Click on this link to read an article about using social media in the classroom: http://campustechnology.com/articles/2012/01/19/pros-and-cons-of-social-media-in-the-classroom.aspx. Do you see a place for it in your future classroom? Why or why not? If you choose to use it, which site would you use and how would you use it? How can it be misused and even abused by students and teachers?
147 comments:
I really enjoyed this article because often times I am on the fence about using social media in the classroom. After reading this article I think the author provided plausible reasons for and against the use of social media in education. At first, I always agreed 100% with allowing the use of social media as an educational tool. I agreed with it for the same reasons the author the author did. I too, believe it is an educational tool to enrich the classroom learning experience. Shy students who might not otherwise communicate verbally in the classroom communicate on social media such as Facebook and Youtube. Students can communicate with peers across the world and share a plethora of ideas that might not have been shared otherwise. I also believe that the use of social media who require the educator to attend additional professional development to see social media used for educational purposes. On the other hand, I believe that it would require frequent monitoring by the teacher and school administration. I have witnessed bullying via Facebook. The student suffered from long term depression and ultimately had to attend another school. So students need to feel these tools are safe in order for them to be successful educational tools.
I enjoyed this article because it provided both an insight to both sides of the argument about whether or not social media website should be allowed in classrooms. The author did a great job of providing both the pros and cons that would come along with this notion. Before reading this article I went into it thinking that utilizing social media websites in a classroom could not be a good idea at all. As also mentioned in the article, the first thing that came to my mind was that it would be too much of a distraction to many students. Additionally, there is always the problem of cyber bullying as well. After reading this article I still believe that both of these problems would be present, however, now I also side the other side of the argument as well. I can see how using social media websites in a classroom would benefit many students including those who are too shy to participate in regular class discussions. It's also a great way to keep a classroom that is current with the times and to have students engaged in the lessons. I still can't say whether or not I think it would be a great idea to utilize social media websites in the classroom, however, I would like to learn more about how it can be used and ways in which to implement activities in the classroom. It would be interesting to learn more about a class that does utilize social media websites in the classroom and to see how it goes. I do believe, however, that if used in the classroom there should be very frequent monitoring by the teacher and school administration to ensure that it is being used properly and responsibly.
I agree with everything this article spoke about. Personally, I love the idea of having social media in the classroom. However, strict rules need to be set in order for it to be maintained and controlled in an appropriate way. I agree with Tricia in that social media can serve as a huge distraction if used in the classroom. Therefore, setting up a blog for classroom use only would be a beneficial way to keep the discussions monitored and focused. I would not use Facebook or Twitter for assignments in my class because I feel that distractions would outweigh the positives. A blog seems to be the best choice because it allows for all of the pros the article mentioned: communication between students and teachers, practice for future careers, and a way for ALL students to participate. Social media is becoming such an integral part of today's society that I think it is necessary that it be used in education. It is the teacher's responsibility to keep the discussions pertinent to classroom content, appropriate (free of bullying), useful, and meaningful. I think the article was a great tool to discuss the pros and cons and I think it would open someone's eyes in how social media could benefit or tarnish classroom instruction.
I feel that having social media in a classroom will allow all students to respond positively. Students that are more often to be quiet or more reserved in a classroom would maybe find this as a way to express themselves. I really like the opportunity what students would have to create a pen pal situation with students from all over the world. A negative side to this would be that allowing the children to use social media in the classroom, there would need to be much supervision while the students are doing this.
This was a great article to read. It has every thought and feeling I have had with the use of technology in the classroom. I agree with Tricia, that this article was good because it provided us with the pros and cons and when technology is being integrated into the classroom there has to be strict rules that are enforced at all times. Yes, I think technology is extremely beneficial in many aspects our children's learning process however, it can also be very distracting if used excessively, without rules, and taken advantage of. I have seen technology being used in both positive and negative ways. For example, I've seen kids that hate to read, read stories on the computer because it made it all the more interesting for them therefore, making reading more fun and exciting. On the other hand, I've seen kids try and sneak games they weren't supposed to play behind the teachers backs. So as long as technology is monitored and the rules are enforced and not taken advantage of I think the positives of technology can definitely outweigh the the negatives and be extremely beneficial in all classrooms.
I enjoyed reading this article. I thought it was very informative by providing both the pros and cons of using technology in the classroom. I think that using technology in the classroom is a great idea and can only help to further educate the students as long as it is used correctly. I agree with Kasey about the reserved children being able to express themselves. it is a good way to get good participation out of the class. I also agree with the article about the students being able to use the internet for homework help or to find out about future assignments. Im not sure about using the actual Facebook or Twitter sights in the classroom with the students, but maybe using a form of blog where only the class can be involved. I think that if technology is going to be integrated into the classroom what ever the students are using should be monitored. The teacher needs to make sure that only what is expected of the students is taking place on the blog and no cyber bullying is taking place. As long as someone is able to see what is taking place on the site being used then i could only see benefits of using technology in the classroom.
This was a great article to read because it brings up a topic that has become more and more popular with the advancement of technology in classrooms. As far as elementary school is concerned, I believe there is not great worry about this because I do believe these students are still young and have yet to realize the power social networking can have on an individual. Although from a personal experience I have heard about some fourth, fifth and sixth graders talking about how they want to join Facebook but their parents would not allow them yet. As for the older students, this issue is much more up for debate. It is clear that social networking sites do have their pros and cons, but which ones outweigh the others. It is hard to decide and I have yet to make my own decision on whether I would allow it in my own classroom or not. I do believe that social networking allows for students to collaborate on school material as well as socialize. With the advancements of IPHONES and DROIDS, students now have the capability of viewing these sites right from their phones which can be extremely distracting. However I do believe, with the correct ground rules, social networking sites can be used to help increase knowledge and relationships both inside and outside the classroom.
This was an interesting article because it brings up so many great points. I definitely believe that communication between teacher and student would be improved through social media. I feel like social media expands every other day. My brother, an undergrad in Miami, uses Twitter for a journalism class to communicate with his professor. The class tweets each other, the same way that our class blogs. I believe that social media is good to use in the classroom, but like Matt said, there need to be ground rules. It also could be hard to monitor troublemakers with social media, as cyberbullying is such a huge problem today.
Social Media is a great educational tool to help enrich the learning experience. It is a great way for students and teachers to communicate - teachers can create class blogs, a classroom facebook page or even use Linkedin to give students the opportunity to express their ideas, comments or concerns. With the teachers involvement and moderation, it can be a controlled environment that limits the possiblities of cyber bullying and any inappropriate material.
I am kind of on the fence with this topic. I do agree that social media will help students and teachers interact more, most students are probably already fluent in how to use this outlets. However I am not a fan of face book to begin with, and I do feel it could be a distraction in the classroom. Brendan D
I think the cons outweigh the pros when it comes to social networking in the classroom. With the amount and severity of cyberbullying occuring today I think it is an awful idea to encourage students to use social networking. I think it is important for students to have a way to contact their teachers to ask questions and for teachers to communicate with students and parents electronically (perhaps through a teacher website and email) however I feel life in the classroom and personal life should be kept separate. I think a class discussion over blogging is a great idea but should be strictly academic and not be linked to personal life outside of school.
I believe that integrating technology into a classroom is positively necessary to be up to date within today’s society. It is without a doubt that I plan to continue using technology in my classroom. Technology opens the door to many new ways of teaching and maintaining student engagement, communication and interaction. There are so many websites, and equipment that could be now used within a classroom, that the choices are endless. But to name a few; You Tube, Brain Pop, Discovery Education, are some websites that have proven effective in my classroom. Devices such as Smart Board, I phones, and projectors also are effective in student learning. Misuse of these tools can obviously occur, if proper supervision is not upheld. Students could possibly become distracted by the actual gadget, rather than being involved within the lesson, and even teachers could lose focus of their classroom objectives, instead of micro-managing hand-held devises.
Whether we like it or not, integrating technology into the classroom is most likely going to be the next wave in education reform. It has already become such a huge part of students' lives that educators are going to have to conform to these platforms. I think they can be utilized in positive manners however, caution must be exercised to avoid problems such as cyber bullying and classroom distraction. Perhaps it would be prudent for technologists to create a user-friendly platform that combines the best of the social media worlds to be utilized in an educational fashion, with more restrictions than are placed on sites like Twitter and Facebook, for safety.
I agree with all who have said technology is here to stay in the classrooms. We as teachers need to use the opportunity to not only use age appropriate social media but also relevant. I believe that it has also become our responsibility to teach the ethics of this media as well.
As we are asking the students to collaborate more and more on projects, they will need different kinds of social media. Blogging is something that I could use with my 5th graders. It could be used not just as an educational tool but as a means of bonding a group.This could be leveling the field for all learners.- Nancy M
After reading this article, i agree with everything it had to offer, both the pros and cons to integrating social media within the classroom. I think the idea of having social media integrated in the classroom is great but i feel that the teacher would have to establish a set of rule so that it will be kept under control. i agree with Kasey because I also feel that students would respond positively with integrating social media in the classroom because students who might be more on the shy side, will be able to partake more comfortably with the class. Blogs are very beneficial for keeping the class monitored and making sure everyone is staying involved. It lets the students express their ideas freely. yes, incorporating such technology within the classroom can be extremely beneficial and at the same time distracting, but I feel as long as the teacher keeps it regulated and stays on top of the students it can be extremely successful.
The pros and cons need to be looked at very carefully. Using technology in the classroom is very necessary however I feel that social media has many pitfalls. If we allow are students access to this while in school will we be responsible for constant monitoring. It could be helpful but at what cost to class time and prep time. Proceed with caution teachers.
Pat F.
In my experience both as a student teacher and a teacher technology has played a vital role. I believe that social media can be valuable for certain assignments. It would make sense for business students or those about to graduate to learn how to use LinkedIn. I do not personally feel comfortable advocating that Twitter or Facebook be used for educational reasons in my classroom. If the teacher or the school administration cannot effectively monitor behavior or what is written it can create a dangerous situation for those involved. However, I am in favor of using Wikis and blogs in the classroom and think these are "safer" tools. I have used websites such as Teachertube and Youtube and even then you have to be aware of advertisements and other videos that are suggested on the side. I agree with Pat F. that we need to "proceed with caution."
I agree with Tara B. social networking sites do contain valuable information that can be used in the classroom, however using these sites will require constant monitoring. I think blogging and other sites for research are an acceptable classroom tool, but Facebook and Twitter are unnesscary to incooporate in the classroom.
Erin C.
I see both the pros and the cons to using social media in the classroom. Depending on the age range of the students, the tool can be beneficial to many students. As the article stated, those students who are too shy to raise their hand may express themselves better using a social media website. Also, those students who may not be great at the content, have a greater chance of succeeding using a social media that they are more comfortable with. Twitter might be useful to have students react to a book they are reading as a class. Teachers and students can both misuse social media websites for personal and inappropriate purposes between one another.
Social media is such a growing trend with todays students. I believe this tech-savvy generation expects social media to be integrated into their learning. I do not agree that social media should be used in the classroom. For myself, the cons outweigh the pros. Real life social skills become very important for any developing child or adolescent and some students will lose those skills if they get to hide behind their computer.
