If we are to stay current and move to keep our students in the 21st Century, we must learn how to integrate social networking into our curriculum and embrace it. Students are already using social networking sites to socialize and connect with people that they have common interest with. It is something that comes second nature to them. As educators, we must meet them where they are and move them forward. To do this, we must connect to what they already know. It only makes sense that if they already "know" social networking, why not use the way they communicate to communicate the information that we are trying to get them to embrace.
According to the article, AASL's second longitudinal survey reveals school' acceptance of social networking tools: In a study conducted by the AASL, "preliminary findings show that elementary, middle, and high schools are using social networking tools to prepare students for the 21st century. The common beliefs within AASL's "Standards for the 21st Century Learner", state that technology and social skills are essential to the development of 21st Century students in order for them to be viable members of the working community".
After reading this article, it has become more evident to me that wew are doing our students a disservice by not using this technology to help them to connect to classmates with common goals and interests.
One of the big concerns with social networking is the concern about the safety of the students. There are social networking sites that educators can use to make private for students only. There also are several sites out there that teach internet safety and specifically address social networking safety. If you have not checked any out yet, a great place to start is:
NS Teens Post to be private: Awesome website to teach teens about social networking safety.
http://www.nsteens.org/videos/social-networking/
Get Net Wise: This website teaches parents and students how to make networking sites safe by setting privacy settings. It is a great resource for educating on the dangers of social networking and how to be safe while social networking.
http://www.kids.getnetwise.org/safetyguide/technology/socialnetworking
ikeepsafe.org: This website is an educational website that gives the basics of social networking. It explains what it is and how to use it safely and effectively. This would be a great link for a media center to use so that parents can access and be educated about how to use social networking and how to set their child's social networking space to be private.
http://www.ikeepsafe.org/PRC/videotutorials/myspace/index.html
Here ares some examples of how social networking can be used:
A Facebook account could be set up to keep parents, students, and teachers updated on what is going on in the media center or the classroom. Many of our parents and students hold Facebook accounts already. So this would be an easy way to connect with them. They could easily see what is going on in the media center/ classroom. It is quick an easy to connect in a place like Facebook.
The media center or classroom could have a blog so that studens could have book talks, classroom discussions on certain topics, and be able to showcase some of their art work, writing, and other creative expressions.. When students know they are writing for purpose, and it it going to be seen by others, they will develop pride in what they produce. Having students give feedback to others writing is also a great way to get students to interact and read what others are writing about. It opens their minds to explore ideas of other people.
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Donna, I couldn't agree more when you say that not utilizing social networking is a "disservice" to our students. I think it also a disservice to our community and families. I would love to use Twitter or Facebook as a classroom teacher and see just as many benefits for these tools as a media specialist. I think the parents would appreciate it and the students would love it. My students loved participating in a blog about our class topics and field trips (until my principal pulled it from us). Which leads me to…the biggest challenge in my experience in trying to implement these tools is not the students, parents, or teachers' openness to try these tools (we already know how to use them!), it is the fear of the administration.
ReplyDeleteIn my school, we are not allowed to have any internet contact with parents outside of our school monitored website and school monitored email. We cannot set up an alternate web site for our class, we can not have Facebook accounts, Twitter, Blogger, etc. (unless we do not connect to anyone at school). I would love some advice on how to convince the administrators that social networking is not an evil resource. One of my favorite restaurants in Indiana now has a Facebook account, and I love it! Every so often I will get an update about a new menu item or a special going on. Social networking is a great way to communicate and it’s easy. It’s easy because I can go to one place to hear from my family, friends, companies, and entertainment; in 2-3 minutes I’m caught up on everything I care about. I only wish I could share my classroom/media center in the same way that everyone shares with me!
At the risk of sounding like I’m against social networking in the school setting (I’m not), let me ask you to step back and look at a much bigger issue. I am totally sold on the benefits, which really are endless, of using current technology to authenticate and enrich learning. However, it seems that with all that is good in our world there is an opposing “evil.” I have personally heard story after story of issues created by social networking. Most recently, a fifth grade teacher I know had a student use her password to post on the class blog some very offensive remarks about another student. Now that teacher is being threatened with a law suit. You stated that we are doing a disservice to our students by not providing them with an avenue with which to “connect to classmates with common goals and interests.” Ironically, by providing this avenue through the school setting we are affording kids the opportunity to connect in a potentially dangerous and damaging way. I don’t care how many wonderful sites are out there that provide information on the dangers of networking, nor how much we “preach” safety, there will be people (not just kids) who use this great resource/avenue/tool, for wrong instead of right. As educators we must acknowledge this threat and work to squelch it. It is useless to take a stance on either side (to use social networking in the school or not to use it).
ReplyDelete"Why not use the way they communicate to communicate the information that we are trying to get them to embrace"....it sounds as though you are saying that we need to speak the language of the students in order to reach them with our message. And, that is not an altogether inaccurate comparison. As teachers and media specialists, we are sort of like foreigners in a land with an important message to give to the inhabitants (students). Our message is that education and literacy on many different levels will help them to achieve their dreams and make them better human beings....but, how will the students hear this message unless we translate it into something that they understand? We did not grow up with all of these technological tools--remember that the inhabitants have never gotten up to change the channel unless the remote is nowhere to be found!!! And, that is not true for the rest of us. We learned in different ways, and information was imparted to us in different ways. However, we must now use the ways and words (some of them) in which they, the students, communicate in order to reach them.
ReplyDeleteSocial networking in schools can be a great thing if used the correct way, but that's only if used the correct way. I believe that students would love to use this tool in their classrooms. It would be another way to make learning fun for them. These days we need to pull in as many fun resources that we can to keep the students attention. I also find that there is a vast amount of offensive material on social networking sites. Students must be taught how to use the social networking tools appropriately before being gave full reign on using the sites.
ReplyDeleteSocial networking is a great way to keep in touch with things. I have a Facebook and Myspace account. I keep up with people I have graduated high school and college with. Without either of the two, I wouldn't know half of what is going on in my friends lives. I also know that some use these tools in a wrong way, not a right way. As teachers, we have to decide if we would like to take the chance or not. I myself, if given permission by my school, would take the chance.
The popularity of social networking is undeniable. Therefore, I agree that we must embrace it in our schools in one form or another. However, it is clear that if a school intends to implement social networking sites into instruction or to encourage discussions/collaborations that there must be filters put into place. Any social networking site representing the school or its interests must be monitored and controlled. This is necessary to protect students from unsafe content and prevent potential moral and legal complications from arising. Fortunately, forms of social networking exist that can provide the benefits while still protecting our students.
ReplyDeleteI also like how you mentioned the importance of educating students on safety in regards to participating in social networking. It is essential that we get this information to our students so they are fully aware of the potential dangers and pitfalls. I am happy to see public service announcements regarding this issue on television lately, but we can do more in the school to provide instruction that applies to these same issues.
I think it would be an excellent idea for the media specialist to host an evening that serves to inform parents of the types of social networking their children may be participating in. This would not be intended to scare parents but to empower them with the knowledge necessary to monitor their children in these activities. I believe many parents still remain clueless about many of the online social networks our students routinely take part in, post pictures to, and share information on.
Donna, thanks for the great reference sites. As with anything 'new' sometimes it is forgotten that lots has been written, researched, analysized and re-written about social networking. For everything there is a place, a season, a reason and a method and we should be able to find some part of social networking that is effective within our cirriculum. IT can be a valuable tool, now within the education of the student's or later in life, when they are struggling to be responsible adults. I hope the collaboration aspect can help the media specialist really reach out into the classroom and start building those relationships between faculty.
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