social networking!!

1. In your estimation, does Social Networking offer teachers greater advantages through possible connections with students, or does it present greater issues for teachers?

I believe social networking can offer teachers greater advantages to making connections to the students in the classroom.  These advantages far exceed the disadvantages and/or the lack of integrating social networking into the classroom.  Social networking options such as Facebook, blogs, forums, twitter and teacher websites can be used as educational tools in the classroom.  Regardless if students have assignments or projects that involve social networking, they will find ways to use it during and after school.   Why not integrate it into the classroom?  As David Zax mentioned in Learning in 140-character Bites, “the professors […] kept an eye on the feed, getting a read of what concepts needed further explication.”  Furthermore, these social networking options can be used so that students can ask questions (both to the teacher and peers), implement assessment and gather feedback.

One very important thing to keep in mind is to address to the students the proper expectations when using social networking tools.  Create rubrics and as Renee Ramig discussed in the article Social Media in the Classroom, “monitor it often, and share appropriate and inappropriate responses with the class.”  Make sure to state why material might be appropriate/inappropriate – and then remove inappropriate immediately.  I think it’s also crucial to keep an open communication with the Principal and guidance counselors regarding any inappropriate messages or material.

On an exciting note, wouldn’t it be cool to post a video of an experiment (i.e. ‘soap bubbles’ – my favorite!!) that was done in class to the teacher’s website.  Students could show their parents exciting things that were done in class, increase interest in subjects and incorporate it into a homework assignment.  Sounds like a match made in heaven J

2.  Were you to utilize Social Networking with students, what precautions do you think are necessary in today’s digital world in order to safeguard your professional standing?  Do you think it’s fair to teachers to hold them to a different standard than other professionals (do you even think that that is what is happening – you can reference your take on the Natalie Munroe scenario). 

As teachers and community members, we become role models for students.  We need to understand that our role in the community becomes public and thus we need to be aware of our actions.  If our actions could possibly have negative connotations, such as the Natalie Munroe incident, we need to readdress our actions so that they are publicly and socially accepted.  I feel it was inappropriate for Ms. Munroe to disrespect students, even if she didn’t use their names.  If students were to do the same thing, would they be able to avoid punishment?  Doubtful.  So why should it be okay if teachers were to do the same thing?  And why wouldn’t it promote students to disrespects others if their teachers were doing it?  As Munroe stated, "I wasn't fixating on these things, I wrote them down and moved on."  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I think it’s inappropriate to disrespect students!  Students are going to look up to teachers as role models; we need to set good examples.  We have students’ lives and well-being’s in the palm of our hands – and we need to take it seriously.  Like I stated in the previous question, we need to, as teachers, address what is and isn’t appropriate via social networking and keep an open communication with the Principal and guidance counselor.

In addition, I would like to mention that as a future teacher, I would like to make sure my private life stays private, and my public life stays (fun and) public.  I plan on keeping my privacy settings on all my social networks very ‘tight’ and would like to stray away from “becoming friends” with any students until they are out of my school.  Regardless, we, as future teachers, need to remember “there are no ‘take backs’ in electronic communications” (Have you Googled Your Teacher Lately?)

3.  How serious of a threat is cyber-bullying to what you intend to do in your classroom?  In your estimation, is it something that as a middle school/high school teacher, you will be on the lookout for?  Should you have to be on the lookout for it?

I want to make it clear, that I believe cyber-bullying is very serious and will not be tolerated in my classroom or school.  My goal would be to create a safe environment for social networking in which all students feel comfortable being involved in social networking assignments and projects.  As stated in the article Online Bullies Pull Schools Into The Fray, one in five middle school students are affects by a form of cyber-bullying.  I believe cyber-bullying is the ‘technological’ version of verbal abuse and should not be handled lightly.  Unfortunately, as we’re learning in Paul Pick’s class “Adolescent Development”, middle school students do not have fully developed prefrontal cortexes thus not understanding limitations and consequences.  This is why it is crucial for us, as teachers, to express appropriate expectations while involved with social networking.  We need to realize that bullying will happen both physically and virtually.  It’s our reactions and actions that will help keep it to a minimum.