Investigation, Activity, and Leadership
- With the other members of your Issues Seminar Project team, you will investigate a topic and prepare a hands-on activity (or set of activities) on one impact issue.
- Prepare a one-page overview of the key points on your selected topic (one for the whole group).
- Submit a single annotated bibliography (from the group) with 3-5 sentence descriptions for each and dated no earlier than 2001.
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Social Networking in Educational Settings
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Overview:
Social networking has fast become a staple of communication for our emerging generation of students. For them, communicating through services such as Facebook, Twitter, and Skype are the preferred modes over services such as email. To this end, it is the responsibility of educators to not only be mindful of the role that this technology plays in our students everyday lives but also to teach them how to use it safely, securely, and in a fashion that is considered a positive contribution to the Internet and shows an understanding of digital citizenship.
A key point to social networking in educational settings is the potential to engage students on the topic of Internet safety. By using a social networking site, students are interacting with and contributing content to a location that is potentially “live” and accessible to anyone. Some educators may take issue with this depending on their grade level, school policies regarding posting student content online, and respecting the wishes of parents. As a result, some services have emerged, such as Edmodo, that offer teachers the look and feel of a traditional social networking service but with the added security and administrative control that can put teachers, administrators, and parents at ease.
Along with Edmodo, many educators have found useful ways in integrating social media into the classroom. In New Jersey administration and educators are using facebook as the school homepage, cell phones to take quizzes, and twitter to update classroom assignments. In Tucson, an educator is using Facebook to have his students educate local politicians and farmers on issues in the community. Nikki Morrell in Florida is having her students use Twitter to analyze the Shakespearean play Hamlet. All of these educators see the benefits in using social media in the classroom. Morrell writes that it is time to accept the fact that we are living in a world where classrooms have no walls, and it is time for all educators to embrace this concept.
Bibliography:
- “Top Tech Buzzwords You Use But Can’t Define”
Fox, Z. (2012, March 16). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2012/03/16/confusing-tech-buzzwords/
“Top Tech Buzzwords Everyone Uses but Don’t Quite Understand (2012)”
Payack, P. (2012, March 15). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.languagemonitor.com/global-english/top-tech-buzzwords-everyone-uses-but-dont-quite-understand-2012/
The two articles above address the issue of the constant emergence of vocabulary and “buzz words” that appear in social networking circles. Teachers need to be aware of the terminology that is being used within social networking systems so that they can educate students on their meaning and when to use them appropriately. This is an opportunity to integrate social networking with language arts.
- “Mapping social media trends around the world”
Arno, C. (2012, March 16). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://socialmediatoday.com/christian-arno/470898/mapping-social-media-trends-around-world
The article above could help introduce students and staff to the idea that there are many different types of social networking services based on geographic locations. Contrary to what students in the United States may think, Facebook is not the “go-to” social networking service in places like China, where they use a service called QZone. This article can act as a branching off point to talk about different types of social networks and highlight niche services like LinkedIn.
- “10 Tips for Improved Security while using Social Media”
Mamidipudi, G. (2012, March 16). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://socialmediatoday.com/gopykryshna/470740/10-tips-improved-security-while-using-social-media
The article above addressed a critical requirement to entering the social networking world: that of security and safety. The article proceeds to list ten tips that every social networking participant should be aware of, from password security to being selective about friend requests and even something as simply as logging out of the service when done. One of the goals of using social networking in the classroom is to teach students the skills and know-how to be safe and secure when they are on other services such as Twitter, Friendster, etc.
- “63% of High School Students Want Textbooks that Communicate with Classmates”
Vidyarthi, N. (2012, March 15). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://socialtimes.com/63-of-high-school-students-want-textbooks-that-communicate-with-classmates-infographic_b91711
This article discusses the trend being observed among students where they are asking for resources that are not only digital but have built-in opportunities to collaborate and socialize with classmates. If you look at the infographic included with the article, there is data ranging from how social networking is being used by younger and younger students, social networks are become a go-to place for college admissions to help them weed out applicants, and the estimated prevalence of bullying online. These statistics can be a branching off point for a variety of topics for classroom conversation and/or debate.
