I read chapter two in Teaching Tech Savvy Kids hoping to be convinced that social networking sites in K-12 schools are a great idea...I am still waiting! This chapter was written by Jessica K. Parker and danah boyd (no, she does not capitalize her name) and discusses students and their use of social networking sites such as Facebook, My Space, and so on. The authors make a couple of convincing points for their use in schools but have still not convinced me. One of their main arguments is that students need our guidance in navigating these sites and their implications on friendships, future college and job choices, misunderstandings and the like. I wonder why this guidance can't take place without interacting on these sites? Sites such as Edmodo and Ning are great places to have a Facebook like setting while it is an educational forum. You can also include parents in the sites as well as administrators and the like.
I do love their idea of using Facebook for history lessons. Students would really buy into setting up Facebook pages for Abe Lincoln or Eleanor Roosevelt. Imagine the creativity this would allow! For example, who would Abe Lincoln friend? What would his profile pic be? What pages would he "Like"? Students would have a blast with this activity.
I agree that there needs to be discussion and guidance for students to learn how to navigate the ever-changing social networking sites, however, does the teacher have to befriend them online in order to have valid, concrete discussions? The risks associated with befriending students on social networking sites still outweighs the positive for me. What does anyone else think?
I think the culture of your school and district have some influence here. Facebook is most definitely blocked at my school, a decision made by the administration. Having witnessed so many issues with cyberbullying via Facebook from students accessing it at home, it is easy to see why the powers that be have restricted access. However, if we could access Facebook in school then perhaps we could teach and model for students HOW they should act and behave when social networking. To that end, I agree with you Tammy that social networking can work in the classroom provided you use a service that grants the teacher admin controls over who they can befriend and which comments get published.
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking about this. As educators, it's important to teach students proper netiquette, but do we want to give up our own private lives to do it? Mmmmm No! I like Nick's suggestion of having social networking opportunities where students are on a school social network site. When the sandbox is in our playground, the testing of boundaries and shaping of identities online are in a place where we can teach digital citizenship and give guidance at opportune times.
ReplyDeleteI also got a kick out of creating Facebook pages for famous historical figures. It might also be interesting for students to create a Facebook type page for someone they know and admire in real life.