This video was about merging students' social uses of technology with instructional uses. There is a clear divide in perceptions about the value and/or use of online engagement between generations. Adults think that students are simply wasting their time online, while students find online interactions very valuable. The video I watched is an interview with Mimi Ito, a researcher looking at the outcomes of linking online social engagement with instruction. The video found that students use social media for a variety of reasons, mainly socially. However, there are students who do use social media and engage online to create organic learning experiences. In the video, Mimi talks about the “missing piece”. My interpretation of the “missing piece” was as technology becomes more and more integral in our everyday lives, educators need to acknowledge the importance and foster a role in online education because of the positive impact on student learning. Intellectual development, civic engagement, and personal development were examples used in the video as positive outcomes of the merging the uses of online engagement.
The following question was posed in the video "Why do we assume kids' socializing and play is not a side of learning?" This question resonated with me because that seems to be a common trend with teachers. We find little value in students' uses of technology because it is not instructional, instead of finding ways to link the uses together. Mimi's message in the video simply states that "we need to work against the general perception that online engagement is hostile to learning". I believe, instead of perpetuating the perceptions around online engagement, educators and parents need to be more active about linking informal and formal online engagement. Watching this video initially made me think about all the great things teachers are currently doing to mitigate this problem (ie. online discussions or collaborative assignments using instructional technologies). However, there is still work to be done, I think there should be more focus on this matter through professional development and professional learning communities. As educators we need to create instruction that taps into both social and interest based uses of technology. Much of our curriculum and instruction either limit the students abilities to be creative with instruction online or lack initial student interest. In order to begin the work and continue creating opportunities for students to use technology both social and educationally, teachers need to be innovative. Using social media as outlets for students to educate others about their learning experiences is a great way to start.