001+Social+Networking



__--Social Networking in Education--__

** Pros of Social Networking between Teachers and Students **

Social networking between teachers and students does have some negative factors, but it also can be a very positive thing. According to the website, //Making Teachers Nerdy,// “Quite often students have questions about current assignments or discussions after school or on weekends while they are doing homework.” That quote is very true because students usually cannot get in touch with their teachers after school hours or on weekends, so this new website called, Edmodo, can assist with these problems. This new program offers assistance to students beyond school hours. If a child has a question about a homework assignment, they can post it on this website and the teacher can get right back to them. Also, if a student is absent, they can receive and submit assignments through this website without the late grade. Through this network, the teacher can see and control everything that the students post, so the students cannot use this site as a peer social network. Edmodo can also be used to help the teachers interact with other teachers. This website is not the only social network that can be used between teachers and students, there are many more.

According to Christine Greenhow, a researcher for Direct Administration, “social networking expanded the students’ abilities to perform work by actually practicing the kinds of 21st-century skills we want them to develop to be successful today.” In today’s world, everything is becoming technology incorporated, so having students work through online networks will prepare them for college and future jobs.

** -Kelli Lloyd ** media type="custom" key="11515704"

** Current Applications **

Social networking is already being used in many classrooms across the world. Take this example of a second grade teacher in France who is using Twitter to help her students learn to read and write. “Every morning, one or two pupils are in charge of posting the first tweet of the day. However, before posting it, he or she needs to write the sentence in his or her exercise book, get it corrected, type it on a shared digital document and copy and paste it in the software managing Twitter. The short message then appears on the smartboard on the classroom wall, along with messages from followers of the class.” And they have even addressed the issue of online safety for the children: “…The pupils are also taught to be cautious. To avoid any trouble linked to social networks, each twittclass has created its own code of conduct. Jean-Roch Masson’s class decided it would only go on Twitter ‘with a parent or the teacher to read or write.’ Pupils need to be ‘polite and nice’ and not to give their ‘address, password or anything regarding their private life.’”

Another teacher, this time an ESOL teacher from America, is using Facebook games like Yagura and Knighthood to teach his students vocabulary and critical reading skills. Yagura is a cooking game that gives you detailed instructions on how to prepare a virtual dish. This requires an adequate understanding of th e vocabulary used in cooking(i.e. boil, slice, grind, spatula, ladle, etc) and helps students practice reading English. Knighthood is a simple defend your castle and acquire gold game, similar to Farmville. The teacher uses it to teach harder vocabulary words such as alliance, benefactor, or recruit, while it also forces students to read instructions in order to know how to play the game.

In both settings, the entire class was involved, which is the idea at the heart of social networking. The fact that most or all of your students will be social networking anyway means that incorporating it into the classroom ensures that the majority of your students will be actively engaged in that activity.

** -Kevin Loftus ** media type="custom" key="11139208" align="center"

** Alternative Student Teacher Sites **

Edmodo is a teacher/student website that allows social networking within the classroom. Students are able to communicate with those only allowed through an access code related to their specific classroom. The teacher has the ability on ce all students are on to lock the community; meaning no one else even if the access code is obtained can join. This site will allows students to work together with teachers in the increasing world of technology. The site even includes study apps that the teacher can place in his or her community for their students to use. It is a great safe controlled site versus the notorious Facebook (edmodo.com, 2011)

Yoursphere.com is a social network for children/teens to interact in a safe environment. The site developed by students is for students and has its own board designated for locating online predators. However, as a teacher you may contact Yoursphere and they will create a personal sphere for you and your classroom. This will enable you to have a safe group community that parents are aware of and must approve. This site has games as well as interest groups for students to take part in much like the Edmodo site. However in addition you can earn cool prizes and create your own Avatar (yoursphere.com, 2010).

** -Stacie Athey ** media type="custom" key="11138938" align="center" media type="custom" key="11577446"

** The Law is Stepping in on Teachers & Social Networking Sites **

When most teachers set up social networking pages and add their students the page is created for educational purposes whether it be to post articles related to what is being used in the class, or to post what the homework is for those that were absent that day. However, some teachers have used these sites inappropriately and now the law has gotten involved. Between 2001 and 2005, the state of Missouri has fired 87 teachers due to them having inappropriate relationships with their students; some of which have been through electronic media devices. With these findings Missouri’s governor, Jay Nixon, signed Senate Bill 54 that went into effect on August 28, 2011. This bill states that teachers are not allowed to have exclusive online access with current students or former students who are minors. This means that communication through sites su ch as Facebook must be done in public. The law is prohibiting non-work-related sites where teachers and students can communicate and it is hidden from the public.

What does this mean for teachers? Some teachers are afraid that this law will restrict their right on freedom of speech and cause them to not be allowed to have any social network page that is private and not for students. Others say that the new Missouri law will prohibit them from being able to communicate with their students for educational purposes and emergencies. As of now the law is very broad and it is reported that by January school districts must establish policies that decide what type of electronic media is appropriate for teachers to use with their students. ** -Tabitha Ringer ** media type="custom" key="11139358" align="center"

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Sources:

Blank, C. (2011, August 18). //Missouri Tecahers Sue Over Facebook, Social Networking Law//. Retrieved September 18, 2011, from Huffington Post: []

Edmodo. (2011, 02 01). //Edmodo//. Retrieved 09 19, 2011, from Edmodo: http://www.edmodo.com

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Inc., y. M. (2010, 03 01). //yoursphere//. Retrieved 09 19, 2011, from yoursphere: []

Social Networking with Students. (n.d.). //Making Teachers Nerdy//. Retrieved September 21, 2011 [] media type="custom" key="10741186" align="left"

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