Pros and Cons of Social Networking in the Classroom
For Social Networking
Side Score: 15
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Against Social Networking
Side Score: 17
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It is hard to decide whether I am for or against social media in the classroom because I think it depends on the grade level and the tool being used. But one way I would use social media in the classroom is by creating a classroom blog to publish student work or post discussion topics. This is a great way to increase collaboration between students. I would also use social media in the classroom to communicate information to students outside of the classroom such as due dates or supplementary resources. This can help increase productivity amongst students and allow them to stay on track. Instead of using online tools such as Facebook or Twitter, I would use a LMS such as Edmodo because it is exclusive to only the class. Lastly, I would use social media to teach by using videos that I record and upload to Youtube or videos that I find on Youtube, as stated by Edudemic.com. This could help to integrate the flipped classroom approach in the classroom, which allows more time for active learning. Side: For Social Networking
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Yes, I like how you suggested using locked down social media tools. It is important to be able to control who is allowed access. I would consider using social media in the classroom (e.g. blog) as long as I had total control over the tool that I am using. (Michael) Side: For Social Networking
Hello, We (Team A) believe that you make a valid point. The use of social media can vary based upon the grade level and the context in which it is used. In your post you pointed out exclusivity and we find that is a major set back for many teachers when it comes to the use of social media/social learning in the classroom; the thought of students gaining access or being exposed to bad content. When using blogs and discussions in your classroom, are students responsible for creating content? The use of blogs are great for student-led instruction. Thanks for sharing! -Team A Side: For Social Networking
the reality of using social media is that many if not most students already use the sites for personal communication which in most cases should not be integrated into school/education communication. but it's unlikely students will create additional accounts in these sites. instead they use their existing accounts which may already be loaded with inappropriate content. Where I work (in completely online education for K-12), using sites like Facebook and even Youtube are absolutely out of the question, and rightfully so. There is no way whatsoever to control access to questionable content. I know of one teacher who uses Twitter feeds in the online classroom, but mainly it is for communication and it is supplementary. Using social media for the college aged student is okay, but when it comes to younger children, it's just now going to happen without a greater level of assurance that they will be safe. social media in the classroom is not something I push or advocate beyond supplementary forms of communication. (Khari K.) Side: Against Social Networking
I agree, as educators, it's our responsibility to select tools that are most appropriate for the grade level and students we teach. Three social media strategies that I believe could be effective are: 1) Have students reflect on their homework and classwork by blogging. This would allow students to think deeper about the content they've been taught and ultimately, create a deeper level of understanding. 2) Have students connect using Skype. As a Foreign Language teacher in South Korea, I used this as a tool to connect my students in Korea to my previous students in the United States. Prior to each call, I had my students first brainstorm the questions they intended on asking and after their call, I would have students write a reflection. 3) Have students use wikis. This allows students to have more control over project outcomes and encourages them to be producers of information. - Chris Valenzuela Side: For Social Networking
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I agree, I think that these are all great ways to incorporate social media in the classroom. I think that these will be effective because students probably wont have there own social accounts connected to their classroom accounts, as opposed to twitter or facebook. Side: For Social Networking
Cevalenz, Thanks for sharing your insight. We also believe that it is very essential that tools are selected based on appropriation. Allowing your students to have more control over their project outcomes through wiki is a great idea; aiding in student-centered learning. Thanks, -Group A Side: For Social Networking
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I think social networking is a good addition to the classroom and can compliment high-quality instruction in a classroom with a positive culture. As noted by Bandura, learning takes place both by direct experience and by observing the behavior of others - social networking increases the total number of interactions and opportunities to observe, therefore increasing learning. Additionally, social media can be very helpful to bring in different learning styles, especially the "always on" neomillenial learning style described by Baird & Fisher. (efarre10) Side: For Social Networking
I disagree here that having a positive classroom culture will always allow social media to be a positive addition in the classroom. Author Jackie Wertz discusses at length the challenges teachers may face in investigating inappropriate use with public social media sites that allow students to have passwords. Even the most positive classroom environment does not guarantee that 100% of students will be responsible social media users. There are many other technology platforms that can appeal to different learning styles and allow student interactions that a teacher can set up in such a way that they can moderate content, participation and manage appropriate engagement of students (Jenn Esser). Side: Against Social Networking
