What are these tools?
Popular social networking sites that people from all over the world use to communicate with each other.
How can they be used?
Each of these networking sites allows users to communicate with peers by sending messages, updating profiles, or joining networks that relates to their job, school, or community. In the classroom, teachers can use these various ways depending on the site. Facebook can be used by teachers creating a group for their students and in the group post assignments and study guides. Teachers using Twitter can use the social network to make announcements, take polls, or have class discussion from home. Teachers who use Myspace are able to publish podcasts, and post Myspace bulletins (this feature allows users to post meetings, announcements, and upcoming events).
What are the advantages?
Many students use the internet at home and nearly all of them have at least one of these social network sites. Teachers can use this to their advantage by having their students join one of the sites and using it as a out of class discussion forum. Students that may have questions while doing homework could now just ask their teacher or fellow classmates through one of these sites. Also, if teachers forgot to mention something in the classroom they could post it on the social network site. Another advantage is having a forum set up for parents so they have a constant way of contacting teachers.
What are the disadvantages?
One of the main concerns for social networking sites is the inappropriate behavior that goes on, on these sites. There have been numerous teachers that have been fired because of inappropriate language or pictures that have posted on these sites. As a teacher, one as to be cautious and show responsibility when posting anything. Teachers must understand that the site would be used for educational purposes and not personal use. Another concern could be that some students do not have internet access at home which puts them at a disadvantage from the other students. Also many schools block these websites from being used while at school.
What is the audience for this technological tool?
EVERYONE!!! The community for social networks are vast; from Oprah to the University of West Georgia, all have accounts with these social networks Teachers, students, and parents all can take full advantage of Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace. There are over 600 million users that use either one of these accounts, there are a lot of people who have accounts with all 3!
You Can Learn More By Joining One of These Networking Sites
Myspace
Plus its Free!!!
My Thoughts
I personally like the idea of using these social networking sites to help teachers communicate with students better. There is a lot of upside to using Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace in the classroom and I think teachers should consider using it. There are so many students who communicate with their peers using these sites and I think educators should try to capitalize off the success of the sites. My only concern is that there are strict regulations that school districts have for governing these sites for student- teacher relationships. The regulations scare a lot of teachers off from using these sites and unless there is a compromise or a set guideline that can be used, it is going to be difficult for teachers to take full advantage of this technological tool.
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