5.5 Blog
In your Blogger blog, outline the pros and cons associated with allowing social networking in schools. Use the module resources to assist with your post. Review at least two of your classmates posts (refer to the Student Information course wiki to obtain links to their blogs) and comment on their posts.
The pros and cons associated with allowing social networking within schools is endless. As a technology teacher and a student advisor for clubs, organizations and athletics within a school district using social networking has advantages that would allow communication among students and advisor/coach/teacher to be easier at times. An advantage of using social media is that it can allow a teacher, coach or advisor to instantly communicate with those students who are also using the social media. The disadvantage, of course, is that not all students use social media. Some parents do not allow students to engage in social media until a certain age or grade, or even at all, therefore, some students may not be allowed to participate if the website is not school monitored and/or created.
An alternative to using social media within school could be to participate school wide in a program or web resource similar to edmodo or moodle. Edmodo allows users to post and participate in a similar setting as Facebook, while being school monitored and created. The interface between edmodo and Facebook even look similar. Edmodo can allow students to enroll and participate in various classes, such as social studies, science, math, language arts, etc; while also allowing students to enroll in groups or activities such as student council and/or basketball. Using a school monitored system liked Edmodo can allow students and teachers to be accessible through the same network. This can allow for communication outside of school, or help create unique learning opportunities during and after school.
An advantage of using social media within a school district is the increased communication between parents and the school community. Many parents, students and teachers are on social media. Using social media can allow all of these resources to connect in one common place. Having the school create a social network that can inform the parents of school information and events is a great way to keep parents involved and informed. If a school chose to participate in a school monitored social network resource like edmodo, parent login and resources are available to allow parents to be better connected and informed. Some online portals allow students, parents, teachers and administration to have individual logins, allowing parents access to teachers and student grades. Settings can even be created to inform parents of different events and notifications. An advantage of using a resource like this would be keeping parents, students and teachers informed in a centralized location.
A disadvantage of using social media networks within the classroom is that students could become distracted or carried away on unrelated educational activities. Allowing students access to social network could create more potential internet bullying, and communication among students during times when they should be engaging in classroom learning. Monitoring students on social media within classroom time could be difficult for educators if an incident were to occur.
Although this may be difficult at first to monitor and inform, it can also provide a unique learning opportunities for students. Students would learn, within the school environment, how to be socially responsible on the internet. Students would learn about their digital footprint and the impact that students want to leave. Students would learn how to track their digital footprint, and the negative effects. Using social media within a district could allow a district to educate and encourage positive social media behavior. Even if a school chooses not to engage in social networking within school hours, schools are still responsible for disciplining negative social media actions.
In addition to the concern about student distraction within the classroom, many teachers would not wish for their own social networking to be used within the work environment. Many teachers feel that social networking is something that should be kept separate from work, and the two should not be mixed. Teachers who do not like to share a detailed amount of their private life may feel uncomfortable. Although teachers may be hesitant to use their social media sites to communicate with students and other staff, teachers can create another username and create a separate profile allowing for different name.
The advantages and disadvantages for allowing social networking in school is endless. The decision on if social networking should be allowed depends on the school, the school community and environment. Although social networking may be very successful in a certain environment, it may be less success in a different environment. Facts that could affect success are staff, students, or resources. The decision should be made by accessing the schools technology plan, as well as, the schools strategic action plan and analyzing what the needs are for the school environment.
