http://jasontbedell.com/the-case-for-social-networking-in-schools Making Connections for Learning Thu, 10 May 2012 09:10:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://jasontbedell.com/the-case-for-social-networking-in-schools/comment-page-1#comment-604 Debra Ann Gottsleben Sun, 09 May 2010 14:03:36 +0000 http://jasontbedell.com/?p=169#comment-604 Jason I think that Tessa makes some very good points. The tragic case in MA where a girl committed suicide because of bullying (including cyberbullying) will only make school districts more wary of social networking. But there are some forums that schools can use. Our district (well for right now just the high school) uses moodle which allows for online collaboration and networking. Also, twitter isn't blocked but I haven't been able to get any teachers to use it with a class. I have gotten a few teachers to use it for professional networking (although most of these staff members seem to only follow me!). We have also had some success using Diigo (the educational side)where students comment on information they have found on the web and fellow students can join in the discussion. Very safe and does allow for some of the advantages that you mention. Not totally open so we aren't getting global collaboration but still it is a start. Jason I think that Tessa makes some very good points. The tragic case in MA where a girl committed suicide because of bullying (including cyberbullying) will only make school districts more wary of social networking. But there are some forums that schools can use. Our district (well for right now just the high school) uses moodle which allows for online collaboration and networking. Also, twitter isn’t blocked but I haven’t been able to get any teachers to use it with a class. I have gotten a few teachers to use it for professional networking (although most of these staff members seem to only follow me!). We have also had some success using Diigo (the educational side)where students comment on information they have found on the web and fellow students can join in the discussion. Very safe and does allow for some of the advantages that you mention. Not totally open so we aren’t getting global collaboration but still it is a start.

]]> http://jasontbedell.com/the-case-for-social-networking-in-schools/comment-page-1#comment-603 Jason Bedell Sun, 09 May 2010 13:53:55 +0000 http://jasontbedell.com/?p=169#comment-603 Tessa, Thank you for your comment. I think that you're right in that forbidding students from doing something will often just make them want to try to do it. It is better to be open and have specific guidelines for students on how to use it. Tessa,
Thank you for your comment. I think that you’re right in that forbidding students from doing something will often just make them want to try to do it. It is better to be open and have specific guidelines for students on how to use it.

]]> http://jasontbedell.com/the-case-for-social-networking-in-schools/comment-page-1#comment-602 Tessa Sun, 09 May 2010 13:26:36 +0000 http://jasontbedell.com/?p=169#comment-602 I definitely agree that fear is the motivating factor behind the blocking of social networks in schools. However, I do feel that this fear is somewhat warranted. Firstly, many schools and teachers can be held liable if something happens to students who are using a social network at school. Educating students can only go so far. There are students who will abuse the freedom if it is given to them. This could be limited if the social network is school run. Secondly, I believe that Cyber-bullying is one of the major issues worrying schools, because it can be anonymous, it can be extremely damaging to the victim, depending on the nature of the bullying it can be around forever, it's very difficult, maybe even impossible to erase something from the internet, it also has a potentially huge audience. Even teachers can fall victim to cyberbullying, such as hate sites and inappropriate comments. If the networking happens between students and teachers, it should be controlled by the teacher and limited to the school/class. You are absolutely right though when you say that students do it anyway, in fact blocking networking sites is probably incentive for many to find out what it's all about and to find a way around the blocks. It is more sensible to educate them on "netiquette" and cybersafety so that what they do at home is sensible. Parents also need to be educated because many of them just don't know what their kids are up to on the computer. I definitely agree that fear is the motivating factor behind the blocking of social networks in schools. However, I do feel that this fear is somewhat warranted. Firstly, many schools and teachers can be held liable if something happens to students who are using a social network at school. Educating students can only go so far. There are students who will abuse the freedom if it is given to them. This could be limited if the social network is school run. Secondly, I believe that Cyber-bullying is one of the major issues worrying schools, because it can be anonymous, it can be extremely damaging to the victim, depending on the nature of the bullying it can be around forever, it’s very difficult, maybe even impossible to erase something from the internet, it also has a potentially huge audience. Even teachers can fall victim to cyberbullying, such as hate sites and inappropriate comments. If the networking happens between students and teachers, it should be controlled by the teacher and limited to the school/class.
You are absolutely right though when you say that students do it anyway, in fact blocking networking sites is probably incentive for many to find out what it’s all about and to find a way around the blocks. It is more sensible to educate them on “netiquette” and cybersafety so that what they do at home is sensible. Parents also need to be educated because many of them just don’t know what their kids are up to on the computer.

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