Should social networking be used as an educational tool in
schools? What are the pros and cons?
There are many debates about the use of social media in schools. Many schools ban the use of them entirely, while others allow some limited access. Social networking has been woven into our lives and is an integral part of society today.
There are many good reasons to use social media in schools today. One of the biggest reasons is that today’s 21st century students are immersed in social media; it is their “language”. The good news is that many of them are already using it for learning. “Almost 60% of students who use social networking talk about education topics online; and, surprisingly, more than 50% talk specifically about schoolwork” (Solomon & Schrum, 2010, p.85). If students are already using it, and they are using it to learn, we should embrace it and help them enhance their learning opportunities. In years past the internet was used to look up information. Now it is a participatory resource, full of different communities that students can walk through, interact in and learn from (Solomon & Schrum, 2010).
There are many good reasons to use social media in schools today. One of the biggest reasons is that today’s 21st century students are immersed in social media; it is their “language”. The good news is that many of them are already using it for learning. “Almost 60% of students who use social networking talk about education topics online; and, surprisingly, more than 50% talk specifically about schoolwork” (Solomon & Schrum, 2010, p.85). If students are already using it, and they are using it to learn, we should embrace it and help them enhance their learning opportunities. In years past the internet was used to look up information. Now it is a participatory resource, full of different communities that students can walk through, interact in and learn from (Solomon & Schrum, 2010).
When they come to school and have to log off, it’s not just
their cell phone or laptop that powers down, their minds power down too. Many will argue that there is too much
screen time and students are not gaining face-to-face communication skills
(Pandolfo, 2012). Is that true?
Maybe. But, is that relevant to their
world or the world that the previous generations grew up in? In today’s world, we are all connected
digitally and use our digital devices to communicate. Students communicate face-to-face via
applications like Facetime and Skype. In
some ways they may be communicating more because they have the opportunity to
connect with people all over the world. I’m not suggesting that face-to-face communication is not important. I do believe that students need to learn proper public speaking skills as well as how to interact with each other one on one. By introducing social networking into the school does not mean we abandon other lessons. Students can use social media tools such as videos and podcasts to improve their communication skills, and at the same time learn 21st century skills while being creative.
Students today have the advantage of being able to easily keep in touch with family and friends who don’t live close by. By connecting with others they are enlarging their social network as well as their learning network. As students grow their networks, they will have a larger pool of resources as they start to pursue higher education and start careers. Just think if you started your social network ten years ago? I am pretty sure our PLNs would be much larger, or it would have taken less time to accumulate connections. Students can form their own learning networks, connecting with students in the same grade at different schools, and in different countries. The opportunities to learn about different cultures and experiences are endless.
Students today have the advantage of being able to easily keep in touch with family and friends who don’t live close by. By connecting with others they are enlarging their social network as well as their learning network. As students grow their networks, they will have a larger pool of resources as they start to pursue higher education and start careers. Just think if you started your social network ten years ago? I am pretty sure our PLNs would be much larger, or it would have taken less time to accumulate connections. Students can form their own learning networks, connecting with students in the same grade at different schools, and in different countries. The opportunities to learn about different cultures and experiences are endless.
"Many contemporary schools do not encourage two-way communications, student
collaboration, or global networking. Alan November, a senior partner and the
founder of November Learning, notes that “we currently block schools from
connecting globally, yet it is amazingly important. Teaching children to have global
empathy is to allow them to work with people all over the world.” (West, 2012).
Social media should enhance the lessons we are teaching by allowing
students to collaborate and share information with each other on a real-time
basis. It is argued by some that the use of social media in schools is distracting. Is it any more distracting than students having a side conversation in the back of a classroom when they are supposed to be listening? "
By using social media, information can be provided to large groups of people at one time. Teachers don't have to wait for a parent-teacher conference to update parents on class activities, they can create a class blog which allows parents to be involved any time they want. "The interactive quality of posts contributes to the dynamic nature of the web and enables multidirectional communications among educators, students, and parents. New types of communicators are empowered by digital technology, and this has altered the way in which people access and share information"(West, 2012).
