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INTRODUCE YOURSELF. Please provide us with a brief description of your educational background, current or recent role/job, PhD program title, research interest and career goals (e.g., why are you getting a PhD? What do you hope to develop expertise in? Future job aspirations?). Finally, please tell us 2 topics that you are interested in relevant to this course and 2 things you hope to get out of the course. (Don't worry about going over the word limit for this post ;-)

Consider the Clark and Kozma debate. Now, putting aside your assigned role, what do you believe based on your reading of their arguments and evidence presented. Will or does media influence learning? (As you explain your answer think about what conditions or factors or contexts or questions we need to consider in trying to address this question in our course).

Researchers have warned against exploiting social network sites, like Facebook, for learning based on findings related to cognitive and social issues. Other scholars have argued the opposite. Consider this week’s set of readings in the educational research literature. Argue your position (for or against) use of social network sites OR microblogs for learning and/or educational purposes using these readings. Ground your claims in evidence from the readings, with citations and page numbers. Anticipate others’ counter-arguments in your response.

OPTION 1: Imagine that you have been asked by the head of an educational organization (e.g., high school, college, youth program, teacher professional development program, etc.) to present a proposal for enhancing students’ learning by adding a social media component. (Students could be high school students, undergraduates, pre-service teachers, practicing teachers, etc.). Drawing on theory and relevant research: 1) present a realistic recommendation FOR adding social media to the learning environment; 2) discuss the role of the instructor in implementing this vision, including the learning and/or teaching objective and the kinds of pedagogies or teaching methods and/or pedagogical beliefs and attitudes that are needed. Be sure to ground your recommendations in this week’s readings, but you may also bring in other readings from this course or outside it. Please specify the course, grade, age of learners and other factors you think are relevant to your recommendations. OPTION 2: You may choose to REVERSE this question and present a recommendation AGAINST adding social media to a learning environment from the teacher’s perspective. Be sure to address #1 and #2 above with evidence from the readings and provide enough details about the factors (course, grade, age, etc.) that are relevant to your recommendation. Please choose at least 2 readings within the “Facilitating Learning with Social Media” list to substantiate your ideas. These can be articles related to teaching in K-12 or higher education or teaching adults. Please also incorporate at least 1 reading from the “Optional” readings under this topic or the “Supplemental” readings list.