Laura K
I think that social media should be conservatively incorporated into the classroom environment. There is so substitution for person to person social skills that are needed for job interviews, presentations, and everyday societal interactions. Social media outlets like Facebook or twitter can be used as a good platform to supplement the overall educational experiences in the classroom. Teachers and professors can use those sites to post information, answer questions, and interact with students. I would not make it the primary basis for receiving information and interacting with students. I would still want in-class discussions and general in-person interactions. Anthony D
I remember being very shy and participating very little in class when I was a high school student. Using social media, in that time, would have been a useful tool for me to express my ideas. As an after class communication (answer questions, changes of schedules, comments on a subject, etc) social media would be a great tool. But the cons to use it are very strong. I think that social media could be used in the classroom, but carefully and in moderation. It is very important to develop the skills and obtain the advantages of using social media for a future profesional life, but there are important skills that a student can loose or not develop if the only way of communication is throught social media. Granya.
Granya- I can relate to you in the sense that I was a very shy student in high school and I never really participated in class discussions. I think that if we had a class blog such as this one then I would have felt more comfortable expressing my opinions.
After reading this article, to me it seems like school site cons outweigh the pros. I think that it is important for students to have a form of communication with other students and teachers, but it needs to remain on a professional level. I do not think that Facebook and twitter are the answers because they constantly should be monitored ( which is time consuming)
I think that students should stick to having discussions face to face and students should exchange a school email account with each other and their teacher incase they need to address them with something that is school related.
-Michelle S
This article was great! I like how both sides of the argument were presented. Also, both sides of the argument had valid points. I believe that social networking can be an essential tool for student’s learning. They can use this social networking to access information that pertains to their classroom work as well as homework. For example, blogging with students can be a great way for students to interact with each other. In addition, using social media websites in a classroom would benefit many students including those who are too shy to participate in regular class discussions. Even though, I agree that social networking is a useful tool I also, believe that cyber bullying can occur and that these social networking sites can cause distractions in the classrooms. Teachers would need to monitor the students while on these social networking sites which will also, add on more work for teachers. I think it should be incorporated into the lessons, but maybe use it at a minimum.
-Nicole S.
This was a great article to read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. With social networking on the rise, especially in these generations it is interesting to read the facts. This can allow students to begin networking at an early age and this can also bring back the concept of pen pals, just in the form of internet which will make this quicker and easier for our students. I agree with Erin when she says that these sites would need constant monitoring. Though this is a great and successful tool for our students to use, there are not always postive things on these sites for them to see. The monitoring wouldn't be time consuming and would allow our students to get the most out of this while being safe doing it.
Nicole D.
Unfortunately the cons have it, and they are just too many to ignore. Facebook and other social media sites might have had potential back when they first came out as simple and non intrusive networks exclusive to students, but today that has all changed. A site which is now open to the public has no place in a classroom. All its benefits have been suffocated around the irrelevant “social” footnotes of its users everyday lives. These websites have morphed into disadvantageous environments especially among its younger audience whom display highly addictive symptoms towards these sites. In its current format these sites would simply be an unsound distraction in the classroom. However, I do agree with K. Lapelosa in that an alternative user-friendly social website created specifically and exclusively for the classroom, would restore the pros mentioned in this article which the current social media outlets lack.
Amir A.
Students of today are constantly immersed in social media. It influences them in every way possible, this can be seen as unfortunate. There are many pros and cons to using social media in the classroom. I agree with Amir A. and feel that the cons are indisputable and that social media sites are becoming addictive for adolescents. However, because of this I think we need to show students how social media can be used in a positive way. As teachers we cannot deny the influence that social media has and we need to harness this and use it to our advantage.
I like how this article distinguishes the pros and cons of using social media in the classroom. I think it is a tough decision. It is critical to integrate technology into the classroom in today's society but it is also scary of integrating social media into the classroom. I think more educational sites like edmodo or blogs are more beneficial then using twitter and facebook. Students can react on edmodo to articles and practicing there writing. If students have a task it would be better that just belonging to a group. Assignments can be posted on blogs and edmodo as well. I agree with Amir. Facebook and Twitter are open to the public and many teens now a days share personal information and many are cyberbullied. Teachers shouldn't encourage students to use it within the classroom.
I disagree with Elaine, in that she believes that social media is becoming addictive to kids today. Like anything new, it is both exciting and engaging. With time, I think the novice feeling of it will diminish and it will prove highly effective as a teaching tool.
I agree with Clare G. Assignments can be posted on many different sites, but to use Facebook and Twitter is just asking for trouble on so many levels.
Teens have it hard enough just being accepted....why use a tool that contains social media in the classroom? Sure, use technology, but respect student's privacy!
Patti G
I enjoyed this article because it discussed both the pros and cons about using social media in the classroom. I think using social media in the classroom is a great supplement to a lesson, but it needs to be used correctly. I was often a shy student and did not like raising my hand in class to express my opinion, so I agree with the pro that it enables all students to interact and share ideas. One of the cons, however, that really grabbed my attention was the cyber bullying. In today's society, the teacher must closely watch what the students are saying and doing on the social media used for the classroom. Also, it is important to have discussions both inside and outside the classroom, not just online. Overall, I think social media can be useful if used appropriately.
I think using social media in the classroom can be a difficult task. I feel as though facebook and twitter are media outlets for students and peers to reconnect with each other as opposed to a means for educational exchanges. The inital purpose of facebook was to allow people to interact with their friends and keep in contact because everyone went to different colleges. It would be strange to use facebook or twitter to post class assignments etc. I think a blog would be a more effective way to share ideas and commuincate within a class. The other disadvantage of using social media in the classroom is the fact that some people may not have facebook or twitter or choose to use these websites so what thappens to those students? It is an interesting idea but, I do believe that facebook and twitter are media outlets that should be used for social purposes instead of for intellectual purposes. LinkedIn on the other hand is a great resource for networking and should be utilized for educational endeavors.
Khem Ramjeawan
I feel that social media in the classroom is a great attribution depending on the grade. I feel that in the younger grades, it should not play a large factor. However, high-school or junior-high students could benefit from this. With the age we are in now, almost all high school students are on facebook or twitter. Their future will be involving social networkings like the article states. I feel that with the correct amount of security and protection, this can be a beneficial tool in a classroom.
Theresa F
I feel that social media in the classroom is a great attribution depending on the grade. I feel that in the younger grades, it should not play a large factor. However, high-school or junior-high students could benefit from this. With the age we are in now, almost all high school students are on facebook or twitter. Their future will be involving social networkings like the article states. I feel that with the correct amount of security and protection, this can be a beneficial tool in a classroom.
Theresa F
Similar to Amanda S, I thought that this article truly got to the details of the controversial topic by discussing the pros and cons of integrating social media into the classroom. However, I am somewhat on the fence about whether or not I think that this is a good idea. I feel that most students use social media simply as it is defined - to socialize. By bringing this socializing resource into the classroom, I feel that many students may become distracted or become more focused on chatting with their friends then discussing school-related topics. Although I definitely feel that social media benefits the school setting by making students more tech-savvy, I think that it would detract from face-to-face communication - something that I feel is very crucial at a young age. This being said, it is undeniable that social media is present in the lives of all young people nowadays - and as teachers, it is our responsibility to embrace this in a positive way as our teaching styles grow and develop.
Leanne K.
I agree with Leanne K, I also can’t decide if social media in the classroom is a good idea or not. Using the internet as a resource to teach children is one thing but using social media such as facebook and twitter is another. Encouraging students to use these social media sites in my opinion is inappropriate, however we should also teach them to use it safely. Students using facebook and twitter are a must these days. Yes it is a great way for students to keep in touch with old friends, and socialize on a daily basis but one of the negative outcomes of using it is cyber bullying. Technology is advancing every day, so it is important that teachers teach their students the correct way of using today’s social media. Leslie P.
I think it can be fun and educating to include social media in the classroom. The types of social media, how and what the students use it for, and the amount of supervision would certainly depend on the grade you are teaching. For example, an elementary class may use social media as a class so that the teacher still has control over anything that may be inappropriate, or an elementary class could work in small groups with the teacher so there is adult supervision present. The teacher would also have to try to foresee any problems that may occur and take precautions so that they wouldn’t happen. As the students get older the amount of supervision from an adult could decrease and the complexity of what the class is using social media for could increase. One way a teacher could use social media in their classroom is having students use a class Facebook page to communicate with students from other countries. Students could have pen pals (or Facebook pals).
Social media is a huge part of our students lives whether we are ready to embrace it or not. I think educators should use social media in the classroom and the cons can be worked on. Bullying is not tolerated in my classroom and the same consequences are implemented when I use social media. Cyber-bullying is punished just the same as classroom or hallway bullying. Similarly, anything can be a distraction (students can write notes back and forth, or write lyrics on their binders) and if a student abuses his or her priviledge of using a computer, it is taken away or a parent is informed, just like when they write notes. Face to face communication is only going to be discouraged if social media is used all day, every day. We are still in a classroom and still have face to face interaction, I just think we should start incorporating social media when we can. I agree with Vanessa, depending on the grade the teacher will have to make rules and stick to them.
It is clear that social media is an area of technology that is growing extremely fast, and is becoming incorporated into many facets of our everyday lives. Although social media has seemingly been accepted into society with little opposition, Integrating social media into the classroom is something that clearly poses conflict. Social media in the classroom can be an effective educational tool by improving classroom communication and more effectively engaging the students. Yet social media in the classroom has clearly led to increased number of cyber bullying instances. Social media is clearly a platform students can easily access to post inappropriate content and perform malicious acts. I agree with what Jenna posted, in order to effectively incorporate social media into the classroom, strict guidelines have to be put in place. Any inappropriate behavior on social media should be treated as if it was a behavior that was performed in the classroom. In the end, social media should only be used as a tool for education, and the overuse of social media in the classroom may have negative adverse affects.
Nick M.
Using social media can be very helpful as an educator. It is an effective way to communicate with students. Students do not check their E-Mail address regularly. They do, however, checks their social networks on a consistent basis. If students have questions, the use of social networks are a welcoming way to encourage student participation. However, there are risks to using such sites. Cyber bullying is a big concern, as well as teachers/students using appropriately. Even if students use it inappropriately, the teacher is liable. If using it, teachers must have full trust in their students.
I agree Jenna. Social networks can be a valuable tool. It must be understood at the beginning its purpose. Bullying and using social websites in an inappropriate fashion is unacceptable won't be tolerated. It is a great tool for students to communicate with each other, as well as the teacher. Students are more inclined to ask questions using social websites, resulting in a better understanding of class expectations.
Using social media in the classroom is an excellent idea, especially since more and more things we do are 'internet' oriented. While 'pros' are always great to have, the cons must be carefully monitored especially at the middle school and high school level where cyberbullying is at greater risk. My thinking is in line with Jenna H.
I agree with Ira, students do not check their email regularly but they do check their Facebook constantly. I think if teachers could create a class page it would be a big step in helping to flip the classroom.
