In the News: Social Media in the Classroom

A frequently asked question by teachers in today’s world of technology is “Should I use social media in my classroom?” While this question is certainly subject to one’s own personal opinion of social media, the article “U.S. K-12 Teachers Reluctant to Integrate Social Media in Classrooms,” written in August of 2016, briefly addresses the issue.

In the article, “U.S. K-12 Teachers Reluctant to Integrate Social Media in Classrooms,” author Richard Chang discusses teachers’ hesitancy to incorporate social media into their classrooms while also discussing some usage tips if a teacher were to include social media in the classroom. Right off the bat, Chang states that “nearly nine in 10 (86%) of American K-12 teachers have not integrated social media into their classrooms, and the majority (62%) indicate that they do not plan to do so” because of all the uncertainties that come along with the usage of social media. However, Kathy Cook, the dean of educational technologies at the University of Phoenix’s College of Education, says that “while there is understandably some hesitancy to incorporate social media into the classroom, there is a wealth of opportunity for teachers to use social media to enhance the student learning experience.” Cook also stated that “the first step to using social media as an educational tool is acknowledging its impact on the lives of today’s students and teaching them about the importance of digital citizenship… [because] it can help set the tone for their future usage.” She then gives five tips for using social media in the classroom: “start small, create boundaries, be channel agnostic, continue learning, and be social.” Although Cook briefly covers a few tips when using social media, she never fully addresses my personal concern and the main concern of teachers, which is the safety of their students, parents, and themselves.

While this article was an interesting read, I was still left with my initial question: “Should I incorporate social media into my classroom?” However, after reading this article, I know that there are other teachers out there wondering the same thing and are reluctant to integrate social media because it is difficult to find answers to this ever challenging question. Reflecting back to classroom discussions about social media, I also see a concern as to how its usage would be monitored. Not only does social media usage need to be monitored, but also the resources used to access social media. This would include monitoring internet access and digital media, such as iPads, computers, or phones used to access the internet. I do believe that if properly monitored, social media could have a positive impact by connecting the classroom together as a community, as well as connecting the classroom with the outside community. However, if used incorrectly, I can see negative outcomes, such as arising ethical issues, privacy threats, and overall safety. When it comes down to it, I believe I will stick with better, safer methods of uniting my classroom until social media can prove itself to be safe and reliable for my myself, my parents, and most of all, my students.

I’m Interested in hearing your opinions about the article?

What did you think and what’s your opinion about incorporating social media into the classroom?

If you would like to read this article for yourself, you can access it at: T|H|E Journal

Addison Foster