Journal #3

Kessler, S. (2010). The Case for Social Media in Schools. Mashable. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2010/09/29/social-media-in-school/#cXxuBXB_1GqE


Social media, when used responsibly, can be an effective learning tool.  Libraries in particular have embraced social media channels for advertising their services, programs, resources, workshops and research ideas.  For instance, marketing workshops and resources such as databases have been effective for providing results that students have been made aware of these services through these effective communication channels.

When used irresponsibly, social media can be a hindrance and distraction in the classroom if students are not focusing on the curriculum, the class activity or the lecture.   There are some surfacing issues regarding social media and misuse in a new emerging study :  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/teens-social-media-addiction/

Referring back to our discussion a couple of sessions ago about expanding our networks in social media and those “weak ties,” how would we obtain those weak ties without social media?

Simply banning it from the classroom can actually lead to a level of ignorance on the part of the instructor leading to poor teacher-student interaction.  As is quoted in the article as a “lock down” on social media and the internet, ignoring a daily habit on the part of the students and not weaving social media into the curriculum or by means of communication is neglecting to become technologically literate which is required to effectively communicate with teenagers (the age group for which the article addresses).   

With more personal experience as my daughters are in Kindergarten and preschool, text messaging and social media have been the most effective communication means for me and my husband as working parents.  I find I receive information rapidly more so than having to wait for a printed flyer arriving by post or in my daughter’s backpack among a sea of papers and in-class work, not to mention how it reduces the amount of clutter and is less likely to get lost. Kindergarten and even preschool are embracing not only social media, but also apps that educate the kids as well as the parents. These apps are a luxury for information and calendaring purposes.

Drawing attention to #2 in the article and the blog writing, I think that would be an integral part of keeping students current in producing information rather than simply consuming it.  Like social media outlets, students can consume information and creatively produce it.  The problem question that would arise is are they producing information responsibly?  Good social media etiquette and habits should be enforced as this will be training for their future online networks such as LinkedIN.  This should be something weaved into the curriculum for elementary schools and high school students in order to engage them in their daily social media usage.  For students who don’t use social media, this would be a good assignment to introduce them to social media and the benefits of networking.  

I think the elephant in the room is not the issue the article addresses about embracing social media, but making it an integral part of the elementary curriculum, albeit, with other avenues for learning. Not simply focusing on social media for hours on end.  This is addressed with the Nielsen statistic of increased internet usage by children in #4.  There should be a balance between online time and offline time.  Spending hours on the internet for educational purposes should allow time for rewarding time spent on the internet (gaming), but should also incorporate offline time to exercise and focus on offline activities.  Children introduced to social media at an early age will better position them for their future careers with networking opportunities and make them better informed.    

Q1: How can social media effectively be integrated into the elementary curriculum?
Possible Answer: With the inclusion of computing in early childhood education as early as Kindergarten and pre-school. Introducing computer literacy to children and teaching them software such as Drawing or painting to create images can be a starting point to showing them how to post their work on social media to share with their parents and siblings. Finding ways to teach them keyboarding is a start and will also better engage them with the alphabet and numbers.

Q2: How early should students be introduced to social media and blogging?
Possible Answer: With the Common Core State Standards, it should be introduced in stages. Introduction to the computer with letters and numbers should be the starting point that leads to creating blogs to enhance their writing skills in later grades/middle school.