As we come to
the realization that the future is catching up to us it is important to learn
how to incorporate the biggest part of the future into the education of our
students. That’s right! I’m talking about technology and how to use it in the
classroom. While technology is becoming an essential part of education it also
comes with great responsibility among the teachers and the students.
Recently in the
classroom, teachers have been involving their students in different uses of
social media and how it can be a helpful learning tool and not just another
social site. Some websites that teachers use in the classroom are blogs, wikis,
video sites, and even social networking sites. Although teachers have a right
to include social media in their lesson plans they are not entitled to use
social media. Along with that, teachers that do choose to use social media in
the classroom must follow specific guidelines and rules pertaining to their
sites and what they choose to make public.
Due to the fact
that technology is an essential part of the future and expected to be used in
the classroom, school districts have taken the time to provide their employees with strict guidelines pertaining to the proper conduct of teachers on social
media sites. This ensures that the teachers are representing their school as
well as their district in good faith and in the best way possible. Guilford
County School District of North Carolina is one case where a school district
has released a Social Media Policy outlining what is expected of their teachers
and the rules that should be followed relating to social media.
This policy
ensures that teachers who choose to partake in social media sites with their
students do so in a professional manner and avoid disclosing any personal
information to their students or parents that could be seen as inappropriate.
It also reminds teachers that the Internet is permanent and information is
never truly gone after it is deleted. It is also important to be careful when
posting online, even to a personal or private site, because it can be seen and
shared by friends or colleagues and affect their peers, students, parents, and
potentially a greater part of the community. Social media should be used in a
responsible manner and the information presented to the students in the
classroom must be educational and used frequently if it is relevant to their
learning.
Although my
desired position in a school setting is not to be a teacher, this does not mean
I am not interested in the new and unique ways to present information in the
classroom through social media. When used correctly, social media can be a
great learning tool in the classroom. A majority of high school students are
already on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and probably many other sites that we
are unaware of. If this truly is the case, all teachers have to do is teach the
students how to use it for academic purposes rather than just social blogging.
Facebook is one
account that is commonly used both as a social site and an academic site for
classroom use in high school. The teacher can create a Facebook group for each
class, or one specific class, that the students and parents will have assess
to. This is a place where the teacher can post class assignments, make
announcements, and even remind the students about upcoming deadlines.
Considering the students are likely already on Facebook, it will be easy for
them to check in on their class group and stay updated.
A Facebook group
is also beneficial to students who may have questions while completing their
homework. They can simply post the question to the group wall and either the
teacher or another student can answer them and help them through the problem.
This will allow the students not only to learn from the teacher but from one
another and expand the class discussion well beyond the classroom. The teacher
is also capable of posting videos, documents, and other resources on the group
wall that the students will have access to and can use while working on an
assignment.
The best part
about a Facebook group, in my opinion, is that you do not need to be “friends” with the members
of the group. As shown in the video below, this allows the teacher and student to keep his or her personal
Facebook page private while still being able to communicate with each other.
However, this does not mean it is appropriate to post information or pictures
that are stated as personal and inappropriate in the school policy. Just
because your profile stays private does not mean the people who are your
Facebook friends will not share this information or that it will not somehow
find its way to your students or their parents.
Continuing with
the proper use of Facebook and Twitter, it is also necessary to look at the
disadvantages of using these sites in the classroom.
One major factor that comes into play on both these sites is the distraction
that it can bring upon students. As stated above, teachers will be capable of
sending reminders or important information about the class through Facebook or
Twitter. As simple as it is for the student to ask questions through the site
or engage in the class discussion about the homework it is just as easy for
them to get distracted. Students will log on with the intention of simply
checking the class group and somehow end up scrolling through their news feed
for a little longer than expected. Take this from someone who has done it more
times than I would like to admit; it is a distraction.
Another great
educational website for students, preferably in high school, is Edmodo. This
site has been considered equivalent to Facebook but with a stronger focus in
academics rather than socialization. Learning how to use Edmodo is easy for both the teachers and the students. Teachers can create a page for each class
on Edmodo and have their students create an account and sign in to that specific page.
