Research

Natasha Woodall Quezada 11-01-11 Social Media in Education Social media in education is slowly becoming part of the educational environment. Not only are 61 percent of teachers, principles, and librarians using these social networks the students are using them as well. Only a few schools are engaged in the web 2.0 media however, students that have engaged in this opportunity have gained computer literacy, critical thinking abilities, gained global awareness, collaborative skills, and multicultural friendships. Students use their critical thinking abilities through collaboration and creativity. 61 percent of students use social networking to talk about education topics online and 50 percent of students talk specifically about school work. When students use social networking sites and create their own sites they show value in reading and writing more. Students combine art, oral and written illiteracies, they learn how to search, evaluate, summarize, interpret, think and write clearly. Tim Discipio, cofounder of ePals is trying to find curriculum based activities that can be enhanced through use of social network tools. Eric Sheninger, principle of New Medford High School in New Jersey uses Twitter and Facebook to communicate with teachers and students. He feels that when social networking is used with caution he can provide real time information to the staff and students. These networks also include pictures of the school, events, and event calendars. Some schools are just now including social networking into the professional environment. More caution is being exercised when implementing the web 2.0 into the environment. Post such as one made on October 30, 2011 don’t help the educational environment when it comes to making a decision about including social media into the classroom. The post shared that a teacher posted on her Facebook account pictures from a party she had. In the pictures she was in her bathing suit, in a hot tub, with beers in her hand. The school has a policy that teacher can’t be friends with students however students were able to access these pictures and it is deemed unprofessional. The article also states that teachers need to be made aware of appropriate measures that they need to take when they are a member of a social network. Through global awareness when students create a positive digital footprint it may or may not be impressive to those who are hiring them, or colleges looking for a candidate for their schools. Teaching the students that what they say online as a teen will be there when you are thirty and looking for a job and these will be what the colleges and “new” bosses will be impressed with. As teachers we need to teach the students how to make a positive digital footprint instead of just warning them of the bad effects of social networking. Cyber bulling and sexual harassment are part of these negative consequences. These two titles are something not to be taken lightly. Schools should have workshops that stress the importance of these topics. Also invisible audiences include those who you can’t see and who are your friends and also lurkers that are there but you don’t know it. While these issues are very important and should be addressed and explained well, the students should know the positives as well. Many students use the social media to gain friendships not only with those in their school and community but also in other countries as well. The collaboration that takes place between these connections helps to build upon knowledge of the student’s knowledge of the other cultures and how they can impact each other. Students can also do projects with others in different countries while staying in their own home or community. Some schools have programs that own up to this collaboration of students and countries. Not only do these students learn collaboration they also learn multicultural differences, communication skills, whether it be in the same language or a different language, their computer literacy is built upon what they already know, and critical thinking skills which includes how they reading and write are sharpened through this unique process. In all social media is the new way to not only communicate but also make the world greener. The benefits that students gain through these technologies are what they will be using for their future jobs. When students are aware of the benefits they can not only use them they will be the next ones who come up with the next new way to communicate, collaborate, accomplish work along with other items of importance quicker and more efficient. When social media is used with caution it will not only benefit the student it will also benefit the rest of the world.

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