Journal 7: Beyond Social Networking

Citation: Reynard, R (July 15, 2009). Beyond Social Networking: Building Toward Learning Communities. THE Journal, Retrieved July 29, 2009, from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume_35_2007_2008_/MayNo7/L_L_May_2008.htm

This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of integrating social networking sites like Facebook into a classroom. The author made a point to mention that while creating a special group on a social networking is a great way to reach out to your students, students may not be receptive of it unless there is an education basis for the group. Students don't usually want to socialize with their teachers outside of the class and may feel like their private space is being invaded. The author also talked about how sometimes one technological skill can lead to the learning of another, so it is important to start somewhere. As teachers, we should look for opportunities to teach our students at every chance we get, whether it be related to our specific class material or just a basic skill that needs to be developed. By introducing computers/the internet/social networking sites to students that are unfamiliar with such technologies, the teacher is giving students the opportunity to feel more comfortable sharing their ideas with others because they realize that it will then be part of a community.

Do schools have restrictions on how teachers can use social networking sites in the classroom? I would imagine that administrators would initially be concerned with a teacher having a Facebook account that is accessible to students. If the teacher kept the page strictly professional, I would think/hope that the administration would see the value of using such a tool in the classroom to reach students. I think it is really important for educators to take advantage of technology that most students already use heavily anyway.

Are there any studies or information available about the success rate of teachers integrating social networking sites in the class? It still seems a little far out to me to think that students would allow their teacher to have access to their Facebook page. Most kids, at one point or another, have said something like "Man, I really hate our English class" or something similar on a friends site, so I find it hard to believe that such kids would want the said English teacher to have access to that information. While it is a cool idea, I just don't see it being practical, at least not on a site as popular as Facebook. It might work better on something that students set up specifically for the class, much like we did when we all created our blogs with Blogger.