Sunday, October 18, 2015
Journal 3: The Case for Social Media in School
Kessler, S. (2010, September 29). The Case For Social Media in Schools. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
Summary/Reflection:
The Case For Social Media in Schools by Sarah Kessler discusses the importance of why social media can be a positive influence in schools. There is a lot of negativity about Social Media use and technology tools used in the classroom because people are afraid of "predators and bullies online" as well as viewing "advertising that might be inappropriate" for students as addressed in Sarah Keller's article. I understand their point of view and wanting to make sure that our students are protected, however, in today's world, this shouldn't be a factor anymore. School districts have the ability to set filters on what students are able to view and not view on the Internet when students are connected to the school's WiFi. There are so many educational apps and websites today, that allow teachers to have their students use Social Media and other technology tools and apps that don't contain any advertising (see question one below).
Some are afraid that students will use their device for the wrong reasons like texting or playing games, but that can be where having a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) contract can come in handy. If we teach our students how to use technology appropriately and how it can be beneficial to their education, then there shouldn't be any reason why students can't use it on a daily basis. Websites like Common Sense Media (https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/curriculum) and Digital Passport hosted by Common Sense Media (https://www.digitalpassport.org) allow educators and parents to teach the rights and wrongs of using multimedia tools. Sarah Keller said in her article that "[t]he teachers and parents who embrace social media say the best way to keep kids safe, online or offline, is to teach them" and I completely agree with her! Let's teach our students how to be safe online so that they can benefit from these tools available to them.
Q1. What are some safe Social Media tools available for teacher and student use?
A1. For teachers who would like to have a place for students to meet online to have discussions, take quizzes/tests, work on assignments, etc., then https://www.edmodo.com/ is a great place to start. Edmodo is designed to look like the very popular social media app Facebook. However, edmodo is a site for educational purposes with no advertising and allows teachers to see comments being made on students' edmodo accounts. It also gives teachers the ability to delete comments made if the teacher feels that a student made an inappropriate comment. I used this site last year for the first time and loved how my students worked collaboratively with one another and how they would just make positive comments to one another at random moments throughout the school year.
Q2. How can Social Media encourage students to write?
A2. Blogging is becoming a very popular social event on the Internet. You can find blogs about almost any topic. So why not have students create their own blog to practice their writing skills about topics being learned in class or just as a free-write online journal. There are a few different free apps and websites for students to create blog without having any advertisements that are a part of a classroom or school account. By having a student's blog linked to a classroom or school site, it allows teachers to make sure that students are using their blog appropriately. Some of the different blog sites available are edublogs.org, kidblog.org, and weebly.com. At the start of second trimester I am hoping to have my students create their own blog using weebly. I am hoping that having students create their own blog, will help them to find their creative writing side and a love for writing.
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Hi Casie,
ReplyDeleteI'm there with you. If we teach our students how to use technology appropriately and it will lead to so many great learning opportunities! It's all about how to utilize the technology (social media) as a tool to enhance the learning process.
I like how you have cited various resources that you have used in the classroom with your students. There are a ton of resources out there for educators to use that will teach students how to use technology effectively and responsibly. Good article and use of examples.
ReplyDeleteTeaching students proper internet etiquette is crucial before allowing them to use it in the classroom. Students need to understand how to use the internet properly inside and outside of the classroom. I also agree that these educational social media is a good way to encourage students to write. I'm sure most of them rather use a computer than a piece of paper!
ReplyDeleteI really like what you have to say about teaching students to be safe online. I remember growing up, just when computers and the Internet were starting out, we were required to take typing classes and various computer classes. Maybe it should be a requirement now for students to go through an Internet safety class? Students learn not to talk to strangers or to be cautious of people when they are out, so the same should be done when they are sitting in the "privacy" of their own house.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea about wanting to get kids inspired about writing and finding their voice. I started out writing fanfiction in middle school and posting it online, so I understand the benefits of participating in that online culture. One thing to be careful of though is the not-so-kid-friendly side of the creative writing online. Hopefully you'll be able to keep your students in this confined blogging environment and not wander off to the PG-13+ side of sites like Archive of Our Own or WattPad.