education.com are just a few of these digital technologies. They allow us to reach more individuals who may have opinions or ideas that differ from our own, building on our ideas and allowing us to make new connections. It is extremely important that we do associate with people who are outside our “filter bubbles” to challenge ourselves, and help us further support our teaching.
I love the idea of being able to connect with individuals all around the world. The world is such a diverse place with so many individuals who hold opinions that differ from one another. As we approach these differing opinions, we are forced to view our own ideas and opinions from a different perspective, which can help us build and improve ourselves. Our ideas combining with the ideas of others can promote the formation of larger, more success idea.
Collaboration does not always have to take place in an online space! It might even be more difficult for teachers who are not particularly familiar with technology to navigate these spaces. In my most recent practicum I was able to observe the benefits of collaboration between teachers. There was a teacher in the science department who was teaching a locally developed class for the first time. My associate teacher had taught the course before and gave her all the resources he had used. Having support from other teachers is extremely helpful in cases like this one!
Collaboration is something that can be difficult for people who tend to be more shy, and afraid to ask others for assistance. Those that are not the best at delegating tasks and sharing their work may also stray away from collaboration. I think it is vital that we all keep in mind that teaching is a profession that encompasses the word “collaboration”. As we help one another we are able to unlock our potential to be the best teachers we can be.