It is obvious that technology and social media is becoming an every day part of our world and children are using these tools at an even younger age than ever. There is a part of me that feels as educators we should just jump on board and join in, utilizing these tools to get students more involved. However, there is also a part of me that feels we are losing something by just giving in to this technology age. I agree with both the pros and the cons of the article and feel that yes, maybe the cons can be worked on; there are some issues that may take a long time to be worked out. I do agree with Ira, students will look at their facebook many times through out a day but most likely check their e-mail once. If there is a way to link the two, such as messaging the students on facebook or having them receive a notification.
Alex M
Throughout my experience in the classroom so far, I agree with the pros and cons of socail media. I think it is another great tool for teachers and students to utilize, it can often make assignments more interesting and also be a valuable tool. On the other hand, I do feel that the use of social media should be monitored some how. I understand that the issue of monitoring social media is causing alot of controversy right now, but for the safety of the students and faculty some conclusions must be made on how this can be possible. LB
Although I do believe social media can be beneficial to an individual and society, I feel that it lacks a need to be inside of the classroom. Social media would prove to be to much of a distraction to students while in school. I could see a teacher incorporating social media into outside the classroom activities such as homework and projects.
I found this article to be relevant and important for all educators new/experienced to read. Social media is such a big part of our students', and let's face it teachers', lives today. The majority of the students in our classroom use or have been exposed to social media. Most high school students use it on a daily basis. Using social media is a great way for teachers to reach out to students in a way students connect to eachother. Social media allows teachers to create blogs about homework and assignments. It allows to teachers to continue class discussions and critical thinking outside of the classroom. It offers students a way to reach teachers if they need help or assistantance with homework. Social media can be great, when used properly.... That is the key rule, when teachers use social media properly. This means teachers should not engage with students on personal emails or personal social media accounts. This means all discussion between the students and the teacher or the students and the students must remain as formal as it would in the classroom and with the same rules and integrity. Teachers must remain professional and students must communicate together with kindness and respect for each other. No bullying or even joking that could be misinterpreted allowed. Teachers must also clear the use of social media with the parents and administrators. Parents should be allowed to monitor and access the websites as well. If teachers follow such guidelines, then social media can be a really successful means of teaching and connecting with their students.
If I was going to use a social media site for in my classroom and outside of the classroom with my students it would be twitter. Twitter doesn't have as many distractions such as advanced profiles and photo albums, which defeat the purpose of using it as an educational tool. I would ask my students to make a seperate twitter account solely used for class discussions, posting and viewing videos of related topics, posting and viewing pictures, graphs, and graphic organizers, for students to help eachother with homework, and for students to reach me outside of class for homework help or other inquiries. The site would be open for administrator and parent viewing. I would also send a parental consent form home to be signed by parents.
I do believe that the use of social media can be beneficial in some scenarios, but I would not implement its use in my classroom. I feel that it can be too much of a distraction, especially for younger students. However, I could understand the incorporation of social media for homework assignments or class projects.
I do believe that the use of social media can be beneficial in some scenarios, but I would not implement its use in my classroom. I feel that it can be too much of a distraction, especially for younger students. However, I could understand the incorporation of social media for homework assignments or class projects.
I do not know if I would use twitter or Facebook in my classroom because it is too much of a distraction. I would make a website that they could go to to look at assignments and can chat with each other, but I would make sure that I would be able to see the chat so I could prevent bullying and/or cheating. I do like the use of Youtube because it can be educational if used effectively.
Social medis is certainly the new trend and it is inevitable that students are going to use these sites whether in school or not. The problem with using sites like Facebook or Twitter in the classroom is that the students may become very distracted> These sites also allow for cyberbullying to occur, when that happens teachers have no ability to block these posts. I think technology in the classroom will engage the students and thus a bloggin site set specifiaically for the class is a great way to have the students communicate.
Social media is certainly the new trend and it is inevitable that students are going to use these sites whether in school or not. The problem with using sites like Facebook or Twitter in the classroom is that the students may become very distracted. These sites also allow for cyberbullying to occur, when that happens teachers have no ability to block these posts. I think technology in the classroom will engage the students and thus, a blogging site set specifiaically for the class is a great way to have the students communicate.
I agree with this article. I feel that there are good and negative aspects to using social media in the classroom. As with so many other innovative ideas i feel educators need to find the balance in using social media, because they are great tools at preparing students for employment in the future. Teachers need to figure out ways to both intergrate social media into the lesson and to stop the distractions that may occur. K chin
This article was very interesting. I tend to change my opinion on the use of social media in the classroom. I believe it is a great way to share articles and allow "likes" to see what people think of it. I agree that the use of social media could be a huge distraction. If students are bored they will find something else to entertain them, I do not believe however that we should place that distraction in their hands. I think Facebook is too personal to be using. A Twitter account could be useful to share links and blogs are a good way for students to communicate. Implementing the use of social media does allow students who normally do not participate to do so but using it too much continues to take away from students face to face communication.
I agree with Kathleen about not using Facebook and Twitter in the classroom. That will definitely be a distraction. But I agree with the majority of the article about successfully integrating social media into the classroom. Of course teachers will need to monitor what is being posted so cyberbullying will not be an issue. Just like this blog is encouraging discussion among classmates, I feel it will definitely enrich the learning experience. On the topic of communication, social media will allow students express themselves in a different way that may not come across in the classroom. Social media can't replace the face-to-face communication, but just help students in how they express themselves effectively.
I can see social media possibly being in my classroom. I believe in finding ways to engage students because textbooks don't really work. Maybe something like twitter or LinkedIn could work. I would probably use some sort of blog site like blogger or twitter to post discussions and homework to allow students to interact and know whats going on if they are not in school. I would also monitor it to make sure their is no bullying. It can be misused by students bullying each other or using it just to converse. Teachers could misuse it by using it so they don't have to do as much in class and making their job easier, which isn't good either.
I agree with Tom when he says that I can see social media playing a role in my future classroom BUT I feel there is a lot of procedures that need to be cleared up. Like any technology, or new fad, it can be very engaging and exciting for students to use within school. However, facebook and twitter I feel have more cons than pros. Social media and texting are just a few examples of how students have lost the art of holding a decent face to face conversation or even uphold a phone conversation. Technology forms of communication may be great while they are younger BUT do students a dis-service within the workplace. Students need to be taught the PROPER way of communication through phone, letters, email and face to face conversation BEFORE they should be permitted to use social media to communicate in an academic setting.
I agree with the author that social media is an educational tool to enrich the classroom learning experience. The communication between teacher and student will expamd. I believe if used in the right doses can be extremelly beneficial. If used to much can be hurtful and distracting. I agree that shy students might come out of their shell and it will be easier for them to ask questions through this technology. Allowing social media for an educational tool with spark a students interest. Clearly I agree with social media in the classroom, but obviously it is important to be monitored and under supervision in order to catch bullying
I really enjoyed this article. I think it showed realistic pros and cons of using social media sites in the classroom. I think that social media allows students to connect with one another and they really enjoy these methods of communication. Social media sites are important to understand when looking for employment. I do understand the cons of using these sites in the classroom as well. While students become engaged in social media, it can become a distraction if they are not using it properly. I do see how social media outside of the classroom can promote cyber bullying, and while social media allows people to connect it also discourages face-to-face communication which is very important for the professional world.
I think that educators need to find a balance for using social media in the classroom. It needs to be monitored and should only be used for educational purposes in the classroom.
I agree with Michael, Social Media would be a great way to complete an out of classroom project between students and teachers, but can be distracting in the classroom.
Like the saying goes there is a time and a place for everything, such is the same for social media and its use in the classroom. If the use social media will stimulate a better participation for your lesson or enhance it then by all means use it, if not then do not. Will I use social media in the future it depends, if I feel my students will benefit. If I had to choose a social media to use I think I would choose Facebook; because you can do so much, i will use it to post summarys of class lessons and test reviews, that way if students have questions I can respond immediately. Though the use of social media can be good it can be a source of problem if it is misused by both the teacher and students if their postings has nothing to do with classroom experience. M. Worthy
I like to read about pros and cons on a topic, because each points are very important and should be understood outweighing one from the other. I believe it is important to have technology in a classroom or as a lesson, because technology very well can help students in their future in getting a job. However i do not believe that students should be relying on technology too much. Cyber bullying is not acceptable at all! Therefore, students in middle and high school should not be given too much freedom and access these online chats. And if so, need to have rules and limits to posts, or there will be consequences! And I also agree that students need to be interactive more! For instance, you do not see many kids playing outside, because they are hooked into technology. The world has technology down to having students as well as adults hooked, now somehow students and most adults need to be more active in being interactive. Being interactive is a very important part of life. (Communication)
After reading the pros and cons of social media in the classroom, I don't see it a worthy tool in our classroom. I wish the author would give concrete examples how social media can be utilized in classroom setting in a positive way. I strongly believe students will get distracted while using this media in the classroom. The percentage of cyberbullying is too high to continue allowing students free access on these sites especially in the classroom. It is opening up a big can of worms which school districts will have to protect themselves if something was written durng class time that was not appropriate. K.Palmer
I enjoyed this article because I was able to relate to it. I think that in today's society, social media is being used more and more in the classroom and I definitely see a place for it in my future classroom. I do believe that social media enhances student engagement; it allows for all students to have equal opportunity for participation. I think it is a great way for communication between students and educators; allowing students to ask questions, teaching to post assignments and updates. I also think that the real world is very much technology based; many jobs require communication via computers and social networks. Therefore I think that it definitely prepares students for successful employment. In one of my undergraduate courses, I was able to communicate with one of my professors via Facebook. It allowed us to ask questions or reflect on class discussion with him. Although I did find it helpful, as a future educator at the elementary level, I do not see myself communicating with my kids via Facebook or twitter. However, I think having a class blog with my students will be very beneficial and useful for them and myself as a teacher. I liked the authors idea of dispersing extra credit points by having the students post and reflect about classroom discussions.
I do agree with having social media in the classroom I think it is a great too, used the right way. There should be a class website that are private so that only you and the other people in the class can see it and no one else. The online world would have the same rules as the class world does. Also it will only be for after school with homework or even a class discussion.
Tierney Castoro
I believe that knowing the pros and cons of a specific topic is important. This article shed light on the pertinent information about social media in the classroom.
I feel that having access to social media in the classroom can be beneficial if instituted the right way. There should be a time and place for it and there should be rules that go along with it.
I think that each class should have access to their own private page and it should be monitored by the teacher.
This article was a great read because it brings about a topic that has various viewpoints. I believe that social media provides an optimal learning experience in the classroom than without it. It forces all the students to interact through blogging and is easily accessed by anyone. In addition, social media will be advantageous for our students when they eventually go in to the work force. However, it is unfortunate that social media greatly decreases human interaction which is a neccessity in our society. I believe that limited use of social media is best for the educational system so my students can get the best of both worlds.
My issue with social media in the classroom is that it's distracting and contributes to the decay of both focus and language skills. I'm not even a fan of using computers in a classroom, really; student literacy can hurt the goal of a class, here, as students are on 5 websites at once. For example, right now I have tabs open for email, Twitter, and a search for "globeing balls" open as I do this assignment.
