Some popular opinions of non-supporters are that there is an increase possibility for online bullying (cyber bullying), sexting, and enabling the internet "addiction". It is thought that students are losing their ability to have a face-to-face conversation (Pandolfo, 2012) and this is often seen if you have ever walked by a table full of teenagers at a restaurant. However, although social media may be risky for youngsters, it is an important part of adolescence (Klass, 2012). The important part about the dangers of social media is that students must be warned about it. If they are just told to "stay off of it", they will not listen, and then they will not be informed. This is when the real dangers can occur. Lisa Highfill, a 5th grade teacher stated, "When we go on a field trip, when we go anywhere, we warn the students of the dangers where we are going" (Toppo, 2011).
Social media can be a very useful tool in schools and they are important because it is relevant to students. In the twenty first century, students should be able to creative and collaborative, and social media helps students to be those things. Social media allows students to access information easily, share that same information, and also contribute their own thoughts (Pandolfo, 2012). Social media pushes students to do better work because their peers will be reading their work not just their teacher. Additionally, it encourages students to pay attention to important issues such as, audience, quality research, and research laws (Toppo, 2011). Finally, when schools encourage the use of social media it allows teachers to teach students how to use it responsibly, ethically, and safely not only in school, but out of school (Toppo, 2011).
My personal thoughts on using social media in school is that yes, it could be distracting to students, but that could be reduced by truly engaging students in the lesson and the reason why they are being encouraged to use social media in the first place. Additionally, if students were never taught the dangers of driving, drugs, or sex in school, how would they be able to navigate and avoid these dangers in the real world? This relates directly to social media.
References
Pandolfo, N. (2012, April 30). Social Media And Video Games In Classrooms Can Yield Valuable Data For Teachers. Retrieved April 09, 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/30/social-media-and-video-ga_n_1465082.html
Klass, P. (2012). Seeing Social Media More as Portal Than as Pitfall. Retrieved April 09, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/health/views/seeing-social-media-as-adolescent-portal-more-than-pitfall.html
Toppo, G. (2011, July 25). Social media find place in classroom. Retrieved April 09, 2016, from http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2011-07-24-schools-social-media_n.htm
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteI like the point you made about teaching the dangers of social media. There can negative effects that can be associated with social media but the best protection is teaching students how to effectively combat and use social media responsibly.
Tom
My district, just this year, unblocked Twitter. It’s great for me as a teacher and my professional learning community, but I haven’t researched how it is going with our students. In my fifth grade classroom, I am not currently using it as teaching tool.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of face to face conversations, many business owners in my town say the kids do not now how to interact with them or resolve a conflict, such as defective item or a mistaken charge on a bill. They connect it to the kids being online so much. I am not sure I draw the connection between the two.
I liked your connection with student work quality being raised because of the social media audience, not just their teacher. I feel strongly that it is teachers and schools that have to teach and reinforce positive digital citizenship, for application in the outside world.
I see the only barrier to using social media in school is training teachers how to use it effectively for learning.