Social Butterflies

Our society is filled with social beings, it's no wonder that schools and workplaces have had to include a social media policy in their handbooks. My school, Notre Dame College Prep, has a social media policy for both employees and students. Our employee handbook is private, but you can read our student handbook here.

It’s been four years since I’ve glanced over the employee handbook, and I was actually surprised with what I found when it came to the terms and conditions of social media. My assumption was that it would list that teachers are not to be interacting with students on social media at all. However, it actually states “Teachers, faculty, and staff are not to interact individually with current students on social networking sites about anything other than appropriate school matters.” Therefore, interaction with students via social media websites is okay, as long as it is school related and appropriate.

I was also reminded that posting pictures of individual students or using their name is not allowed. Although, I’ve never done this as a teacher, I can see how someone may be proud of a specific student and want to share their accomplishment, however a social media post may not be the place for that.

I also looked over the student handbook. I spoke briefly with our Dean of Students about this assignment and he said that the “Social Networking” part of the student handbook is something they review on a yearly basis. Each summer the administrative board makes sure that this section is still applicable and appropriate. I found this interesting, since social media is ever changing so are our policies.

Our student handbook states that students should be following all the terms and conditions set forth by the social media services they are using. It also gives students the full responsibility of what is on their sites. If anything the student posts goes against or violates the mission and policies of Notre Dame College Prep, the student is subject to disciplinary action.

We also include that Illinois Public Act 09-0129 gives the school the right to request access to a student’s social media account if the school has reasonable cause to believe the student has violated our handbook. 

This blog post had me reflecting on how much thought and careful wording has to go in to handbooks, policies, and terms of agreement. There is so much fine print when it comes to contracts we make within our school. Often we brush over and just accept the terms as they are, but this assignment really provided me with an opportunity to analyze them and what they are saying. 

Screenshot taken by Kara Tomaszewski: NDCP Faculty Handbook

Screenshot taken by Kara Tomaszewski: NDCP Student Handbook

Networking

I wanted to start this blog by stating how much I liked the “Tic-Tac-Toe”Board activity. I am a little shock I have never seen this before, but I love the idea of learning something new to bring back to my classroom! A “Tic-Tac-Toe” Board would be a great visual to have at different centers in my classroom. They could give students different options to practice skills during their study hall periods. It’s also a great way to offer different assignments to each student and their needs, while also teaching similar content. I’m very excited to implement this!

After looking at the Tic-Tac-Toe Board, I decided to take the Five Factor test to determine what type of personality I bring to my PLN teams. I also thought this would be interesting to see what personality traits are carrying over into my social media sites and internet usage. Since we don’t have an opportunity to connect in person, I was curious to see how people that “meet” me over the Internet might be picking up on.

Personally, in my PLN, I think the area of cognitive growth is most important to me. As a teacher who is only in my fourth year, I constantly feel that there is so much more to learn. I love using PLNs to find new resources, classroom tools, and differentiation strategies to use in the classroom. I also think this also correlates to why I was ready to go back to school so soon. 

My answers resulted with information on extroversion (71%), neuroticism (60%), openness to experience (65%), conscientiousness (75%), and agreeableness (81%). I can’t say I was too surprised by my results. I do often feel that I am always trying to agree with the group, as opposed to speak my personal opinion, and agreeableness was my highest score. I’d have to say that this is because I enjoy getting along with others and am almost always willing to compromise. This goes along with the fact that extraversion was also a higher score, since I like to get along with others I also like to be around others. My friends often tell me I have more energy than anyone they know. I did find it interesting that neuroticism was my lowest score. Although I agree that I am calm and emotionally stable, I do feel that a sense of me has anxiety when things do not go according to the plan. I’m glad to see that these feelings of anxiety are more in my own thoughts and not portrayed in my actions.

Once I started looking at classmates’ blogs, I came across Cameron’s post about his profile on Symbaloo. Although I have no idea what a Symbaloo is, it caught my eye and I decided to make one. Check out my profile here. The home screen had links or bookmarks to tons of different Internet ventures, so I'm excited to explore! I think creating a Symbaloo is another step in the right direction to further my growth in the cognitive area of my PLN. I am hopeful it will lead me to new connections and new resources! 

Screenshot taken by Kara Tomaszewski of Personality Quiz Results on Psychologist World

Screenshot taken by Kara Tomaszewski of Personality Quiz Results on Psychologist World

Screenshot taken by Kara Tomaszewski of Personality Quiz Results on Psychologist World

Screenshot taken by Kara Tomaszewski of Personality Quiz Results on Psychologist World

Screenshot taken by Kara Tomaszewski of Personality Quiz Results on Psychologist World

Introduction

My Facebook profile picture: my mom and I.

Hi, my name is Kara Tomaszewski! This is my second semester at Dominican University, and second online course with Nicole Zumpano. I’ll be using the same blog that I created last semester, so feel free to browse older topics! However, I did write a new introduction blog post, for my new classmates. I’m excited to add to this blog this semester because the thought of all these posts of different topics in one location really makes me excited. It’ll be a great tool to scroll back through when I’m looking for new ideas in my classroom.

My educational journey to becoming a teacher started at a young age when I babysat a neighbor with Down syndrome. Immediately, I was convinced I had found my profession and was going to be a teacher. Fast forward to when I’m in college and deciding a major. There was no doubt it would be Special Education. I attended Illinois State University and graduated in May of 2014. Immediately upon graduation, I was offered a job at Notre Dame College Prep in Niles, IL. I have been there ever since. It is a special education classroom within a high school setting. I teach math, English, science, and life skills on a daily basis. Besides teaching, I also work with general education teachers to offer modifications and accommodations when necessary. I am a moderator to the Student Council and Pep Club!

Teaching is something I am very passionate about and decided to go back to school at Dominican University in August of 2017 to study Special Education with a focus in Instructional Technology.

My Facebook cover photo: an old photo of my siblings and I.

Another area in my life that I’m very passionate about is my family. I am the middle child of five siblings and have two loving parents. I am an aunt to one nephew and expecting the arrival of the second niece or nephew this March!  Looking forward to taking this course, learning from all of you, and wrapping up just in time to be free to spoil my new niece of nephew!

My Twitter profile picture: my college roommate and I.