However, if the instructor is in control and the class is centrally focused on a task, social media can be used in the English classroom. I would use either Twitter or Facebook to have students or groups of students create character profiles for characters in a novel. Each class period or every other class period, students would collaborate (if in groups) to choose a new post for their character. They would NOT do this in front of a computer; they'd do it speaking to each other, then I would type it into the computer. In this manner, students are considering the texts and characterization of the texts at hand while not getting distracted by immediate contact with the internet.
I enjoyed reading the article! I agree that utilizing social media can be a useful tool in the classroom. Students should have a concept of what to expect in the work force and utilizing the social media to enhance their performance within their career choices. However, I also agree with the article about students and teachers misusing the technology and the social media. There are so many horrible stories being told about cyber bullying and the constant nasty things that people say about each other. However, if utlized in the correct manner- social media could be a useful tool in commincation with the world.
I agree with Kevin when he states that if the media is used where the teacher is in full control and the class has a central focus, then I feel that it could utilized in the American schools.
I have never used Twitter and I am not familiar with facebook but I could understand why people are intimidated to use such tools. There are many circumstances where technology and social media have been misused that it could be intimidating.
Yes, there is a place for social networks in my classroom, however I would limit its involvement in middle and high school classrooms. This is because the integration of social networking must be controlled and watched carefully and to do so efficiently amongst secondary school students it may be very difficult. Nevertheless, integrating sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn allow students to develop an internet code of conduct that will be of great value throughout life. It will also allow students to share ideas so learning will not solely be teacher to student, but student to world. Facebook can be used to share various things that pertain to topics discussed in class or even a hub where students can find homework assignments or missed class notes. Twitter can be used to quickly share ideas, ask questions and quickly obtain responses from fellow students or even experts around the world. Lastly, LinkedIn will allow students to network and develop networks of people in various fields, which may help them develop their career paths early on.
Although integrating social networking into the classroom is a wonderful and innovative idea it does open the door for various issues such as cyber bullying, and opening the unfiltered world to students. However, through close monitoring and the correct training, students will quickly learn how to optimize the opportunities that social networking allows for.
I found the article to be quite insightful, in a sense that I feel social media would be a great addition to a classroom. Teachers can create blogs for students to participate in classroom discussion, as well as materials. Social media can create good communication between students and teachers, which will, I, beleive, lead to more classroom engagement.
On the flip side, however, social media can be a distraction in a classroom. Students might feel more in tune to go on facebook, and "socialize" with freinds, as opposed to doing their school work. All in all, however, I feel social media, and using technology in a classroom is benefical, and the pros outway the cons.
Tim A
This article has me torn on the subject matter. Social media being used in the classroom is something that I don’t fully believe can work given the pros of the examples given in the article. Students’ becoming increasingly engaged in the classroom is not evident as a positive of using these sites in a learning environment. Better communication skills for students who have trouble expressing themselves through these back channels do not help with peer-to-peer communication. This is the biggest negative in this debate which is the loss of touch students will have with not only there peers but also their teachers, although it is to provide a more familiarity between teacher and students. However, this interaction should remain in the classroom. Spilling it over into social media distances students from the classroom. The cons in my opinion out weight the pros in circumstances of cyber bullying.
The biggest benefit is the preparation it will do for students on how to utilize these web sites to themselves. Students who are not proficient in these social networks sites and can become more capable and knowledgeable about them. Students who are experienced on these networks learn how to use these sites towards their advantage for networking.
Jonathan Rich
Although I believe technology should be incorporated throughout curriculums today, I do not see a place for social media sites specifically inside of our classrooms. The author mentioned valid points suggesting benefits of incorporating social network sites into our days lesson plans such as, it could offer those students considered "shy" the option to voice their opinion online which ultimately would boost student interaction, encourage student engagement, and enrich the learning experience. However, as the cons highlighted, allowing the students who don't speak up in class the chance to write how they feel online truly only limits the students. We as teachers would be ignoring the students needs, as they would continue to show signs of weak social skills. If a student is shy we should encourage them to speak up, perhaps in other ways than just to be called on during a class discussion. We should invite them to share ideas and explore areas of their interests-- do anything we can do to encourage the child to speak and teach them to use their voice. As far are encouraging student engagement we can use various educational tools to motivate our students to learn such as through creation of class podcasts, classroom blogs, iMovie.... In my opinion we do not need twitter or facebook to bribe our students to learn. There are plenty of other ways to promote meaningful learning.
-Ariel V.
I'm not sure how I feel about social media sites in the K-12 classroom. I see no problem with the use of social media at the college level, I think it could deeply enhance discussions and learner participation. However I think there would have to be educational social media venues in order to open it up to the elementary and secondary level classrooms. For example, if a website like facebook or twitter created "facebook ed" or "twitter ed" which would limit the sharing of personal information and private conversation. Students would be able to log on to an educational version of a social media website where the content is safe to navigate and the teacher could set controls, such as a class page, discussion board, the ability to approve of comments and content before it is posted, and a way to register.
-K. Doria
I understand both the pros and cons that were listed in this article. None of this information was really new to me, but it seemed to make the argument even sided. I am a big advocate of using technology in the classroom, and taking advantage of the resources we have. However, when it comes to social media I am on the fence. I do think it's a great way of communicating, it does help student express their feelings who are too shy to do so in class. It's also a great way to take social media and put it towards something that actually benefits our students and actively engages them. I do think this can introduce students to a new way of learning and communicating outside of school. However, I also agree with all the cons the article stated. I am also very familiar with the Facebook and twitter world, and I think it is extremely easy for students to misuse it. It takes only one student that uses it inappropriately to transform it into something it was not meant for. Social media is very public, just comparing it to what I have seen on facebook and twitter, I think that it could also really backfire. So, I am not 100% sure if I would use it in my classroom, but I am interested to hear an outcome of someone who does.
Elizabeth A.
This article introduces two important points about today’s technology and how its integration into education has influenced how the content is delivered to students. I think both arguments display good intentions, but the reality is that social media networks are part of our everyday life. Technology has become in a way our step into the future. In references of the future, students need to be prepared in all technological-educational levels. Mastering technological skills will take them to the next level, either academic ally or professionally. In education for that matter, learners need efficiently to apply knowledge to what it is being taught. Taking this principle into account, 21st century students are wire into taking participation, when technology is their mediation tool. Virtual education facilitates learning because of the visualization of the given topic and then the immediate response students receive makes learning fun and interactive. Then students can independently become engage with subjects and effectively create or find the answers for themselves. Technology delivers experimentation and having learners to inquisitive develop their own analogies and conclusion will improve learning. I believe social media software needs to be integrated into education because technology can promote students’ curiosity.
Nora R.
I enjoyed reading this article. I liked how it clearly stated both sides of why social media should or shouldn't be in the classroom. I was always for it but when they started saying the cons I guess I was on the fence. Social media should always be used as a educational tool and nothing more. It helps with communication between students and teachers and is a way to stay in contact with the world, just like tumblr, facebook, and twitter. I almost feel that everything is online and if you want to know whats going on in the world you need to know how to use these tools efficientLY
eI do see certain aspects of social media being used in my future classroom. I feel as though as long as it is used appropriately and effectively it is a great way to engage students. I believe a blogging website could be very educational and suitable for a class to use. I would steer away from websites such as Facebook and Twitter, there are too many personal things on those types of sites. It is very easy for social media to be abused and misused so it is vital to make sure precautions are taken prior to using it in the classroom. –Dayna O
Social media has gone from requiring a college email to use, to becoming a tool used by everyone who can use a computer. I am not for social media in the classroom. Some people do not understand the magnitude and power that social media has. For everyone that says the parent has to be responsible, you are living in dream world. What about the latch-key kids? I understand everything that the author states on it educational purposes, but the bullying that occurs or can occur online is very important. IMO no children under 13 should have access to FB, Twitter, or any other Social Networking website. I recently witnessed a child stay at home for 1 month because of something that happened on FB. Social Consciousness is something that is lacking in a child that is say 10, or 11 years old. The sense of community has not developed yet. After a certain time, maybe it is time to use this in a classroom.
This article was very interesting. I agree with this article. I like the idea of having social media in the classroom. I feel it is a powerful tool and can address curriculum in an interesting way. Teachers can address curriculum and standards in an innovative and motivational way. I do understand the concerns of cyber bullying, age appropriateness, and distractiablity, however these issues can occur in other settings as well. Yes, precautions need to be made but this is an effective way to motivate and engage students. It would be interesting to learn more about a class that does utilize social media websites in the classroom and to see how it goes.
Kaitlyn B.
I think this was a great article as it showed both the pros and the cons to social media in the classroom. I think that both sides have quite a strong argument, but in todays classrooms it is my opinion that it is essential to keep up to date with the times, by using up to date technology.
I would definately use it in my classroom but whatever platform is utilized must be closely monitired by the teacher. Using class blogs or facebook to post assignemts or homework is a great way to ensure students and parents have this information at their fingertips.
This article adresses the pros and cons on using social media for educational purposes. Using social media as an educational tool is an ongoing debate but this article seems to present more pros than cons. Eventhough social networking can be used as a gateway for bullying, it should not be the reason not to use it for educational purposes. The use of Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin increases students' communication. With proper teacher monitoring,it is a good way of connecting students and sharing ideas. The use of social media may encourage students to want to do school work. I strongly believe that incorporating technology into the classroom is important for student learning. Social media is another use of technology that I believe to be a useful tool for student learning however, teachers must be aware of any type of bullying that may be occuring.
I agree with Taylor's comment on the article that it appears that the writer focuses more on the pros than the cons. Fortunately, I agree that there are more pros than cons with regards to social media as an educational tool. Teachers have to be careful with social media though because although it can be a great way to communicate with students both in and out of the classroom to share insights, post homework and updates, and collaborate in other ways, there is also room for distraction and inappropriate use of the media. Frequent monitoring is imperative if teachers plan on using social media to facilitate student learning. Also, having alternative accounts on media sites may be in both teacher and students best interests. For example, if a teacher wanted to use Twitter as a modality to collaborate with students, they should probably create a separate private twitter account and encourage their students to do so as well. This way we can prevent unwanted updates and keep the twitter strictly educational and professional. The same considerations should be made with all social media websites and students should be expected to follow a code of conduct when using these sites.
Like Casey and Taylor, I noticed that the author seems to favor the pros of using social media in the classroom. I see social media a useful tool as long as it is used in moderation. Students may become too comfortable with using their phones and social media tools in the classroom and begin using them at inappropriate times. Expectations and rules should be set so that students understand when and why they should be using the websites at any given time and understand that there are consequences when using them when they should not be. I do believe that students would benefit from using these websites that promote communication and exchange of ideas especially those students who are reluctant to raise their hands in class. It is a great tool to for students to communicate and collaborate with classmates on projects and ask questions while doing homework and studying. I know my students get excited when we tell them they can take out their phones to look something up. If I were to use any of the social media sites, I would definitely incorporate the use of YouTube and potentially a Twitter account. I could have my students create and post different videos that they would make pertaining to the topics we are covering in class at the time. As for using Twitter, I would have my students create special accounts that they would use to communicate with me and their peers in my classes which would act as math forum. Teachers must stay aware of what is occurring between students on these social media sites to ensure that it is strictly academic conversations that are taking place and students are not taking part in any cyber bullying type activity.