When every student is signed up, the teacher will be able to not only give
homework assignments online but also quizzes. The teacher can also upload
videos, class notes or presentations, and upcoming events onto the class page
for the students to access. Additionally, the students will be able to submit assignments
through Edmodo and receive instant feedback from their teacher.
Edmodo, like
Facebook and Twitter, also provides the students with a page to have class
discussions or post questions when they do not understand. This allows the
students and the teacher to communicate outside the classroom and further their
learning at home. Edmodo is also a great tool in the classroom because, unlike
Facebook and Twitter, it is for academic purposes and does not give students
the opportunity to see posts from their friends that are not related to the
classroom discussion.
When using a
social media site like Edmodo, it is important to remember that it was created
with the intention to be used with the teachers and students best interest in
mind. If a teacher has decided to use Edmodo in the classroom, he or she must
use it regularly and appropriately. It will not help the students if a class
page is created but the teacher does not update it or check it daily to answer
the student’s questions or concerns about the class. If the students are
expected to rely on the site as a source of information about the class, the
teacher must be willing to put time into using the site and updating the
material. Likewise, if the teacher is active in using Edmodo, the students must remember to check the site and complete the online assignments regularly as it will affect their grade.
Unfortunately,
recent studies show that roughly nine out of ten teachers do not use social
media in the classroom. This is not due to a lack of training or knowledge on
how to use social media or how to integrate it into their classroom setting and
material. Many teachers have not had the proper training on how to interact
with parents and students through social media in a professional manner, which
may decrease their desire to use it. As mentioned in the previous paragraph on
social media becoming a distraction to students, many teachers have expressed
similar concerns on the topic. Inviting the use of social media into the
classroom makes it harder for students to pay attention and may discourage
teachers from using it at all. Today, students are more technologically
advanced than adults were at that age, and in some cases, more advanced in
technology and the uses of it than adults still are. However, we are living in
a world where technology is the future and we need to start treating it as such
and incorporating it into the classroom.
Finding a way to
keep the students interested and involved is a struggle many high school teachers
face every day. With the fear of standing in front of a class, staring at blank
faces and tired eyes, a teacher must find new, creative ways to present the
information that will make the students stay interested and maybe
even want to learn. Social media is a great way to provide students with new
material and show them that websites can be used for academic purposes too.
When used correctly and appropriately, social media can be an amazing tool in
the classroom.
References
Bolkan, J. (2015, September 02). Research: 9 in 10 Teachers Don't Use Social Media in the Classroom. Retrieved February 02, 2016, from https://thejournal.com/articles/2015/09/02/research-9-in-10-teachers-dont-use-social-media-in-the-classroom.aspx
Gilbert-Valencia, D. (2012, November 29). Teacher Guide to Creating a Facebook Page [Video file]. Retrieved February 04, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DONmVsT14CM
[Untitled illustration of a distracted student]. Retrieved February 2, 2016 from https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSmPn2HwCOxQx1deLo0rI84RtbHHTzN32r8pl8aJTI0lP8x2aeB
[Untitled illustration of how to use Edmodo]. Retrieved February 2, 2016 from http://d75822.medialib.glogster.com/shugabuga/media/66/660fb751bdbf09d94fab0faa7421c2d892711bda/edmodo.jpg
[Untitled illustration of social media]. Retrieved February 2, 2016 from http://www.edutopia.org/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1240px/public/slates/davis-guidebook-social-media-thinkstock.gif?itok=jiGR7IHu×tamp=1424451161
[Untitled illustration of a Facebook logo]. Retrieved February 2, 2016 from http://itechkeys.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/facebook-logo.png
[Untitled illustration of social media]. Retrieved February 2, 2016 from http://www.edutopia.org/sites/default/files/styles/responsive_1240px/public/slates/davis-guidebook-social-media-thinkstock.gif?itok=jiGR7IHu×tamp=1424451161