I believe social networking is best for high school and adult education. Because many of the applications mimic Facebook (Baird and Fisher, 2005) many students find the platform familiar especially those of the millenial generation. As an adult student all my undergrad education was online and half my graduate education is delivered online. I am not certain about all providers, but Verizon is guilty of 'redlining.' FIOS high speed internet is only offered in the more well to do neighborhoods. High speed internet is not offered by Verizon in urban neighborhoods (Jaggars, 2015). However, Jaggars is absolutely correct to be successful in online learning you have to be extremely self-directed and organized. Also not mentioned in these articles introverts, extroverted introverts and introverted extroverts are the personality types most likely to be attracted to and do well in online classes. Extremely extroverted people may need the in face social interaction although many studies have been done that proves online education offers just as much if not more social interaction as F2F classes. This is because communities and community sharing is established in online classes through asynchronous and synchronous modalities. Security concerns are the biggest drawback with offering social network platforms in K-12 classrooms. Side: For Social Networking
I think some aspects of social media can be good for learning. Social media has become the go to source for developing news stories. I think students researching news topics using social media can be a good activity. They'll definitely have to learn to weed out false or exaggerated statements, but major news outlets regularly turn to social media for getting information about developing stories so having the students do the same would be a good exercise. I don't really see the need for social media between students. I think there are other tools out there that do a much better job. I've used social media in an academic capacity during my undergrad and I didn't feel like it added any value. It felt more cumbersome to try and track responses to my comments. I would've much preferred using Blackboard rather than social media in this case. (D. Goff) Side: For Social Networking
Coming into this lesson, I was leaning on the ‘Against Social Media’ side, but after reading the resources provided, I wanted to write a post to support Social Media. Mark Connely wrote, “Social technologies are here to stay...(teachers) help students learn how to use social media in an instrumental way.” I agree that teachers can help shape how students are using social media platforms and provide feedback on the quality of what they are producing and posting. 1) As Janni Aragon suggested in her video, start small. Become an expert with one social media tool. With the age level I teach, getting students to blog is possible and it could the one social media connection that I invest in for the year. Using social media that is appropriate for your age level is important and consideration has to made into the security of this platform. Still, I think it can be done and would benefit students. 2) Setting high standards for the work that is published on a social media platform. I find it mildly irritating when I see students post on a classroom blog or a You Tube page with misspellings and grammar mistakes. This is the time to teach students how to look at your work and the trail you leave online for others to see. Also, others in the class can remind students to check their work or ask for clarification, so that students are learning from one another. 3) After reading Jagger’s argument about the downside of online learning, I thought about a good teachable moment. I can understand why some students do not succeed with online learning because they don’t have the right skills to be self-motivated and organized. When you use social media it looks like ‘fun’ and it might seem easy, not a lot of hard work goes into commenting or submitting your ideas. If that illusion could be transformed into an approach that values using social media to post work as an individual that contributes to a group and you learn from others, then I see value in social media. Creating a more focused and goal oriented mindset for students when using social media would greatly benefit them, long after they leave your classroom. Side: For Social Networking
I think you are right to identify what Social Media will work for your grade level. This, however, is also what creates a barrier for many teachers. Students will only be engaged if they are using a Social Media tool they are already using or interested in using. For example, my 8th graders shun Facebook and blogging. The majority of their Social Media preferences revolve around Kik and SnapChat. This poses a problem for me as a teacher because cell phone use is strictly prohibited at my school. When I create a blog for students to use, they do it because I require it, but I do not see the eager, active engagement I would hope for because it is not being done on their phones. Side: Against Social Networking
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I am on the fence about using social media in the classroom. In being on the fence, I can think of more cons than pros. Here my cons: (1) using social media can be a distraction in class... students could easily become sidetracked from an assignment and it may be difficult for teachers to tell who is pay attention. (2) using social media in the classroom as opposed to at home detracts from student to student contact (human interactions). I think students speaking to one another is important. I see enough people looking at their phones every minute and ignoring the world around them. (3) Cyber bullying could become more prevalent if using social media in the classroom. (Michael) Side: Against Social Networking
