Activity Six: Using online networks in teaching and professional development

The main way I use online networks is through GAFE tools, specifically, Google Drive and Google classroom. The GAFE network has helped build and develop both my teaching and professional networks.  We  have increased the use of these networks to become increasingly paper free within my faculty with the hope that we can utilise the digital technologies to make efficient and transparent systems.  I have utilised Google Classroom somewhat ineffectively but have been increasing the use and my confidence as using it as a strong platform both for the administration of my faculty and using as a teaching and learning tool.

Google Drive is one of the best central storage systems that has so many benefits for educationalists.  I use to be on a system, which required you to be connected (physically by data cable) at school.  This meant either spending late nights/weekends at school or saving items to the desktop or usb to continue on your current work.  You were limited in space and often I had found with our particular system was losing units of work that could not be retrieved.  Though some would argue that by moving to a system like google drive, which can be accessed from any location as long as you can access the internet, blurs the lines between work life balance.  However, in some ways it frees up more time as access is instant and easier making the job at hand quicker.  This has definitely has made my life easier as I spend less time at school after hours and more with family and friend because access to anything I need can be done either on my home computer or phone as long as I am connected to the internet.

Of increasing use is also social media.  At RGHS we use facebook pages and groups to disseminate information to students.  This is a great system as students get instant notifications and we find that the majority of students have facebook so it is a system that they are familiar with and use on a regular basis. This allowed for notices and urgent messages to be given to students but also allowed for parents to join so that they can be fully informed as well as communicate directly with staff.  Information and contact is more readily accessible.

Though I utilise technology and digital platforms in my practice I can still further development and growth that can occur in these areas.