After reading many other responses to this blog, I feel that most of us have the same opinions about including social media within the classroom and the ways we should go about doing it. I do believe that the pros outweigh the cons, because this is a technological savvy era, and students today need to learn about it. I would include social media within my classroom; however, I would make sure to address all of the rules of using the technology before allowing the students to participate. The teacher and the students should use a separate account for school. It would not be a good idea for a teacher or a student to use his or her personal account for various reasons. The social media sites can be misused if students and teachers depend too much on using the social media, because there should still be a good interaction within the classroom as well. Teachers need to continuously monitor for things such as cyber bullying, which I was very surprised to see that 22% of college students admit to being harassed online. If 22% of adults are being harassed, you could only imagine how many school-age kids are doing it. Down the line, students will be able to use social media for networking and job opportunities, and the more the students learn about the technology, the better. I definitely think it is a good move, but the teacher needs to make sure he or she has a valid monitoring system to follow, in order to keep the misuse of the social media to a minimum.
Kerrie B.
Do you see a place for it in your future classroom? Why or why not? If you choose to use it, which site would you use and how would you use it? How can it be misused and even abused by students and teachers?
I think I can go both ways on this question. I see the advantages to having social media in my classroom but also the negatives. I believe the worst case and best case scenarios that the negative does outweigh the postive. The chance of cyber bullying is a major issue in our country and has resulted in multiple suicides. If I did use social media in my classroom I would create a class facebook page where students can post and respond to one another. The site would also list homework, upcoming tests, and upcoming events. Social media is a slippery slope and needs to be handled with extreme caution.
I personally do not see a big place for social media in my future classroom. Especially teaching at the elementary level I think that having social media in the classroom might be a distraction as well as too much of a difficult task for elementary students to figure out how to use. If I were to use it at all in the classroom I believe it would have to be using YouTube to show videos in class or having students watching a video at home but then again having young children going on YouTube is always a risk if they are not with a parent or guardian watching what they are doing on the internet. By using it directly in the classroom and having the instructor control the videos watched the students can learn from educational videos as well as learn how to use YouTube correctly. As the instructor sending a letter home to the parents may help by having them show their children how to correctly use this type of social media. I think using Facebook and Twitter at the elementary level is not okay because the students are then exposed to too much at a young age whether parents monitor it or not. Children are smart, they will figure out how to outsmart their parents using the computer. This is especially true for this day in age when technology moves at the speed of light. It can be misused by teachers and students if they use it for socially interacting with each other and not educationally interacting with each other. Students can post inappropriate things about themselves, others, and teachers hurting them in the process. Teachers can as well do the same putting not only their careers but lives in danger by doing so.
This article really opened my eyes to the idea of incorporating social media in the classroom, especially in the older grades. I agree with the article how social media helps promote communication and social skills, which can be very beneficial for many students. However, we are all too familiar with the negative impacts social media can have and the tragedies that can occur as a result of social media. Therefore, before implementing the use of social media in the classroom, teachers must ensure that internet safety is being practiced and that no personal information or accounts are being used.
I am personally very appreciative of social media for the simple reason that it helps me keep in touch with family and friends. Although it may not be very intimate or personal, a simple post or mention here and there helps maintain some sort of relationship that may not be intact without social media.
One thing that is certain is that the use of social media within the curriculum is a way to ensure student engagement. Teachers should try to incorporate areas of interest into their lessons in order to promote student success.
This article brings up some important points regarding social media and the classroom. I believe that social media can be incorporated in a positive way into the classroom setting. The article speaks about distraction being a problem when working with social media, yes that can be true, but that is an issue teachers currently face. How do teacher's handle the smartphones in the classroom now? It would be no different if technology and social media are used as part of the classroom setting. The student's will need to be monitored the same way. I believe that a major advantage to using social media in the classroom is the ability to connect outside the classroom, if needed. How many times does a child have a question that cannot be addressed during class time? If the student knows that they can contact the teacher via social media and get an answer, I think this will greatly help the student. The student may not ask the question out of fear of sounding dumb, through social media the fear is gone. Any way for a student to gather a better understanding of a subject, I think, is a great idea. There is also the down side to social media and I agree with the author that the lack of social interaction on a face to face level can be problem. Today people are too quick to hide behind the computer to get things done. This can be a problem to children growing up There does need to be a balance between the two. All interactions cannot take place online, while in the classroom the students need to speak directly to each other and not use the computer to interact. Cyber bullying is such a huge problem today and it is another downside to social media. Again, people can hide behind the computer screen, they can say anything they want because of they can hide. We need to teach children that if anyone for any reason is making you feel bad, you tell someone. It is not something to be ashamed of and it is wrong. No one has the right to make someone feel bad. The people who use social media to pick on someone are not brave enough to face the person directly and that says a lot about the individual.
Kelly S. (Tue, Thur 6-9)
It is becoming more and more clear that students are highly influenced by technology outside the classroom. As a preschool teacher, I have three-year-olds in my class that can navigate an iPad pretty successfully. So, I think that teachers need to essentially "meet students halfway" and incorporate technology into the classroom. However, as Hannah mentioned, I do not see a lot of room for technology in the classroom on an elementary school level. I think that in the elementary school years, it is more important for students to be interacting face-to-face, instead of collaborating from behind a computer screen. In elementary school, I do remember using the computer for small research assignments and other projects, but I don't think technology should be the primary means of instruction, assessment, or homework assignments. I think that social media and the internet should certainly be a supplement to what students are doing in the classroom because of the amount of information that is accessible to students from the internet. If I were to incorporate technology into my classroom, I would probably only use search engines and informative sites. There is plenty of time for elementary school students to become fluent in Facebook and Twitter.
As pointed in the article, students can abuse technology in the classroom by utilizing it as a cyber-bullying tactic, so it is important for teachers to restrict and monitor the internet activity of students, especially in middle school and high school. Technology can also be abused by students who are simply using it to distract themselves from the instruction in the classroom. Teachers also need to be especially careful of their own personal content that they post on the internet. They need to ensure that everything is appropriate and that they do not put their own careers in jeopardy.
That was a very interesting article. I'm not sure what age level the author is indicating for social media to be used in, but I tend to see more cons in this case than pros. Although I do think Technology is important, I do think it would be very hard to monitor in high school and especially in middle school.
The main pro to having social media in the classroom is that it would give students more responsibility over what the post, knowing that teachers are seeing it, and it would prepare them to use the social media properly for positive things rather than meaningless or harmful things. However, I believe that at this time that students in high school generally do not use social media in an educative way, and if it was used in the classroom, it would definitely be a distraction, as the author indicates. I also do know that cyber bullying is a huge problem in middle school and even high school, and while having the teachers on FB with the students might help decrease it, it does encourage the opportunities for this type of bullying to occur. I also believe that learning is most important on a face-to-face level, and while it is good to provide those who don't raise their hand, other chances to participate (such as social media), it is important to teach those students communication skills that they will need in order to succeed after high school.
However, If it is established that social media will be used strictly to respond to reading assignments, or post pictures for projects, it could be helpful, but this would be in an ideal world, where students wouldn't be distracted while on facebook or twitter, looking up celebrity tweets, etc.
But the article did make excellent points, and a teacher could help instill good values and the positive benefits of using social media to your advantage for your career and finding out changes in industries, businesses, etc.
-Steve C
Nowadays who hasn’t seen this set up, a group of teenagers hanging out and every one of them on their phone? They do not talk to each other, they do not look each other in the eye, and they are continuously swiping or taping at their phone. This situation is what most people view when looking at younger people in our society.
The internet was a wonderful invention, that connected us to millions of other people but should that replace true social interactions? Of course, students love twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social networks. A person uses them every day and maybe even too much as it already is. Do we really need to now have students use this daily in our classes? Students no longer know how to have a meaningful discussion with people their age and even older. Who needs to when most of you communication comes from text by phone and computer? I do believe that this technology is the way of the future but I also believe that eloquent, true verbal communication will never be out of our lives forever. When applying for a job a great resume will help, but if you cannot verbally convince the employer you are qualified you will most likely not obtain the position. I think that we, as educators, need to keep in mind a delicate balance of both the true social interaction and using social media in our classrooms. I think that if we use both mediums our students will benefit the greatest. We will prepare them for both a world of technology and text, but also a world where communication skills are valued both socially and vocationally.
Kathleen M
I found this article very interesting. Social media is making its way into every aspect of our lives and we as educators really need to look at both the pros and the cons. Personally, I am not much for technology. Yet, despite my feelings I think we need to address technology and the use of social media.
Students are aware of what technology is available and not using it out of principle may make students less engaged and unmotivated. The reality is that these tools and our knowledge of what these tools can do, can be used to our advantage and it is our responsibility to do so.
That being said, I think teachers should start addressing the concerns with social media to the students. So often we don't clue our students in on pertinent information. Teachers need to create boundaries. We need to clue our students is regarding Facebook, twitter, etc. We need to let them know what is okay to post and what is not and why. The article addresses the increase in cyber bullying. This has become a real issue and I feel it is necessary for educators to show students the effect of words transmitted through a computer or phone can have. If we just ignore the rapidly changing world our students will feel totally separated from us as they are embracing new technology with open arms. So why not address it in a way where we can use it to better their lives both in the classroom and for the future.
Romano, A.
Social media provides an attractive, new forum for academic discussion and instruction. Our current social media platforms are not primarily used for academic purposes. Middle school and high school students rarely (if ever) use Twitter or Facebook for formal study or academic conversation.
These platforms are synonymous with supercharged statements in bite-sized bits. They subscribe to a different type of language that rarely warrants correct grammar and relies heavily on #hashtags and off-handed references. Certainly, powerful and well-reasoned ideas have been exchanged over social media. But, only a fraction of those exchanges took place between the 12-17 year age group. If schools used a separate, purely academic forum, then social media could have some positive benefits. I do not think that it's impossible to have students use social media for academia.I do, however, think we must recognize the confusion and the various, unintended avenues of misuse that using social media in this context presents. The rules of this space must be clearly defined and isolated from non-academic behavior.Social media will be a part of the classroom one day. I think it will take place on an alternate platform secure from thoughtlessness, bullying, and pop-culture references.
The idea of using social media in my opinion is a distracting one and one that may get a teacher or students into trouble. There are plenty of other programs other than Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube that can be used in the classroom for communication. I get the fact that by using these media outlets that students can receive the information fast, they get it when they need it. But these social media outlets are too inviting to temptation. They lead to students not using them for their purpose and using them for their own gain, to hurt someone else or just let them become a distraction for them in class. So as much as I would like to see them used effectively I do not think there is potential unless someone creates a media outlet like these just for school communication. But in the meantime outlets like blogs, teacher websites, and other school friendly tools need to be used in place of social media outlets just because I think there is too much room for danger if using Facebook, Twitter and/or YouTube.
