Week 7- Article 2

I chose to review, reflect and research about social media. Social media is a double edge swore for schools. Many teachers are trying to embrace the web 2.0 tool both students and more parents love to use. The debate is heated but I believe the pros outweigh the cons. Social media provides an outlet for global communication and collaboration, if used correctly. However many administrations don’t approve of social media use in the classroom, while others use it as an administrative communication tool to reach parents and promote school spirit.

“While some districts are making the most of popular social networks, others are not choosing the “Like” button.” This quote was taken from the article , “The Social Media Dilemma”, by Ron Schachter from the districtadministration.com website published in July 2011. The article goes on to explain that more districts block social media than allow it. The administration that allows it agree that most adults find it easier to say “no” and often do because they, themselves don’t use or know how to use the sites. Some of the concerns are, bulling, sexually predators, online relationships between students and teachers and poor web etiquette specifically by teachers and administrators who weren’t educated in digital citizenship.

Through technology education courses I’ve learned that social media can be a great tool in the classroom. However this article further provides more appropriate ways to use this web 2.0 tool. We should introduce Facebook at a young age, like the first graders in the Council Bluffs (Iowa) Community School District specifically College View Elementary. Their teacher, Erin Schoening, has a class Facebook page and updates “friends” with posts, pictures and videos several times daily. Erin is the single administrator of the page and strictly approves only parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, peers in other classrooms with in the school. Check out Erin 8 ways to use Facebook in 1st grade. Student will learn how to appropriately us the tool along with digital citizenship lessons. Twitter is also being used at Mt, Vernon Township High School district in Oakland Ill. says Micheal Smith, superintended. He concludes that Twitter allows teachers and students to reach globally to communicate with authors, or others who can impact student educationally. He goes on to say that teacher utilize the “search” in twitter to pull up information about the days subject. For example “pyramids” receive 18,000 personal videos from people vacations for the student to watch and receive a better idea of the subject.

I agree that there are some dangers in the social network era but with proper education for both the teachers and the students paired with a school’s clear set of policies. Vincent Mustaro of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education suggestions polices such as no online sales, no releasing of students identification, zero tolerance of harassment, and strict teacher- student online relationships should be addressed and considered. A clear set of expectations for use of technology is also a good guideline. Check out WELD Re-4 School District category break down of technology and information expectations .

As a teacher I want to use social media and other similar web 2.0 tools in the class room to connect globally and with other students and parents. I think most schools are against these types of tools but with all the positive feed back from the other schools willing to take the risks it will be hard discard technology like Facebook and twitter. If I work at a school who was resistant I would try to ask other schools to use there policies and expectations. Then I would propose it, in hopes administrators would be less afraid if someone has already had success.