Responsible Use of Social Media

Now a days it almost seems like everyone has some type of social media page. Whether it be Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. most people use some type of social networking to stay connected, communicate, and share photos with friends, family, and colleagues. Although social networking can be a great tool for the classroom, it can also be a distraction and affect the professional image of teachers.

Although a teacher may think he or she has all their photos on private settings, there are many "loop holes" that make it possible for the public to still have access to your site. There have been many controversies over whether or not school systems should have the power to punish teachers based on their social networking site. Many teachers argue that their social networking pages are their own personal pages and should not be a reflection of themselves as a professional. This may be true, but teachers are considered to be role models for their students. Because of this, teachers cannot afford to have any questionable posts.

It is also important for teachers to make sure they keep their social network completely separate from their job. Many Teachers have lost their jobs due to careless posts about their students or coworkers. It is important to make sure the privacy of the student is protected. As long as teachers pay close attention to what they are posting, social media can remain harmless. Generally if there is any question of whether something is appropriate or not, it most likely should not be posted. There have been many teachers that have lost careers over pointless posts.

References

CNN. (2010 October, 19).CNN: Teacher fired for Flirting on Facebook. [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAoxpGBEx5s

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. (2013). Fact Sheet 29: Privacy in Education. Retrieved From https://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs29-education.htm

Social Networking Statistics. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.statisticbrain.com/social-networking-statistics/

Welcoming Social Media in the Classroom

Over the past decade technology has grown and become a prominent part of our society. Along with that growth, technology has become an essential part of the twenty-first century classroom. However, a lot of school systems are banning the interactions between teachers and students on social media, which may ultimately limit student's learning. If school systems do not begin to evolve from the "traditional classroom" to a way of teaching that fully utilizes our technology, then the success of our schools systems is going to decrease and fall behind other countries. 

When people mention social networking, most would automatically assume they are referring to Facebook or Twitter. Its understandable why many school systems are so hesitant to allow social networking in their schools. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter are made to be very personal therefore it can make it very easy for teachers and students to develop unprofessional relationships. A lot people are unaware of the social networking sites specifically made for professional relationships.

In the education field there are many sites designed specifically for teacher student interaction outside of the classroom, such as Edmodo. These sites are designed soley for educational purposes and allow the students to stay connected with their classmates and teachers 24/7 in a professional setting. It also gives the student access to the notes from class, their grade book, and important due dates; therefore the student is given all the tools in order to reach his or her maximum potential.

Example of Edmodo homepage 

In conclusion, social networking can help our students of current and future generations. If school systems really learn how to utilize social media, we can help students succeed by keeping them connected to the classroom even from home. 

References

Reflections of a Passionate Educator. (2013 March, 15). Retrieved from http://reflectionsofeducator.wordpress.com/2013/03/15/10-reasons-i-love-using-edmodo-in-my-ipad-classroom/

Seguin M. [Mark Seguin] (2011 May, 27) Teacher Fired Over Photos Posted on Facebook. [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMR_xLNdy38

Tomassini J. (2013 January, 08). Social Networks For Teachers on the rise as Popular Raise Concerns.The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/08/teachers-gravitate-to-soc_n_2433747.html