- Andrew Pignataro
I found this article very interesting. I think social media is a large part of todays world. After reading, it is difficult to take a specific side of whether I agree or disagree that social media should be used in the classroom. It seems to be a very fine line between the pros and cons. On one hand, it might help those shy students to participate in conversations, but on the flip side, students lose out on using social skills by having to communicate with others. I know some classes in my school have the children sign up for their own Edmodo accounts, and they use those boards, similar to facebook, where they can post responses to teacher questions and discussions. Most of the students seem to love this idea, and look forward to going home to complete their homework assignments. After reading this article, my one concern is the issue of cyberbullying. I am curious to ask my colleagues what actions they have taken to be cautious and aware of this growing issue. This article definitely provides some "food for thought" in regards to the idea of using social media in the classroom.
Kelly Sm.
I feel that the use of technology within the classroom has brought our education system to a much better and higher level. However, I do feel that there is a point where we become too connected and it can put people in a compromising position. The use of personal profiles and twitter accounts to communicate with our students can be risky. There are other means of technology and websites that we can use to communicate, that provide a divide between our personal and private lives. Students can just as easily share ideas, opinions and projects on sites such as blogspot instead of using their Facebook accounts that have their photos and wall posts up for all to see. I also feel that too much technology use to share ideas can be a disadvantage. Children need to know how to communicate in person. I have seen the decline in this with my own younger siblings. They do not like to share an opinion face to face because technology creates a buffer for them. I hope that as technology advances we can find a happy medium between communicating face to face and via the Internet. - Suzanne L.
I think as future teachers, we all have no choice but to accept that we will need to integrate the use of social media into our classrooms. I feel this way because children and teens today are constantly on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and so on.
I do not feel happy about using it, but I know that it will be a must, eventually. If I had to choose a site to use, I would probably choose Twitter or Facebook. With Twitter, I could create a teacher account and tweet a question dealing with a topic my class would be learning about. For a homework assignment, I could have the students tweet back an answer. For Facebook, I could create a page based on my class. On this page, I could post a question and ask for responses. Students could respond to each other's posts as well. I could also post projects and important information about the class.
I do believe that these sites can be misused and mistreated by students and teachers. If the sites are used too much, the students may become bored and sick of using them. It is just like going to a college class and having to sit through an hour and a half of a powerpoint, every single class. It becomes repetitive. Students can also use the idea of social media in the classroom as an excuse to actually go on the sites and do other things than their assigned work.
There are pros and cons to the use of social media in the classroom. I do not agree with the usage of it, but I know that it will be a demand in the near future.
- Jackie K.
In today’s world, technology is at the center of many peoples’ daily lives because of the efficiency and convenience it provides. I believe social media does have a place in future classrooms. In these classrooms now, searching through textbooks and other handheld sources wastes a lot of time, which instead can be used wisely by simply browsing the Internet and finding answers within seconds. Providing students with technology and the tools to use it will give them the opportunity to enrich their general knowledge and be able to learn at a quicker pace. Many children are visual learners and this will be at a great advantage for all students involved, making it more effective and enjoyable. Social media is a big sensation used widely by many, and this can be looked at as an advantage in the educational sense, since many children are on these sites. Every child is different in the sense that some are shy while others are outgoing. Social media can be used to open doors for these shy students, helping them to become more social and step out of their comfort zone. While technology and social media has many advantages, it is also very important to inform students of the proper usage of it in and outside of the classroom, children fall prey to abuse, sexual predators and even abductions through these sites. In my classroom in the future, I will definitely be using various websites. There are many educational websites that are available, but what I found extremely helpful were the videos on the website YouTube. I came across so many different topics and subjects and I will be using these videos after each of my lectures. These videos, I hope, will help to “complete” the lesson for my students, giving them a visual representation that can enhance their imagination and help them to grasp the concept. While YouTube is extremely helpful, it can also be misused immensely. There are many users who are a part of the YouTube community that have the ability to make and post videos that can be hurtful, damaging and even cause emotional distress to the viewers on the site. Since YouTube is an open community, anyone can access all types of inappropriate videos and for professionals such as teachers, it is our job to make sure that students know of the dangers and are aware on how to prevent these problems from taking place. Using caution while accessing these sites is extremely important as they may have damaging effects on students.
Social media certainly has its pros and cons. I think it can be another communication tool to encourage discussion and collaboration,in addition, not instead of,face to face interaction. The use of social media sites need to be carefully monitored, to avoid the cons mentioned in the article. This job would be primarily the teacher's.i think with careful monitoring and used sparingly, it is another tool that can be used in the modern classroom of diverse learners . nancy
This article did a great job outlining the pros and cons of social media. I am supportive of using social media in the classroom, however, there need to be serious guidelines that regulate students activity on these sites. Cyberbullying is a growing problem and affecting children of all ages. In addition, a dependency or even misuse of social media can have a negative effect on students social interaction skills. As teachers, we must find the balance of implementing social media in the classroom. If used correctly, social media could really help students develop their sense of self as well as provide them with numerous resources.
-AnnMarie P.
I agree with both the pros and cons of the social media in the classroom debate. I agree that the use of social media in the class is a great educational tool. However, it can be a distraction for students and may lead to cyber bullying.
Therefore, I would probably not use social media in the classroom but allow the students to talk more face to face where their interactions can be monitored. That being said I feel items such as blogs and twitter would be a good tool to use when working on homework. The students would be able to discuss questions and idea's. If the students were to do this at home you would know that they are not distracted by social media in your class. You would also be able to monitor their interactions with each other on the blog so you can prevent cyber bullying.
Andrea D
I agree with the various issues this article discusses. Overall, I feel that the use of social media in the classroom is a beneficial educational tool. Despite the cons that come with this technology, a lot can be achieved if social media is utilized properly and efficiently in the classroom. I think that if students understand that they should be acting professionally when writing in a classroom blog, for example, the technology activity can run smoothly. I think using social media in the classroom can really motivate some students that would otherwise fall behind throughout a unit. I think the pros outweigh the cons.
JB
As an educational tool, social media enriches the learning experience by allowing students and teachers to connect and interact in new, exciting ways. According to the article “Enhance Student Engagement Social media is an effective way to increase student engagement and build better communication skills”. The flip side of the coin is that students can get distracted by social media. Also the risk of cyber bullying increases. I for one am against social media in the classroom. Unsupervised social media is not something I want in my classroom. The main purpose of my classroom is to promote a safe place for my students. So not facebook would defiantly be a no not in the classroom.
Allison McDermott
This article was about the pros and cons of having social media in the classroom. In my opinion, before I even read the article I do not think that social media should be in the classroom. There are enough programs out there to communicate with your students and have them communicate with each other that do not involve social media. Some programs are Dropbox, email, or Google Docs. With these programs one can easily transfer information without involving social media. After reading the article I stick with my opinion. I feel like the cons such as cyber bullying and lack of face-to-face communication are two things that students do not need. Students get bullied enough in school and teachers do not need to encourage another form of bullying. Also students in the present day do not know how to talk to people anymore. In school by having in class debates it improves professional communication, which is extremely important in the real world. Also this article considers Linkedin a social media program; I do not think of this as a Facebook or Twitter. I feel like Linkedin is a professional program that can be used to communicate with students or when these students have a career.
~Amanda L.
This article did a good job of outlining the pros and cons of using social media in the classroom. While agree that sites such as Facebook afford students the opportunity to ask questions they may be reluctant to ask in the classroom, and further their understanding of concepts. The students may lose valuable experience with inter-acting with figures of authority. This has the potential to hinder their interview skills and may end up costing them future college placements, or job opportunities. I agree with AnnMarie that cyber bullying has become a growing problem with our students, and that the use of social media must be carefully monitored.
Chris Gehrig
I enjoyed this article very much. It is able to precisely discuss all of the concerns I, myself have faced when deciding how or whether or not to use social media in the classroom. It is no surprise that technology is in the center of our lives and every person, in some way, uses technology. Many people state that social media is now commonly used by almost all teens, and as educators we may not have a choice but to integrate it into our classrooms. I agree that we as educators should be integrating social media in the classroom, however it should be monitored. There are many social media sites that do not have to be facebook or twitter that can be used in the classroom, however they resemble these sites. These “student-friendly” social media sites are being adapted into the school curriculum, including the school I was teaching in last year. They provide a way for students to interact with each other and their teachers. This includes the interactions of students from other schools that have adapted this social media website and any concerns they might have about with their educators. I really enjoyed this social media website because not resembles the popular social media sites that exist, are able to monitor the activity among students, and poses no risks, to students having contacts with unknown individuals, since it does not allow it.
-Margarita D.
The implementation of social media in the classroom is debatable. There are many benefits to including social media in the classroom. It can be used as a motivating factor for all students, and can especially be helpful for students who usually do not actively participate in class. However, there are also many cons. Cyberbullying can occur in addition to a decrease in face-time. Rather than using social media in the classroom, I would prefer to implement a class blog where students can ask questions about homework and post content relevant ideas. It is also important to consider the fact that some parents do not allow their children to participate in social media. Ultimately, I believe in order for social media to be used as an effective strategy, teachers must ensure that students are aware of the ramifications of cyberbullying and what it means to be a good digital citizen.
-Polina Aronova
The use of social media in the classroom can be used as a tool, but I believe it should be regulated, and used in certain situations, but also, as stated in the article, not take away from some of the traditional methods of communication of the classroom. Students may be comfortable putting their thoughts on YouTube or Facebook, but I think that face to face interaction is something that should still be utilized in the classroom to help students improve skills that translate to the real world, such as speaking at job interviews.
Social Media is a valuable tool because it is a great means of discussion and collaboration, and comparison of ideas of students. Many students are fluent with social media, which allows less time for instructors to have to teach children how to use these tools. I also believe in the articles statement that social media allows more access between students and teachers, who will be more accessible through the use of programs such as twitter.
There are however some issues that may need to be addressed if social media is used. Many of these platforms such as Facebook and twitter can cause distraction, and students paying less attention of they are able to access their accounts in the classroom at any time which may hinder learning. The cyber-bullying and harassment on these social media sites is also an issue that has become prevalent more recently.
I think that social media does have a place in the classroom and can be a valuable asset, however, there must be oversight in order for these platforms to be used appropriately and relevant to the learning environment.
Stephen Collins
The use of social media in the classroom should be used by educators, but with caution. There are clear benefits to students and teachers using social media like Facebook and Twitter. They can open up new ways for students to collaborate and discuss ideas. It is also ideal for teachers to post homework, schedules, and lessons. This can keep students up to date with the class. Students can tweet about topics that were discussed in class and gain extra points. This allows students a forum to participate where they may feel more comfortable. A number of teachers in my department have twitter accounts that their AP students follow. I am starting the same this year with my AP World History class because I recognize the opportunities that are passing me by. I can tweet news articles, links to videos and many other supplementary materials to my students. Students who wish to participate can do so on the topics that may be of interest to them. This gives me an opportunity to communicate with my students without taking away from valuable class time. Of course, the use of social media must have clear parameters and rules. The teacher must be aware of cyber bullying and other misuses of social media. Social media can’t replace face to face communication and education, but it does enhance it. I agree with AnnMarie that social media provides students with numerous resources. We should not keep them from that!