- “18 Amazing Examples of G+ Hangouts in Education”
Marquis, J. (2012, March 12). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2012/03/18-amazing-examples-of-g-hangouts-in-education/
This article addresses another type of social networking service built-in to Google’s service Google Plus. Called “hangouts” this service acts like a virtual coffee shot of sorts where individuals can gather and have virtual conversations. What really makes the article worthwhile is that it provides 18 examples of how this could be employed in the classroom from conducting Q&A sessions with a guest speaker to creating office hours for college students to speak with their professor to even conducting a conversation with the President (see #3). A common mantra for technology teachers and support staff is to not “reinvent the wheel.” This article follows this point of view by providing examples for teachers to either try or to help them construct their own ideas for integration.
- “Ten Ways Schools Are Using Social Media Effectively”
Stansbury, M. (2011, October 21). Retrieved from http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/10/21/ten-ways-schools-are-using-social-media-effectively/
This article discusses the results from a poll that eSchool News took of its readers. They posed the question “Name one way you use social networking your school/district. Or, if you can’t/don’t currently use social networking, how would you like to?” A sampling of the responses include social networking for professional development, assignments, communication, and assessments.
- “Social Networking in Schools: Incentives for Participation”
Deubel, P. (2009, September 16). Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/09/16/social-networking-in-schools-incentives-for-participation.aspx
This article bases its research on the results of three surveys conducted by the National School Board Association. The surveys were issued to students, parents, and school district leaders in charge of Internet policy. The results indicate that those surveyed expect that social networking could have a positive effect on student learning, however it is still not a prevalent tool that is used in schools. This article discusses the various reasons why its use is still not a reality in schools.
- “Social Networking Goes to School”
Davis, M. (2010, June 16). Retrieved from
This article highlights the ways that educators are using social networking to positively impact student and teacher learning. From social networking sites and tools such as Ning, Voicethread, Second Life, Skpe, Facebook and Twitter, schools are finding ways to engage 21st century thinkers and learners through social networking sites that foster group collaboration, global awareness and professional development.
- “A Social Society: The Positive Effects of Communicating through Social Networking Sites”
Wheeldon, E. (2010, April 25) Retrieved from
In this digital age, everything in our lives is spread out across as much media as possible, shaped by anyone and everyone. This articles summarizes ways that social networking sites enhance communication in all aspects of life, from allowing people to form groups of similar interest, sharing ideas in a way where mobility is often a barrier to social interaction, to promoting education and news in a timely fashion.
- “Edmodo: The Total Classroom Solution”
Byrne, R. (2011, May 1) Retrieved from
Come learn how safe social networking can be in an educational setting through Edmodo. This facebook-like platform is a one stop shopping place for a teacher’s digital needs, including a place for teachers to assign and receive work, calendars to assist students with important dates, a digital library that serves as a “digital backpack” for teacher/ student files, a place to post messages and foster group collaboration, and parent connection features. This Web 2.0 app also allows students to post educational videos or online projects to be commented on by their teachers and peers.
- “Social Media in Education: The Power of Facebook”
Wolpert-Gawron., H. (2010, May 7). Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/social-media-education-examples-facebook
This article looks at utilizing Facebook in the classroom to get the word out about the extinction of Bufflegrass. Wolpert examines the multiple methods other educators have used to bring Facebook into their classrooms. The article centers around the positive way Brien Kievit used Facebook to create an online learning community to spread the word about Bufflegrass. The article ends with a plea from Wolpert to educators to use social media, especially Facebook to get a voice in society.
- “Social Media Find Place in Classroom”
Toppo, G. (2011, July 25) Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2011-07-24-schools-social-media_n.htm
Aurthor Eric Sheninger discusses a school in New Jersey making use of multiple social media tools in this article. The teachers in this school in New Jersey use cell phones to answer questions. Facebook has replaced the school website and twitter has become very popular for teachers to update class assignments. The article discusses the fact that many students are coming to teachers bored and disconnected. The article ends with the author stating that educators must incorporate social media, but it is also the educator’s responsibility to warn students of the dangers.
- “To Tweet or Not to Tweet”
Morrell, N. (2012, March 12) [web log message] Retrieved from http://www.edsocialmedia.com/2012/03/to-tweet-or-not-to-tweet/
This article/blog looks at an educator’s efforts to meet the needs of her students by embracing the concept “classroom with no walls.” The blog describes Morrell’s effort to teach Hamlet using twitter to understand multiple themes. The article states that twitter was used because Morrell wanted the students using higher order thinking skills, only being allowed to use 140 characters in twitter would allow for that. Morrell ends by stating that her lessons were a success. Not only do her students “understand Hamlet, they love it”.
