I just read an article about social networking in a media center in The Unquiet Library in Creekview, GA. They boast that the library has three times as many Facebook fans as the football team. http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/columns/next-steps/unquiet-library-has-high-schoolers-geeked That says a lot for the media center. My plan for Thanksgiving break is to develop a Facebook page for our media center and have our new webpage ready by January 1, 2012 . I know that I have a few things to consider, but the article certainly inspired me to move forward with my initial idea, starting with the Facebook page.
You see, I believe social networking has its place in schools, especially in high schools. When we think about social networking we usually think of Facebook and Twitter, yet social networking encompasses all web based tools or applications that involved interactions and collaboration. Attitudes regarding online interactions vary significantly by audience and by purpose. When we consider social networking in today’s schools, many factors influence access and use for both students and teachers. Because media centers usually serve as access points for internet use and because media specialists often serve as technology liaisons, media specialists can be agents of transformation in regard to productive and acceptable use of social networking sites in schools, Facebook and Twitter included.
I realize that social networking could cause more concern in high schools, but we have managed to use Skype and Facetime with classes to share presentations and allow students to collaborate with students in other classes. It was a great starting point. I am fortunate as our high school teachers are allowed to use any form of internet communication to establish learning communities for the students provided it is work related and can be viewed by parents and other interested people. A few examples are Teachade, Social Go, Facebook, Twitter, Teachertube, Youtube, Glogster, Animoto, Flickr, and many others. Teachers may use any of the social networking sites they choose without filters. However, student access is limited to some sites at school. Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter are blocked for students on campus. Teachers have access, but are reminded to preview anything they wish to share with students. In fact teachers who have Facebook pages for their classes are to keep those separate from their personal Facebook pages. You see it is possible to establish parameters and still find a workable compromise. It is recommended that settings be adjusted so that students and parents can become members, but the teacher does not actually accept them as friends. It seems that other districts are doing the same.
To support the notion that social networking has its place in schools, Media Specialist, S. Skaar polled peers and found overwhelming support for removing blocks and filters to allow students and teachers to use social networking for instructional purposes (2011). I must admit that when our technology department receives requests of this nature, blogs and wikis are met with the greatest resistance and often require great explanations.
Elements of trust, confidence, and support for the work teachers do must exist, and our classroom teachers are responsible for overseeing the safety of all students using any educational social networking sites they have established for classroom use while students are under their supervision. It is the responsibility of the teacher in charge of the assignment to instruct students on its use and establish guidelines. Assistance is available through the media center when requested. Lessons have been provided most recently in the use of Glogster and Weebly sites. Students use those sites for projects and are able to share their work. Glogster offers a .edu version that has some content filters. These sites and many others offer opportunities for students to share evidence of learning with teachers and classmates as well as information sharing.
The point has been made explaining that if students are allowed to use what they are comfortable with in terms of communication tools, they are likely to learn more using those same and similar tools in education settings (Skaar, 2011). It was also quite interesting to note that the University of Rhode Island Newton , E. 2011)
We are well beyond the days of completely controlling what students learn. Our students come to us as volunteers in learning, and we are responsible for designing innovative lessons. I know questions about filters and liabilities always seem to surface, so maybe it is time to teach about responsibility and respect. We can allow students to be their own filters and include them in the design process, allowing them to have input in what and how they learn. I am sure the social networking opportunities will find their way into classrooms. A few final notes to consider: I was on Facebook the entire time I was writing this blog. My daughter posted seven tweets on Twitter while completing her biology lab for college today. Three tweets were about the assignment. Let us find ways to engage our students and use social networking more in our schools.
American Library Association, (2011). Unquiet Library Has High Schoolers Geeked. Retrieved from http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/columns/next-steps/unquiet-library-has-high-schoolers-geeked
Fontaine, D. (2011, January 20). Online Course Social Media and Technology to Promote Learning. Message Posted to Educator’s Desk Reference LM_NET electronic mailing list archived at http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind1101&L=LM_NET&P= R86205&1=LM_NET&9=A&J=on&d=No+Match%3BMatch%3BMatches&z=4
Skaar, S. (2011, May 5). Hit: Filtering and blocking wikis and blogs. Message Posted to Educator’s Desk Reference LM_NET electronic mailing list archived at http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind1105&L=LM_NET&P=R17710&1=LM_NET&9=A&J=on&d=No+Match%3BMatch%3BMatches&z=4
Excellent point about establishing guidelines! Students have to be aware of boundaries when engaging in social networking at school. They have their own culture outside of the classroom which tends to follow them into the classroom. Teachers have to find ways to break them from that! I believe social networking can be used in a positive way as long as students are respecting the norms of the classroom and teachers are actively monitoring them.
ReplyDeleteLeigh Anne,
ReplyDeleteYou make a very good point about media specialists being in a good position to be agents of change where social media in schools is concerned. If we don’t lead, or at least strongly support, this movement, who will?
I’m envious of the fact that your district allows teacher to use any form of internet communication that suits their purposes. It only makes sense. I can understand the concern some districts have about granting teachers these rights. While we would hope that all educators are sensible enough to use these tools wisely, regular reports in the news of inappropriate and/or unwise behavior on the part of teachers remind us that this is not the case. Further evidence of this is the fact that you, and just about every other article/blog I read on this topic, remind teachers to set up separate personal and professional Facebook pages. This should be so obvious, it would not bear mentioning. But since these issues do exist, the logical solution would seem to be that districts need to provide clear guidelines and effective training for teachers. Unfortunately, the response of many districts is not to educate its educators, but to restrict them. It’s a classic example of judging the majority based on the behavior of the minority, and of taking what appears, at least in the short term, the easiest option.
The good news is that there are signs that resistance to the use of these resources in schools is waning. Let’s hope things keep moving in that direction – and do what we can as LMS to further the cause.
Liz
We ARE well beyond the days of completely controlling days of completely controlling what students learn. I recently spoke with one of our academic coaches regarding filtering. We both agreed that it can be such a hindrance when you are trying to find good sites for children. It is also difficult to change policies that have been in place for so long. There is so much out there that we cannot access and social networking is another tool in our bag of tricks that we might use to help create more active learners.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea to create a facebook page for your media center in a high school setting. Just as you said, you were on facebook the entire time you wrote this blog. I think many of us are watching our facebook tabs while on the computer as well as receiving notifications from our phones. We have to go with the flow.
I enjoyed your blog! ....Christy