I agree with Amanda when she stated "There are enough programs out there to communicate with your students and have them communicate with each other that do not involve social media". By using facebook and twitter the students are able to not only communicate with their classmates but the potential to become distracted by other conversations is there. These other conversations that you maybe unable to monitor can lead to cyber bullying. Overall social media should not be used in the class.
Andrea
Roisin M. - I do see a place for social media in the classroom in the future. Social media is a perfect way to engage the students of today and whether we like it or not it is the way of the future. Students should be monitored on it and learn to be proficient on it in order to keep technologically abreast with the rest of the world. I am not technologically savvy enough to know which one to use, but I am willing to learn. Social media can be abused by both students and teachers by bullying or embarrassing a student.
Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Classroom: The article discusses the positive impact that using social media in a classroom could foster. It also illustrates situations that could be compromising or harmful to students. It would be foolish to underestimate the importance of technology in today’s society. Social media is playing such a vast role in today’s society. Its growth could not have been imagined only a decade ago. The use of face to face conversation may become extinct at this rate. The ability to read facial and body gestured would be replaced by :). Understanding and participating in physical or oral social interactions may become a lost art due to not having to actually look anyone in the face or have to speak with another person. Many people today are unable to converse with anything other than their key pads. It is also unfortunate, that due to the anonymity of social media it is often cruelly or foolishly misused. However, the use of social media is so prevalent that being ignorant of social media’s abilities could leave you socially and/or professionally behind. I believe very minimal use of social media should be taught in school. Etiquette lessons would be at the top of a very short list of lessons.
Christine S.
It is clear that there are several benefits to utilizing social media in the classroom, but I feel that it must be strictly monitored and used for specific purposes. Obviously, allowing students to participate in online discussions regarding topics pertinent to class lessons can help those who are too shy or insecure to speak in class. However, I feel that if students are only required to communicate online, they may never develop the ability to speak up in class or other public settings. On top of this, as the article and others have mentioned, social media can be distracting from classroom lessons and therefore take away from class time instead of enhancing it. For these reasons, I feel that social media should be left for homework and supplementary assignments, rather than being utilized regularly in class. Social media must also be monitored closely if used in any academic way to ensure that no bullying is taking place. Also, teachers must ensure that students are using social media appropriately. It is not enough to just get students familiar with the media they will use throughout their lives, but they must also learn how to use it in meaningful ways, to learn and exchange information. I am hesitant to use social media in the classroom, but if done correctly, I can see the many ways students could benefit from such assignments.
Jessie C.
I am a strong supporter of having social media in the classroom. I think it is a great way for teachers to communicate with students on their level. Students are already fluent in social media, why not use it as a learning tool in the classroom. As stated in the article, using social media in the classroom has many benefits such as collaboration and discussion between the teacher and students, improving student participation (especially the shy students who feel more comfortable on social media sites). Some cons that were mentioned include distractions and cyber bullying. However, I think that if the social media used by the teacher is used properly in moderation and better monitored ose issues would not arise.
Danielle L.
I agree with Danielle. I believe social media can be a great asset for educators and students. But I also agree with Stephen when he says thar it should be regualted and it shouldnt take away from traditional methods of communication. Just because Social Media is added to the classroom does not mean that it has to consume it. Students should still be able to have real life social interactions.
Shamika L
I agree with Jessie C., although social media provides many pros to classroom learning it must be strictly monitored. Students these days are growing up in an even more advanced technological era and are at least two steps ahead of previous generations. Another con of using social media would include the decline use of oral exchanges. To better prepare our students for future interviews and job presentations we must have them present projects and answer questions verbally rather than typing answers. I found this article a great read as future educator who wants to impliment as much technology in his class as I can. I would highly recommend it to other educators. Ultimately social media will be in our classrooms in the near future.
I feel social media is a great tool in the classroom and gives the teacher and students a leg up on the curriculum, compared to students without assess to social media during classroom time. I feel the pros are extremely valid and really help classrooms come together as a unit instead of individuals just together in a classroom. The major pro with regarding social media in the classroom is that it improves communication about the classmate. I truly believe students that would participate in the classroom on their own would communicate better using social media. Although on the other hand I can also relate to the cons because it does discourage face to face communication. I agree with Megen W who states that having social media in the classroom can discourage things like eye contact but I feel it has to be weighed on the success of having social media compared to not having social media in the classroom.
I am not sure where I stand on implementing social media into my curriculum. The article made very strong arguments for and against the use of social media. In the future, I would not be opposed to using the networking site Twitter as a means of communication outside of the classroom. The use of social networking directly in the classroom is not something I see myself using anytime soon. I personally feel in today's society more and more people are becoming socially estranged from direct human communication. Inside my classroom I would like my students to collaborate in a manner that requires them to socialize directly with one another to build vital social skills. Outside of the classroom however, the use of social networking sites to create group discussion and interaction, when not directly together, is a great resource for teachers. It is important as educators implementing the use of these social networking sites to have a very structured set of rules for students to abide by in order to avoid any negative interactions through the internet.
~L. Gallo
Implementing social media as a learning and communication tool is not something I foresee putting to use inside the four walls of my classroom, however incorporating social media into the curriculum for use outside the classroom is something to consider. As stated in the article, the increase use of social media sites discourages face to face communication and creates “a safe harbor for students who are uncomfortable expressing themselves.’ With less face to face communication now more than ever, I feel it is important to preserve communication skills in a social setting; a skill that will be needed forever. A teacher’s role in the classroom is to make all students feel comfortable; if done effectively students will be comfortable with their teacher as well as peers and face to face communication should not be difficult to achieve.
In most schools, only having forty minutes to forester a well- organized, detailed, and effective conversation can be difficult by creating a class social media discussion of sites like facebook or twitter can continue and built on classroom discussion. Taking advantage of such a site does have it pitfalls however; cyber-bulling a major concern, as well as language use, and effectiveness to name a few. To help eliminate this concerns a rubric that lays out requirements, expectations and reproductions should be sent discussed with students and sent home to parents. Unfortunately, nothing is perfect.
-Ashley M
This article brought up some interesting points. Social media could encourage collaboration and sharing of ideas outside the classroom, build skills and participation, and help students understand how to better network (a skill that will be useful in the future). However, social media can become a additive obsession that distracts students from their objective. Bullying can take on another form when in the hands of a student who uses this tool maliciously. Teaching younger elementary students, I do no think I would incorporate social media in my classroom. I think it might be more appropriate for high school students who are running for class president, or those who are involved in an after school club for events. I think older students will be much more efficient at utilizing social media to their educational advantage.
-Suzie B
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this article. It shows some great pros and cons to using social media within the classroom. Some pros that I would agree with are the promotion of communication skills, which can benefit a lot of students in either the older or younger grades. Another pro of social media is that one is able to have some sort of interaction with others, and it may even enhance the relationship between those interactions with another person. There are many cons to using social media in the classroom as well. Even though social media is a great tool it can be a great distraction for some students, if they use this media outlet inappropriately. Cyber bullying can come into effect as well when social media outlets are being used, and it’s hard as a teacher to monitor it and control what may be happening at home or just outside the actual classroom. With proper teacher monitoring social media outlets can be a good thing for the classroom. Becoming a teacher myself I would try and implement social media into my class but limit it to one specific topic. For instance I would use Facebook in a social studies lesson and I would pair up my students with students from overseas, this would act like an electronic pen pal. Social media can be both a good and bad things it’s all up to how the teacher handles the situation.
-Nicole Alonzo
This article was very interesting and I enjoyed reading it. I have always been on the fence about allowing social media into the classroom; therefore, this article helped me determine what the best outcome would be. Allowing social media in the classroom would be an excellent tool for those students who are quiet and introverted. This would allow them to speak what is on their mind without feeling embarrassed or overwhelmed. It is also a great tool because it allows teachers to post assignments and homework to Facebook or Twitter so the students can access this information from home. On the other hand, I understand why teachers are skeptical of allowing social media in the classroom. It can be a very distracting tool to students. They can use it during class time for social reasons. For example, Facebook now has an instant messaging feature this makes it very easy for students to talk to friends during class time. Because of this, this makes it easier for students to cyber bully others, which I believe is a big issue in today’s society.
I think that today’s generation uses Facebook, Twitter, etc. for only the social aspect of it. Incorporating it into the classrooms at this time would be too distracting. Perhaps it can be used in years to come as more of an educational purpose rather than a social purpose.
- Joanna S.
Social media in the classroom can lead to better student interaction, and teacher student communication. Students that do not normally participate in class, or are too shy to speak up could have a forum where they can.
If I were to use social media in my classroom I would create a facebook page based upon the class and the unit of study at the time. I could post the weeks homework, include small videos, enhanced websites for students to use in order to get more out of the unit or whatever is being taught at the time. Students would be able to comment on what they liked or disliked about the lesson, discuss homework or classwork assignments. The only problem that could occur, however if students comments were mean or geared towards other students in a derogatory way.If any social media was to be used in the classroom, it must be kept completely professional. If a student or a teacher crosses a line then that person is no longer allowed to participate. These rules must be set from the start with no deviations. This will lead to a forum for students to voice their opinions that are normally too shy to get involved. Social media can open so many levels of learning that hopefully more educators will be embrace in the future.
I personally do not see a place for social media in my future classroom. Since I am certified in childhood education 1-6 and special education, I feel as though it would be completely unnecessary to include social media at these ages. Not only would it be unnecessary, it is impractical and would cause a lot of drama among young students that could easily be avoided. Most schools today cannot even afford to hire teachers or put smart boards in their classrooms. To require students to use social media, there would need to be a computer/internet present for all students to use either at school or home. If schools cannot afford technology among some districts, then students will most likely not be able to afford it outside of school either. By reinforcing social media in a classroom, it could make students feel alienated who are not able to participate.
If I do choose to use social media in the classroom it would be for older students only (high school and up). I would probably create a twitter account specifically for the class I am teaching. When using the twitter account, students would be given three options to write about. They could discuss what we learned in class, ask one another questions regarding material learned, or speak about upcoming assignments. Students would be told to hash tag the name of the class whenever addressing these matters. They would also be required to use their full REAL names when writing on this twitter to avoid “he said, she said” problems.
Social media could be misused and abused in various ways, which is why I would most likely avoid using it in the classroom. In today’s society there is a lot of cyber bullying occurring among students. By encouraging social media in schools, it would only increase cyber bullying and drama. Schools would also be held accountable by parents if such events occurred while using social media in the classroom. Teachers could also misuse social media if they have never used it before, and/or do not keep their accounts strictly school related.
-Holly P.
The article displays some of the pros and cons of social media, but the benefits and obstacles differ based on school district, region, and resources. My biggest issue with the interaction of students and teachers through social media is the vulnerability of both sides if something were to go wrong. Teachers must be aware of the relationships that are formed with students. Sometimes, these lines are blurred and that can certainly have a negative impact for many reasons. At the same time, I do think that some social media could be used appropriately in the classroom. Students already use these sites to discuss classes and ideas with each other. They constantly send over materials and resources to each other. Using these social networks could allow students to make connections that they would not make otherwise. They also may ask questions that they are too embarrassed to ask in class.
