Journal #3

Article

Kessler, S. (2010, September 29). The Case for Social Media in Schools. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2010/09/29/social-media-in-school/

I read the article listed above and it was very interesting. A 7^th grade teacher, Elizabeth Delmatoff,  has found ways to not only incorporate social media into her curriculum, but promote and improve student participation and decrease absences.  In this article six reasons to incorporate social media into education are outlined. The first step is that social media isn’t going away. This is true, every day new programs and media sites are popping up and students are using all of them. Rather than fight the social media, why not try to embrace it and use it to your advantage. The second step suggests that when students are engaged they learn better. A basic statement could not be more true. When you provide students with an opportunity to use an ipad, their phone, or a media site they are more likely to be excited and not realize that they are doing work. The third step is for skeptical administrators, teachers, and parents; safe social media tools are available and free. Edmodo, kidblog, and more provide online programs for students without inappropriate advertising to students. The fourth reason I feel was the most interesting, to replace online procrastination with social education. Delmatoff created assignments for students to complete after school. They were not part of their grade, the students did not receive extra credit, or a golden star however 100 students participated in these activities and assignments. Some assignments were to make a 2 minute video on their walk home from school about how bad littering is, another was to comment of President Obama’s speech. Although these activities were voluntary, students completed them anyway. The fifth reason is very important to encourage collaboration rather than cliques online.  In the classroom a teacher lectures while students listen and take notes. Online, students are required to write posts, comment on each other’s posts and collaborate. This is a different type of learning and group work but it will help break down those cliques that so easily generate in the classroom. The last reason is that cell phones aren’t the enemy. Too often teachers are taking cell phones away from students in school, and granted many students are procrastinating, but they can be used as a great learning tool. Too often schools can not afford to provide laptops, computers, or tablets to every student in the classroom, but a large number of students have their own smartphone that allows them to use the internet. Why not embrace that and allow students to work on their phones. Overall technology and social media currently is being banned from schools. If used correctly, it can be an effective learning tool to enhance participation and learning.

Q: How do you ensure that students are working productively on their cell phones/tablets rather than procrastinating?

A: I think a set of expectations, rules, and consequences are necessary to ensure the use of technology and social media is being used and not abused. I really like the idea of having students post everything on their own blog, or on a site such as edmodo. This ensures that they actually do the work in class rather than procrastinate.

Q: What are the consequences for students that abuse the bring your own policy? Or that write inappropriate comments on the site?

A: I think for the students that abuse the bring your own policy their privilege is taken away. If they can not be trusted to work productively then they should be either given a school product that prevents them from using different websites. For students that write inappropriate comments on the sites should be written a referral, or whatever written consequence the school policy suggests. With any social media site there is a huge opportunity for things to go off topic, and for bad mouthing to occur. It is crucial that the teacher not only goes over the expectations but also the consequences so the students understand the seriousness of it all.