By using social media, information can be provided to large groups of people at one time. Teachers don't have to wait for a parent-teacher conference to update parents on class activities, they can create a class blog which allows parents to be involved any time they want. "The interactive quality of posts contributes to the dynamic nature of the web and enables multidirectional communications among educators, students, and parents. New types of communicators are empowered by digital technology, and this has altered the way in which people access and share information"(West, 2012).
Social networking is here to stay, and will continue to
grow. Colleges and universities use social networking to interact with
students; online discussion boards are used for class discussions. This is another reason why
it is important that we integrate it into our schools. Most businesses use some form of social media
for advertising and keeping in touch with customers. They use social media internally to
communicate with one another and post important information. Teaching students the proper way to use social media is a skill that they need to take with them as they enter out into the real world.
By adding social media into the curriculum, students gain
valuable lessons about the proper use and netiquette. Students can learn from others that have the
same interests as they do. For example, Librarything is a social network that
connects people based on the types of books they read (Solomon & Schrum,
2010). Blogs and wikis allow students to share ideas and they can connect and
communicate 24x7. This is valuable because they are not just learning during
school hours. They can be learning all the time. It also enhances their
reflection and writing skills.
As you can see, there are many advantages, to
adding social networking to the school curriculum. One of the cons, which is of
great concern to educators and parents is “stranger danger”, and rightfully so.
It is real, and it is scary. It’s important to ensure that students are
taught to use social networking safely.
Understanding their digital footprint and how it can affect their safety
and their future is critical. For
elementary and middle school students, teachers can use sites such Edmodo,
which mimics Facebook, but is teacher controlled and not public. Parents can access their student’s site and
monitor what is being shared. The same goes for blogs. To protect students, the
teacher can moderate any posts to the blog and approve them before letting them
go public (Module 5: Social Networking Tools and Social Media, 2014) .
There are many social networking tools available to engage
students and provide creative and thoughtful learning experiences. You
may find the following websites of interest!
Resources:
Module 5: Social Networking Tools and Social Media. (2014). Retrieved from SNHU:
https://bb.snhu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-2490162-dt-content-rid-4665318_1/courses/EDU-642-14TW3-MASTER/EDU-642-14TW2-MASTER_ImportedContent_20131105031557/EDU-642-13TW1-MASTER_ImportedContent_20130725042753/EDU-642-13TW4-MASTER_ImportedContent_20130514031222/Le
Pandolfo, N. (2012, April 30). Social Media And Video Games In
Classrooms Can Yield Valuable Data For Teachers. Retrieved from Huff Post
Education:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/30/social-media-and-video-ga_n_1465082.html
Solomon, G., Schrum, L. (2010). web 2.0 how-to for educators.
Washington, D.C.: ISTE.
West, D. (2012, April 24). How Blogs, Social Media, and Video Games
Improve Education. Retrieved from Brookings:
http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2012/4/24%20education%20technology%20west/0424_edu_media_west.pdf
You bring up some amazing points. I agree that technology should have a part in our students lives, but it does need to be done in a careful way. I struggle with it because of the age group I teach; grades 3-5. Parents of kids that are are often wary of their kids using social media.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, great post. I agree kids should learn the right way to use SM at an early age. It doesn't have to be Facebook, but like you said there are other options. When I was young we were taught not to talk to strangers because you didn't know whether they could be trusted. Today kids need to learn how to talk safely to strangers online, with their teachers help. They need to be taught how to develop a positive digital footprint.
ReplyDeleteDebbie,
ReplyDeleteI like how you made the point that you were not saying that "face to face" communication was not important, but for today's students it is also important to communicate effectively on social media. As teachers we have a responsibility and a duty to teach students effective responsible ways to do this and for a variety of purposes. Students in their free time may use social media for entertainment and connecting with others far away, but there are more meaningful ways that they can be using these tools.
I believe that social media can be a great place for students to reflect on their own learning as well as communicate and collaborate with their peers across the room or across the globe.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, using social media and social networking as a way to practice digital citizenship gives students a safe place to make good choices online. Unfortunately, these opportunities are being missed in so many classrooms.