In my classroom, I would use Youtube if I was going to use any social media source. This would allow students to make different presentations online without taking valuable time away in class to organize, set-up and prepare.
I am still not sure how I feel about social media in the classroom. I feel at some point, everyone will use it to a certain degree; however, I feel that is still a ways off for me.
Anonymous said...
The article displays some of the pros and cons of social media, but the benefits and obstacles differ based on school district, region, and resources. My biggest issue with the interaction of students and teachers through social media is the vulnerability of both sides if something were to go wrong. Teachers must be aware of the relationships that are formed with students. Sometimes, these lines are blurred and that can certainly have a negative impact for many reasons. At the same time, I do think that some social media could be used appropriately in the classroom. Students already use these sites to discuss classes and ideas with each other. They constantly send over materials and resources to each other. Using these social networks could allow students to make connections that they would not make otherwise. They also may ask questions that they are too embarrassed to ask in class.
In my classroom, I would use Youtube if I was going to use any social media source. This would allow students to make different presentations online without taking valuable time away in class to organize, set-up and prepare.
I am still not sure how I feel about social media in the classroom. I feel at some point, everyone will use it to a certain degree; however, I feel that is still a ways off for me.
-Sean C.
Janet,
I took an interest in your post because, I do not feel I will incorporate social media type applications in my curriculum. You made many good points for social media and, also understand the issues that may arise when using social media. I definitely agree that structure and a clear set of rules is vital when using social media within education.
As a future educator, I personally do not see a place for social media within my classroom. While our world as we know it today may be filled with social media (Facebook and Twitter), I believe these are more personal types of media and should be kept as such. I believe that having social media in the classroom will only distract students from having the opportunity to learn. It can be expected that students will not keep to the lesson and will be looking through other aspects of these social media sites.
If it became a necessity to use some type of social media within the classroom, the only type that I would probably use would be Linkedin. This social media site allows students to network themselves to find jobs and employment, and that is how I would use it. In the upper grades of high school I think it’s important to allow students to network themselves to give them employment opportunities. A way, though, that it can be misused is if students provide too much personal information on the site.
Victoria L.
Using social media in the classroom is a bit of a double-edged sword. I think the it would be effective as long as it is used properly and if the teachers are vigilant enough to make sure it isn't abused. I remember a lot of students who brought laptops or other devices in college classes and, despite knowing better, spent the better part of the class on facebook or other sites that did nothing but distract them from what they were supposed to be learning. It wouldn't be wrong to assume that younger and generally more attention-lacking and immature students would do the same. I also don't particularly like the idea of social media replacing face-to-face interaction because school should be a place for students to learn to interact with people. This isn't to say I don't think social media can't be effective, but I think it should first be made clear that the teacher can enforce it as a learning aid rather than a distraction.
Gabriel G
Karen Lederer's article was a good read. I think as educators we should weigh the pros and cons of any tool that we are introducing into our classrooms. By taking advantage of your students previous knowledge (tec abilities) you can foster collaboration and discussion. It can be a tricky balance to engage shy students participation through social media. Perhaps I would have a role play exercise to reinforce the basic skills of communication during an interview. It is true that using these educational tools in the classroom could be distracting. I think I would use it in a homework situation where students could reach out to myself/other students for direction/sharing ideas and then we would brainstorm during class what they have learned. With regards to cyberbullying, I believe that the teacher sets the tone for what is not respectful behavior. You may have many different cultures sitting before you. You need to be clear on what falls under the cyberbully heading and what are the consequences if you partake in it.
Erin H.
I totally believe that social media can be a positive influence in the classroom. I am teaching in a middle school now and would love for there to be a Facebook group for my class where I can remind them about tests, homework assignments, and see them work together. I love the benefits of social interaction for students through social media. However I do understand the cons and there needs to be supervision with it.
I think that with the introduction of anything new into the learning environment there's libel to be some sort of distractionary risk or negative risk in general.
Here's the thing though, regardless of whether or not technology is implemented into the classroom, it will encompass the students' surroundings and all these detriments will occur regardless. WIth the inception of this technology in classrooms it not only improves the quality of learning and number or resources available in the classroom but most importantly, familiarizes teachers and counselors with the technology so that they can relate and understand the feelings and predicaments their students are going through.
The age of throwing sticks and stones is over and words are harmful. As much as teachers want to erradicate and prevent bullying, it'll never truly disappear and will always come about in a new form. Remember schools are meant for learning, why not teach students the good they can do with technology rather than of leaving them with all the bad they see and shunning it and treating it as a distraction?
-Doug Ferguson
The issue of social media in the classroom is a very touchy one. There are so many factors to take into mind when deciding to use it. It is a great tool to utilize because there are so many great programs to go with social media. Also, students know social media probably better than teachers do. The most important factor, however, is that it is also a huge distraction. I know that when in class if I am allowed to use some form of social media, 85% of the time I am off task, or it creates delays. Younger students will be the same way. When a teacher is using social media with an assignment they should also take into account the distraction factor, then weight the pros and cons.
Technology is a great tool to use in the classroom. All of my students are familiar with different social media sites available. After reading the article, I feel it is a very difficult choice for a teacher to decide whether he or she wants to implement social media in the classroom. I agree with Kara when she stated that social media can be a distraction. I have noticed with my students that pretty much everything is a distraction and social media can definitely add to those distractions.
Social Media has evolve over the years, everything that we do now-a-days occurs online. We find out breaking news faster on Facebook or Twitter. I do see social media having a future in my classroom but have certain rules, regulations & proper training have be introduced. There are so many pros for social media. It is a way for students to reach out to their peers and teachers, research, create forums, interact and using various social media for news. I'm still trying to figure out which social media site I will use, I think LinkedIn is awesome. It is a website geared towards students building their resume, so one day after school that would can get a job or career. You have to be careful when using social sites such as Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram because some teachers have photos or statuses from years ago when they were in college. Or some students upload photos and statuses that may be inappropriate that can affect their reputation. One retweet or share and alter their lives. Also, cyber-bullying is an unfortunate thing that's gotten a lot worse over the years. I believe teachers, parents and students should be educated on the proper use of social media. Use social media as a way to stay informative, educate, and help people.
Social Media can be a very rewarding tool in the classroom, especially at the adolescent level. However, using caution and keeping a watchful eye on the students while using social media is extremely important. I see a place for social media in my classroom, but it depends on the maturity level of the class. A teacher has to know whether or not his/her class can behave appropriately while using social media. I have seen some really cool projects using Facebook and I think that would be something I would replicate in my own classroom. I think any sort of technology can be misused and abused, social media is no exception to that. It is imperative that the teacher is constantly aware of what is going on and that the students know what behavior is acceptable and appropriate.
Samantha F.
In the case of social media in the classroom, I think the cons far outweigh the pros. First of all, cyberbullying is a huge issue with students today. Allowing students to use social media in the classroom might mean that bullying will occur during the class period. In my opinion, this is just asking for problems. In addition, students may tend to get off topic very easily and there is no way of knowing if they are staying on tast or tweeting their friends.
-Melanie P
Social media in the classroom has it's pros and cons. However, I think that with the right direction and monitoring, students will have great advantages with social media. There are a great deal of issues with social networking that I don't think need to enter the classroom. It will take a lot of control on the part of the teacher/facilitator.
Shaina H.
Erin,
I agree with your idea that the teacher sets the tone! This is the direction the world is going in. We can do our students a disservice if we try to shelter them from it, rather than teaching the right ways to use it.
Shaina H.
I truly enjoyed this article about the pros and cons of using social media in the classroom. I definitely see a place for social media in my future classroom, although I feel that it has to be closely monitored and regulated. I would use social media in the classroom to create meaningful dialogue and to exchange ideas between students and myself. I believe that this will help to build better communication skills and provide shy students with a less intimidating way to express their ideas. One social media website that I would use is Facebook. I would use Facebook to post homework assignments and links to previous lesson plans and exam review sheets. Facebook would also be useful in order to send updates and announcements to students and to answer any questions that a student might have when at home.
Although there are many advantages to using social media in the classroom, social media can also be misused and abused by students and teachers. For example, social media can be a large distraction in the classroom because students’ attention is diverted away from the lesson or task at hand in class. Another way in which social media can be misused and abused in the classroom is through cyber bullying. As a future teacher who would like to use social media in the classroom, I must be extremely aware of cyber bullying dangers and make it apparent that there is a no tolerance rule for bullying or harassment in the classroom or through the social media website. Students will be instructed to be respectful of everyone, especially when utilizing the social media website.
This is a good article that highlights the direction technology is headed. Schools and teachers constantly have to be up to date with technology to engage their students. Everyday social media and the internet is becoming more involved in everyone’d lives. This article shows the benefits of social media in the classroom. For one instance, a class can now work together and collaborate from home. This can increase peer tutoring and increase class communication. If a student ever missed a class due to illness, they could get the notes from their classmates through social media. Social media allows classrooms to connect and helps to promote collaboration and communication.
-Liam
I think this was a very insightful article that weighed the pros and cons of social media in the classroom. I believe the use of technology in the classroom can only encourage student learning and development. It is an easy way to engage, create student interaction and monitored peer tutoring. However, dealing with some social media is definitely a gray area. As a professional and teacher you have to make sure you utilize the technology in a respectable manner. Always be aware of the problems that can transpire due to facebook, twitter, instagram, etc.
-Christina Marra
I would NEVER use Facebook as a social network in my classroom. It would be just asking for dozens of problems. Facebook is too associated with leisure to be mixed with school assignments or memos. Most importantly, I feel that it would make the teacher utilizing it look extremely unprofessional. Twitter has more potential because for some reason it is perceived as more professional even though they are similar. If I were to use it, I would make an account for myself that my students will be able to access. I would use Twitter to notify students when I’m having extra-help, exams, quizzes, and homework. They can also use it to ask myself or one another questions regarding class. It can be abused by students and teachers in a variety of ways. Students can bully each other through social media or can harass the teacher through it. Teachers can take advantage of it by finding out personal information about their students on the social networks used in the classroom. This can cause biasness that would otherwise not be present if there was no social networking used in the classroom.
-Jessica S.
I agree with you Maureen, social media most definitely has a place in the classrooms of today and the future with close monitoring of course. I also like how you went above and beyond what the article said about reaching out to students who are shy with social media. Students who are shy maybe too nervous to ask a classmate or teacher questions about assignments and due dates. This may eliminate that anxiety for him or her.
Regarding what you mentioned about Facebook being a distraction, we know it is even before infusing it into the curriculum. So many students are on their phones or laptops tuning out of the class lecture. I get the impression that Twitter is both less distracting and time consuming than Facebook. I tend to favor Twitter as an appropriate social media tool in the classroom. No matter what social media a teacher chooses to use it may be useful to remind students of the importance of respecting not only the teacher, but also one another.
-Jessica S.
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