I believe that students that social media outlets can help bring the classroom together, you can use to to discuss a topic, or maybe even make a new topic with the discovery of one in the internet. It can also be distracting as well, so you just need to make sure everyone is using it for the right reasons.
Tina,
I agree with you that using social media to fratenize with students can and will deteriorate the professional relationship between instructor and student. Howver, if you use it in such a way that it is only tied to learning, and you create specific projects for the students to do that you can monitor, then it can be a very appropriate and effective learning tool.
I think the use of social media in the classroom can be a great learning tool for students, because social media is an intricate part of their lives today. I had students set up wikis to share and collaborate on group projects last quarter, and although soem complained, because they had to do research on their topics to incorporate into their wikis, overall, I think it turned out well, and I intend to incorporate more projects this quarter.
As long as you are a member of each groups social media project, students will be more conscious about what they post.
Jason,
Yes, many have mentioned it is against their school policy. Does this also apply to LinkedIn at your institution?
Wishing you continued success in the classroom.
Theresa Schmitt
No. The school policy stands againsy social media with current students. I choose to comply with comnpany policy.
Carol,
Yes, you bring up a fantastic point here, anything we post online can come back to haunt us and basic commonsense should be used at all times. Being an educator is a tremendous responsibility, especially today with the various forms of digital communication.
Wishing you continued success in the classroom.
Theresa Schmitt
Yes, I absolutely do think that we all should be connected to social media. HOWEVER, and this is a big however, regardless of what type we may venture into, discretion, professionalism and just plain common sense should be applied to each use.
Perhaps the biggest risk is when a person actually believes that he/she is controlling who sees the post. Even when we place restrictions on the usage, people who are determined to find a way to read posts WILL find a way. Hackers are so much smarter than most of us who socially and casually use this technology, yet we deceive ourselves with a false sense of security when we post things that can come back to hurt us.
But, if we can get our heads around that one fact, the possibilties are endless. We can now communicate anywhere in the world and learn anything we might have a fancy to learn. If we can develop the question...we have the access to answer.
Tabitha,
I agree, a AUP on file, signed by the student, is a very good idea when incorporating social media as a teaching and learning tool.
Wishing you continued success in the classroom.
Theresa Schmitt
Tabitha,
I agree, a AUP on file, signed by the student, is a very good idea when incorporating social media as a teaching and learning tool.
Wishing you continued success in the classroom.
Theresa Schmitt
Patty,
I agree, there is a line that should be drawn when connecting with students via social media tools. I believe LinkedIn is a safe bet and Twitter when used as a teaching tool. With so many schools restricting faculty from connecting via social media tools, it is always best to review the institutional policies concerning these matters.
Wishing you continued success in the classroom.
Theresa Schmitt
i believe that being connected to social media is necessary especially in this era where everything is about being connected, but i do think that there should be limits to how much personal information is shared with students
Patty
Our school also prohibits us from using facebook or other social media. Although I have a facebook account, whenever current students want to "friend" me I decline for obvious reasons. However, I am "friends" with former students who have completed our program. I have found that by keeping in contact with them I can keep abreast of how they are progressing in the profession. Also, when they need some help or answers to things related to what they had learned, I can help them. However, with current students, it's a "no-no."
i feel that could be a "slippery slope" meaning that if students and instructors have too much interaction on these types of media that it could be construde in the wrong way by some as innapropriate. I'm not sure i'd like to take the chance of that happening personally. i do however befriend those that would like to be my friend after graduation though.
If the social media is a class orientated and is contains specifics from the class it would be alright. Students should be required to sign a AUP on what can and cannot be placed on the site that is being used for class.
I think that it is possible for students and instructors to connect on social media, but I think that a class page should be created to ensure that only class-related posts are shared.
Instructors and students should not be connected on social media outlets. Social media is a place that should be kept away from work. Instructors need to keep there personal life and work seperate. Although social media can be used as a great learning tool, there are too many potential dangers that are not worth the risk.
I believe that being connected to your student's on social group's could have a lot of benefit’s to the teacher and student. But in a real world could potentially cause more trouble than it’s worth. It's always nice to have other forms of communication with a student, especially for a potential drop risk student. However I believe it would blur the lines of professionalism.
After learning about the tremendous benefits of incorporating technology into the learning environment, I think that creating that type of relationship could be extremely useful for all parties involved. Conveying the expectations clearly in the beginning as well as keeping it strictly professional/only class related would be key.
I am definitely behind the times as far as technology goes and therefore am surprised to be so enlightened. I had no idea that all of these resources were available to us instructors and am super excited to see how this will enhance student engagement. I truly think that this could bridge the gap between us and them. This type of connection is really speaking the language of the student. They will probably be even more likely to "hear what the instructor has to say" through this increasingly familiar technology than in a classroom setting.
Although I am a little apprehensive about diving into all of this, I feel it is inevitable to continue to be a great instructor. Thank you!!
I think that social media can be helpful in relaying information to a large group and sharing ideas within the group. You have to set limits though when it comes to sharing personal information so personal boundries are not crossed.
I think teachers and students connecting on a social media is alright as long as the account is class specific, protocols have been set and the account settings are also set. Making a social media account for the class would allow for out of class disscussions, students would speak-up more freely and it would engage them. It would also teach the students the right way to use social media.
