Social Media

Social media use in the classroom is a challenging topic for all schools. Many of my students spend more than an hour a day on social media sites. It has become a real-time link to all their friends. However it is also evident that students use the social media sites to bully and ostracize other students. The bullying goes on for weeks before it is brought to the attention of others that can help address the situation. Social media can also be an opportunity for teachers. It can motivate students to apply their technology skills to develop educational messages and collect data for their classroom. Using social media sites in a classroom setting helps students learn appropriate etiquette and responsible internet practice. For social media to be used in the classroom, it may need to be monitored by parents, students, administrators, and teachers. But the risk of abuse also needs to be considered to protect the students. A school community needs to develop expectations and provide instruction to develop mature and responsible ways of using social media. The decision to use social media in the classroom should include the entire school community.