Social media is still fairly new territory, and with the constant updates and changes social media endures, it makes sense that many teachers are cautiously reluctant to venture there. Our jobs are precious to us, too precious to risk. Not to mention that those same jobs we are dealing with the most precious resource our country has: our children.
Because of this, the integration of social media into the classroom is something that must be done carefully and thoughtfully. Even if you love the idea of using social media, between student age, accessibility to electronics, community dynamics, and other factors, there are a lot of things to consider before determining how to move forward.
5.) Pick and choose your social media platform(s)
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Edmodo is similar to Facebook- but for school. Teachers can set-up groups (classes), and even add students to "small groups" within those larger groups. Students cannot join without the teacher-code, and the teacher has ultimate control over what is posted. I can delete any post, and even set student accounts to "read-only" which means they will be able to read posts- not "like" or comment on any of them. I usually use this as a temporary probation, because I think it's important that students be allowed chances to correct their mistakes as they learn internet etiquette and how to politely interact online, just like they do in person. (Spamming the Edmodo page is always a huge issue when we start, but it usually only takes one "read-only" time-out for a student to adjust their virtual behavior.)
One of my favorite features about Edmodo is that it is parent-friendly. Parents can join the Edmodo page and follow-along with what is happening in our virtual classroom. (What an awesome way to build a strong school-home relationship!) I can also set posts to "parents-only" if I want to send a message directly to the parents. Although I've had many parents follow edmodo through their parent-accounts, I haven't had any parents reach-out to me specifically about their experience so I'm not exactly sure what it looks like from the parent-account perspective, but the fact that it's an option is awesome to me!
I could do a whole post on Edmodo though... so I'll move on now. lol
4.) Consider the persona you want to project as a teacher.
Are you connecting on a strictly academic level? Do you want your students to see a more relaxed side of your personality? Whatever you decide- the number one word I would remember is "Professional."
I'm partial to a kind of "fun-professional" because I want my students to relate to me, but still understand that I am their teacher and NOT their peer. I will throw-in some #hashtags or emojis in my social media posts, and even an "lol"... but even if I'm a little silly sometimes, I'm careful to always type the same way I would speak to them in class. You don't want to send your students mixed-messages by acting one way online and then completely different in class.
3.) Determine the level of teacher-student connection.
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It took me FIVE YEARS to feel comfortable "following"- back the students who followed my Instagram account. I was still developing my teacher-persona, and I wanted to feel confident that I could handle non-school interactions in a professional way.
Case and point: I once had a student post that they were suicidal on their Instagram profile. I took a screen-shot, (because these things can change in the blink of an eye) and texted it to our grade-level guidance counselor, and also sent a separate e-mail outlining what I had noted about some in-class behavior. This student was incredibly quiet, with no behavior issues- but there were some things that I suddenly realized should be noted, even though those same things alone didn't give me any "red-flags" until I connected them with this obvious cry for help.
The student was called to the office the next class period, and the guardian was contacted to come to the school. As a result, the guardian communicated some issues that were happening at home, and because of what we had seen (guardian did not have Instagram so was unaware of the post) therapy was sought-out immediately. The change I then saw in this student was remarkable. As cautious as I may have been to open a potential can of worms by following my students, I feel like the positive impact I'm able to have is a thousand times worth it.
2.) Set clear "ground rules".
Make sure students are fully aware of your role, and the type of relationship you expect to have on social media. Like I said above, they need to remember that above all else- you are their teacher and NOT their peer. This can be deceivingly difficult, but becomes much easier if you set those clear expectations in the beginning and stick strongly to them.
If I ever have a student post an off-color comment on one of my posts, I will immediately remove their comment, and speak to that student before/after class the next school day about making appropriate comments instead. Thankfully this has NEVER been an issue and my students seem to understand the unspoken rule. However, I have been very conscious of setting an example by being polite, and uplifting with my own comments and post captions.
One of the most important "ground rules" you can set regarding social media with students (and just with students in general) is that you have a united front with their parents and guardians. Make it clear that you respect their parents' decisions, and that you support them.
Case and point: I frequently have students who break their phones and their parents refuse to get them another one. Or they are being disciplined and have lost access to their electronics. Because I'm on social media, sometimes students expect me to be on their "side"- but I always make it clear that while I sympathize with them, I stand with their parents' decisions.
1.) Be transparent.
When I was in college, I remember listening to a guest speaker in one of my classes. They told us that, like it or not, fair or not, teachers are held to a higher moral code. It's a responsibility we hold- to keep our public lives appropriate, and as "wholesome" as possible. With social media, even our "private" lives have become much less private, and we need to be conscientious of every picture we post and every link we share. (Even on our private accounts!) In the public eye, teachers are up front and center.
A good question to ask yourself when participating in social media is:
"Would I feel comfortable with my administrator seeing this?"
Case and point: Instagram has a "direct message" (dm) feature. I have had students dm me to say they will be absent, or to ask me assignment questions when they have a sub. (haha) But once I had a former student message me that they were depressed and had been crying on the bus ride home. Immediately, a million alarms went-off in my head. I'd never had a student message me about a personal matter before. Was this Ok? Should I respond? And at the same time- this student always seemed so gregarious and happy. They had given me an honest and sincere impression while they were in my class, and I knew that it must be serious for them to reach out to me like this when I wasn't even a current teacher.
It was uncharted water, and I wasn't sure how to proceed, so I asked myself - "What would I do if a student came to me in class and said this same thing?"
If a student does speaks to me in class about a personal issue, I make it clear up-front that anything they share with me may also be shared with the counselor or administrator at school. Afterwards, if it is a serious issue I will e-mail a summary of the conversation to the guidance counselor and CC the assistant principal. (Sometimes sixth graders have "serious" issues... like their best friend is now best friends with someone else...and they want a seat-change. I don't always share that with the guidance counselor.)
So, that's what I did. And the really cool thing is, because it was through chat- I had a literal transcript of the conversation I had with this student afterwards- which made sharing with the guidance counselor really easy. Something else to consider is the fact that it's a lot easier to talk to someone from the other side of a screen, and I believe this may be one reason this student reached-out to me. I was available.
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In my district, all students have an online "portal" through which they can sign-in to view their grades, create & save Office documents, and e-mail teachers. (They also have an Edmdo app which makes connecting to Edmodo super easy! Yay!) In recent years, I've been having more and more students (not just parents/guardians) e-mailing me.
E-mail isn't something I would generally consider "social media". It's been around awhile, and it's something we are used to seeing in the professional workplace, so it seems more familiar and more comfortable. Most teachers wouldn't think twice about receiving an e-mail because they feel more in "control" based primarily on the familiarity of the platform. But now, many e-mail accounts come with a profile picture, and you can even link them to social media platforms like Gacebook or google+.
Whether it's by email or social media... It's a way of communicating and connecting- which are both things effective teachers desperately need to do with their students.
Social media may not be for everyone- and I don't expect every teacher to jump on the bandwagon anytime soon (or maybe even ever), but it is something worth considering. Especially classroom-friendly platforms like Edmodo!
Sometimes it helps to find new ways to connect with our students, if we want them to connect the dots with our content.
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