As a third grade teacher, I was hesitant to implement social media in the classroom. I felt that parents would be opposed to the use of social media with their children. It can be a distraction and "some worry that incorporating [it]...is leading to too much computer time" and preventing students from developing "face-to-face social skills" (Pandolfo, 2012). In addition, there are risks associated with it, such as exposure to inappropriate content for children. It is our responsibility to plan properly to ensure students are protected from "inappropriate communication, images or video" (Osborne, 2012). We can also take the opportunity to guide children to use social media responsibly to communicate, collaborate, and think critically (Blair, 2012). We can monitor students while they are at school and teach them about digital citizenship (Osborne, 2012). Through lessons about social media and online safety, we can teach them to navigate online safely and independently so that they are prepared for the many hours they are immersed in social media outside of school.
The risks are manageable and the pros of effective use of social media outweigh them. I have come to see that social media can be a very powerful learning tool if used correctly. It can increase student engagement. "Social media platforms...are becoming more integrated within a variety of apps targeted at learning" (Osborne, 2012). Student interaction with games is authentic. Many games on these platforms can serve as a new type of formative assessment as educators can collect reliable data about student performance (Pandolfo, 2012). Educators can then personalize instruction for students' needs (Pandolfo, 2012).
Use of these tools can support children as they build research skills. Students are constantly connected and have instant access to real-time news and information (Osborne, 2012). For example, posting a simple tweet can spark a conversation with a real audience with different perspectives (Davison, 2015). On a global scale, students are able to "share information...and contribute their own thoughts" in an authentic way (Pandolfo, 2012). Wikis and blogs provide an ideal environment for students, teachers, and even parents, to communicate and collaborate as they carry out research projects.
I also think that social media is important for schools that are committed to professional development. Staying connected with other educators, administrators, and experts allows teachers to transform their approach in the classroom (Burt, 2014). Building a personal learning network through Twitter and blogs allows educators to collaborate and share resources and ideas easily. On a personal level, Twitter has become extremely valuable for me as I have discovered new learning tools to utilize in my classroom and have read articles that have challenged my thinking. Twitter has allowed me to improve my teaching significantly in the short time that I have used it.
Overall, as long as the use of social media is purposeful and meaningful, it can play an important role in education.
References
Blair, N. (2012). Technology Integration for the New 21st Century Learner. Retrieved from http://www.naesp.org/
Burt, R. (2014). What is a PLN? Edublogs Teacher Challenges. Retrieved from http://teacherchallenge.edublogs.org/pln-challenge-1-what-the-heck-is-a-pln/
Davison, S. (2015, March 4). Social media inside, outside of the classroom. Retrieved from http://smartblogs.com/education/2015/03/04/social-media-inside-outside-of-the-classroom/?utm_source=brief
Osborne, C. (2012). The pros and cons of social media classrooms. Retrieved from http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-pros-and-cons-of-social-media-classrooms/
Pandolfo, N. (2012). Social Media and Video Games in Classrooms Can Yield Valuable Data for Teachers. The Hechinger Report. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/30/social-media-and-video-ga_n_1465082.html
Great post! I wonder: In spite of your well argued response, How would you address social media with a colleague who doesn't think it has any place in school or with teachers and students?
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I wonder: In spite of your well argued response, How would you address social media with a colleague who doesn't think it has any place in school or with teachers and students?
ReplyDelete