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Hey Michael, I think your concerns about social media are aligned to many of the concerns teachers have in general about distractions in the classroom. Concerning your second point, think about adding an example about what human interaction can add that social media never could to support your ideas. Side: Against Social Networking
I am also on the fence about social media in the classroom. My students have laptops and use them in the classroom, but I don't like having them use the chat feature during lessons mostly because I cannot monitor them. In the article by Shanna Smith Jaggars, she argues that since low-income students are less likely to have access to internet at home, they are not profiting from online classes. In this situation, low-income students are being directly taught how to navigate social media sites for educational purposes. Cyber bullying can become more prevalent when using these social media apps or chats in the classroom. I had a situation occur in my 5th grade class last year, when one student was sending messages to another student from across the room using inappropriate language. I'm not 100% against using social media in the classroom, I mean what teacher hasn't used YouTube, according to "25 Ways Teachers Can Integrate Social Media in the Classroom," about 40% of teachers use YouTube in the classroom. I even include the link on the students' handouts so that they can revisit the video outside of class. I also think it can extend the learning by having students interact and discuss school-related content at home. Brittany Rincon Side: Against Social Networking
Though the readings present clear benefits and drawbacks for using social media, for the sake of this assignment I am going to argue against social networking in the classroom- at least when using sites such as Twitter, Facebook, etc…that are open to the public. Jackie Wertz, the author of the article of “Should Schools Let Teachers Use Social Media in the Classroom?” explains how using personal social networking websites makes it hard for schools to supervise and/or investigate appropriate use. Given that laws that can prevent administrators or teachers from investigating misconduct or accessing personal sites, I think there are many risks to be considered when promoting the use of social networking in the classroom. Additionally, Jeff Dunn author of the article “The 10 Best and Worst Ways Social Media Impacts Education” talks about other drawbacks such as reduced academic performance in students who check social media during studying, decreases in in-person socializing, lax attitudes toward proper spelling and grammar, etc...Lastly with the increase of cyber bullying, etc…the internet has the potential to not just be a great resource but a powerful tool for verbal abuse. For these reasons, I would argue that public social media sites that have the capability of restricting teacher access and moderation, while used by most teens, is better kept separate from the classroom. (Jenn Esser) Side: Against Social Networking
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I support Jen's argument here. Using social media sites that are open to the public certainly can open up a can of worms for schools especially if there are laws that can prevent administrators and teachers from investigating misconduct. (Michael) Side: Against Social Networking
I agree with Jenn. The sites most people consider as social media are not appropriate and do not provide the necessary safety for students. I would not even think about using these sites for children. College aged students are a non-issue, but the risks far outweigh the advantages in my opinion. With laws like COPPA and FERPA which require safety compliance by law and that essentially apply to all sites where a user can sign up, it is a risky situation and not even necessary. Sites like Edmodo which are like a teacher/student version of Facebook and are created for this single purpose could represent a successful integration of social media experience in the classroom, but sites already established as social media sites are not wise to use. (Khari K.) Side: Against Social Networking
I would not use social media in the classroom because: -it is not safe enough and capable of sufficiently complying with COPPA or FERPA regulations -it is not necessary given they are many other ways to achieve the same result (like Edmodo or Moodle) -it is too much of a hassle trying to manage distractions and disruptions from doing the work that matters. (Khari K.) Side: Against Social Networking
In his article "Should Schools Let Teachers Use Social Media In the Classroom," Jackie Werntz brings up issues such as age appropriate social behavior and teachers asking students for their passwords in regard to using social media in classrooms. These are significant concerns from both an anti-bullying and privacy rights perspective. An additional concern from the perspective of a school district is data collection, and I did not see this mentioned in any of the readings for this week. The collection and use of student data is what keeps my district from using Google. The same would hold true for Twitter and Facebook and any other social networking site that collects data. Werntz mentioned at the end of his article that teachers have been able to navigate around this by creating class accounts (which is something I have also done), but it certainly present some challenges. Side: Against Social Networking
