Kessler, S. (2010, September 29). The case for social media in schools. Retrieved from
http://mashable.com/2010/09/29/social-media-in-school/
Sarah Kessler does an excellent job advocating for the use of social media in the classroom. She begins with a story of a teacher who implemented social media in her classroom and claims it resulted in a reduced number of absent students, an increase in grades by more than 50%, and students completing additional assignments even when they knew they would not receive credit. If those results were truly caused by the implementation of social media, why wouldn’t you want to implement it in your classroom?
Kessler discusses six reasons why schools and teachers should not shy away from social media in the classroom. First, social media is here to stay. Trends in social media may fizzle out but they are quickly replaced with new trends. Second, students learn better when they are engaged. Third, there are free social media sites that are safe for students to use. Students can be engaged through blogging with their friends in a private and safe environment. Fourth, students are more inclined to do their homework online if there is a social aspect to it versus not doing it because they are socializing online with friends instead. Fifth, social media can encourage collaboration among students when used properly. For example, students may need to write a blog together or comment on each other’s blogs. Finally, the sixth reason why social media should be used in the classroom is because the equipment needed has already been purchased by the parents—the student’s cell phones.
These are all excellent reasons why social media should be used in the classroom, but now the question becomes, how do I implement it, or how should I have the students use it?
Q1: Why do most teachers shy away from the use of social media?
A1: I think there are many reasons why teachers fear social media. One reason is because it’s not how we were taught in school. I still remember going to the library in high school to look up something on this new thing called the “internet” and all the computers had dial-up modems. If you weren’t taught how to use it yourself, then I could see some hesitation to try to learn it alongside the students. Another reason is the fear that the students will goof around online instead of doing what they are supposed to be doing. It is hard to monitor what students are doing when they have free access to the internet. Another reason why I am hesitant is because I don’t know how I would grade their assignments. I have enough trouble keeping up as it is with three different preps. And I can’t forget the fact that I don’t have computers in my room for the students without cell phones to use. These are just a few reasons and I’m sure there are many more.
Q2: How would you use social media in the classroom?
A2: When I first thought about blogging in the classroom I thought about using it as an article summary assignment. I would have the students sign up for an RSS feed that shared science articles and each week or every other week they would have to blog about an article they read. Perhaps the article can be about the current topic of study.
I do understand your hesitancy in using it in the classroom for two reasons. 1) You can identify with students who aren't familiar with all the equipment and media s/w. I've seen for myself in a Tustin High School class where about 1/3 of the class wasn't familiar with a computer, let alone more sophisticated communications. The students were suppose to get on the computers and they all refused because they didn't know how to use them and they wouldn't fumble around in front of other students who had all the latest technology (their words). Tustin is a district that is not overwhelmingly poor but there are still some kids who can't afford it. Of course you could say that high school students are old and when the later generation grows up, they might all know it??? 2) Yes I do believe that students may be more inclined to spending time on social media than learning difficult topics like math. So giving them free rein with social media will be tempting to them.
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