It is hard when you teach in an environment with students of varying ages (which I do) to consider social media being that valuable. This is because it is viewed differently by the different generations. It is also a concern when access to computers, money for ISP's and bandwith problems or even availability (rural areas) still is a huge problem to overcome. Jumping into social media use threatens to make outsiders of the poor when it comes to collaborative education. There is also the major problem privacy which is still important to many. Much of social media is public and can be problematic because it is public
There are plusses and minuses to both. Instructors who connect with students on social media outlets do connect and relate with them by 'speaking their language' in a sense.
However, it does seem like every day the news carries a story of a teacher who crosses the line using social media in a variety of ways. While this is obviously an error on the part of the individual not the technology, it does begat the question of if the medium was not available, would these issues occur.
Sad to say, it does seem like the use of social media outlets have to very carefully used and any school or institution would be wise to have very specific guidelines created and established for any use of social media between instructor and student.
Absolutely not while you are the instructor, and they are your students. Nor for quite awhile after that time.
I have "friended" a few former students from the past, some of which I have regretted and, subsequently, defriended. I have no desire to see/read what they do in their free time. It's simply none of my business, and I prefer to think of my students as simply my students, not in the roles they take on with their friends and in their personal lives.
However, I thoroughly enjoy being "friends" with a few stellar scholars which I previously taught. It's rewarding to see them as grown-ups, parents, professionals (many are teachers), and peers. I believe it all depends on the age and maturity level. Many of my students didn't seek/find me on FB until they were approaching or in their 30's.
Yes and No. I believe that instructors should have two accounts one professional and one personal. the hardest part is keeping them separate. Making sure you don't "friend" students on your personal account or personal friends on your "professional account". That being said, when I can't contact my students by phone or the usual methods I can go to Facebook or Twitter and find them in very short order. So Facebook has actually helped me with retention of students as well as keeping them up to date on what is going on in class.
As I said the hard part is keeping the two separated and not friending yourself between the two accounts.
I do believe that students and instructors should be connected on social media with the proviso that the instructor "keeps it real". -That is, the student/instructor relationship is based upon and exists within an academic and, for the instructor, a professional framework. Very often sensitive social lines are crossed regardless of the best of intentions. It is the responsibility of the instructor to specify and maintain the protocol and propriety of the social exchange.
Our campus does not allow this either. Is there a trend to change this?
I am not sure on this matter. With all the new social media outlets there could be good or bad effects. I would rather not use this new technology.
I definitely believ that social media is now a tool to use in engaging younger students. There world has become centered around posts, status updates and technology. Although I teach sociology and psychology classes and one subject I teach about is interpersonal relationships. I always have concerns because with so much technology and media I feel some students have forgot the basics of how to interact with other people face to face and we dont want to fully disregard that in class rooms. Students need to physically work together to learn good eye contact, reading body language, being presentable for interviews, etc...
I would use facebook for personal post and have students as friends, but for a discussion tool to discuss certain topics discussed in the classroom.
If a student and instructor were to be connected through social media, I feel that the utmost care must be taken and there must be no fraternization on any level. It must be held to purely academic standards and topics.
I have been wanting to connect my students with some sort of social media site to encourage learning and communication. I think it is important to set boundaries for the usage of the site. It is important that the site is used strictly for classroom educational use. I can see how a site can easily turn from informative to personal. A social media site would enable me to post pictures, links, and articles that would be beneficial for my students. It would also encourage class collaboration and sharing.
I never really thought about the value of a twitter account for a class, but now that I have gone through this training I can see the benefit of sharing articles and current information that a lot of times if posted on the traditional class forums go ignored.
I believe being connected to a student via social media can be a good thing if used properly and professionally. Other perimeters would also need to be established to prevent conflict of interest within the classroom, and the maturity level of the student(s).
It is an issue that I often struggle with because of the sensitivity of nature in the contact perimeters.
I could see where a student and teacher could tweet about relevant class material or articles. At the same time, it should be kept to only relevant class material.
This is difficult to answer. I agree that we should have that connection, but at the same time you should have the right to your personal information. How are postings about my family or friends on social media going to be any help with my students education.
I think teleconferencing is a benefit but other than that I don't see using social media to interact with students is a good idea. Just look at the name "social" media.I am there instructor not there BFF so I think we need to stay on that road.
I do not think that instructors and students should interact in social media because as an instructor I want to keep my personal life seperate than my school life. I also want to only see my students in the same professional way.
Social media is a great way for students to interact and share information, pictures, etc..
It is also a way for a class to interact with one another as well as with the instructor. The problem comes when there is a blurring of personal/private lines. I do not need to know about my student's lives nor do they need to know about mine. If there was a way to set up private or closed sites strictly for a class then I would be all for it. Until then I feel it's best to keep the "social" aspect of the student/teacher life separate.
Facebook has a been a great tool for our students to post their class work projects from their centerpiece classes, and some have been offered jobs because of this tool, but as an instructor, I do not feel comfortable using it to post personal information, since I have so many students out there, and they do not need to know my personal information.
I am curious as to whether or not you created a separate professional Facebook account for which you are friends with former students. I see the benefit of staying connected, however I do not want my former students following my personal life on Facebook.