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I am generally very pro-technology use in the classroom, but I found that many of the articles assigned shifted me towards a side that was against social networking in the classroom. First, as mentioned in the article "No, online classes are not going to help America's poor kids bridge the achievement gap," many lower income students do not have access to internet or computers at home. The article cites that, "Black, Hispanic and low-income households are less likely to have high-speed Internet than those that are White, Asian, or high income," which means that these students would be left out of these parts of social media lessons. Second, if the social media is implemented during class to avoid internet usage problems at home, then it brings up the problem of avoiding face to face dialogue and socialization. Students today already spend so much time communicating on social media that it seems like a missed opportunity for students to practice face to face productive discussions. Lastly, I think that social media sites that are open to the public just create too many outlets for students to take advantage of or be taken advantage of by others. Tools like Facebook and Twitter that are open to the public can lead to cyberbullying or unwanted exchanges with people outside of your classroom. This can be an unnecessary technological danger to take with students. Side: Against Social Networking
I support Katie's point that students can lack access to high-speed internet which author Jaggers (2015) discusses in his Washington Post article. Unless there is built in time for students to engage with such activities while there are physically in the classroom and they have access to a device and internet, requiring engagement using a platform does not seem fair (Jenn Esser). Side: Against Social Networking
Katie the author is not aware that at least one ISP-Verizon is guilty by not offering high speed internet in urban areas. So it is not that these households do not want access to high speed internet it is that it is not offered. The access issue which bars some low-income households is the lack of tablets or ipads or laptops for access. However most of the homes have cellphones and if the app runs on mobile devices then the home may have access. The article is also slightly dated; the more data power you have on mobile devices the more apps you can run and your acess will be greater. Some low income households may not have a great data plan which would limit access. Side: For Social Networking
I really like your point about a lack of face to face productive discussion. I feel the same way that my students' obsession with Social Media has actually hindered their ability to engage in meaningful face to face dialogue; especially when it comes to respectfully disagreeing with one another. Side: Against Social Networking
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I think the fact that Black, Hispanic, and low-income households are less likely to have access to these tools is even more of a reason to use them in the classroom - it's important that students be introduced to them in a safe setting where the risks and proper usage are explained so that they do know how to use them and "keep up with" their peers in more affluent areas. There are entire professions today that revolve around social media usage (advertising, PR, etc.) and not developing their writing and communication skills in those realms would hurt them when they look for jobs in the future. Having our students not be exposed to those tools is no longer an option. Side: For Social Networking
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Hi, my name is Ruining Jin and I'm against the use of social networking in the classroom. I basically have three reasons for that. For one thing, according to the readings, some elementary students have limited self-disciplines or the awareness to comply with the website policy so that these students could easily violate the website term of agreement and thus cause many legal issues. Also, in the US, some states such as Illinois have state law prohibiting the public institution from asking for personal information from its employees, so that when legal issues occurs, it is hard for investigators to supervise and investigate. Eventually, I agree with the above opinion that students at young age are vulnerable to distractions in social media. As a result, sometimes it is hard to monitor the learning of social networking. To sum up, I side with the cons that social networking for instruction purpose is still a concern that we should pay particularly attention to. Side: Against Social Networking
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I think that in many ways your arguments are actually reasons to introduce responsible social media usage in the classroom at a young age. This generation, the "neomillenials" as they are dubbed by the readings, have a different learning style than we, their teachers, likely do - what looks to us like a distraction is actually them processing multiple things at once and learning to multi-task, an important skill in today's world! Side: For Social Networking
It's important to consider whether we're electing to not use teaching methods as a result of our students inability to handle them, or our inability to adapt to new tools and technologies. I think that often, using technology is out of our (the educators) comfort zone, which results in failed attempts to use them. For example, using technology in the classroom requires us to be an expert in whatever tool we're using. If we have not mastered the tools, classroom management becomes disorderly. While it might not be most advantageous to use social media in elementary school where students have limited self-discipline, that doesn't mean that social media can't be used in secondary spaces. In fact, it's likely advantageous to use social media in said spaces in order to provide students with 21st-century skills. Side: For Social Networking
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