The genie is definitely out of the bottle when we look at Social Media. Of course there are many who fail to recognize this, and continue to believe that somehow, someone must approve the use of social Media in order for it to be acceptable in our education system. The glaring problem with that is the lack of understanding on the part of many of those education policy makers to really understand what Social Media is. Many, in their arguments against social media, talk about its limits of 140 characters and the controversy of privacy settings. They fail to recognize that they are only considering Twitter and Facebook as Social Media. They seem to suggest that, whatever perceived problems they see in Twitter or Facebook, also apply to all forms of Social Media.
Here according to Merriam-Webster is the definition of Social Media: forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos). This goes way beyond Twitter and Facebook. This lack of understanding on the part of some, may be a divide or a gap, and it is very evident with the policy-makers in education. It is not a generational gap, but a learning gap. Age has nothing to do with it, since Social Media is effectively used by young and old alike.
Whenever someone says to me that Twitter is too limited because of the 140 character limits on tweets I quite often, in my mind at least, tag them as a non-user or at best a limited user of Twitter. If they used Twitter they would understand that although the tweets are limited to 140 characters, there is no limit on the number of tweets. Therefore, we often engage in discussions without the verbosity that has long been attributed to face to face discussions of education. The result of many of the twitter discussions often result in reflective blog posts another huge component of Social Media.
The argument of privacy settings needing to be a concern in using Facebook is also an indication of a lack of understanding. Today, the digital footprint we hear so much about begins very early in life for our children. Proud parents-to-be are placing fetus-photo albums on the internet every day. Toddlers are highlighted and identified on the internet, as the actual child sits on the laps of their parents as the entry of this information is being made. That same toddler interacts on Webkinz, or Penguin World, both huge Social Media sites for kids under 10. The take away here is that adults view this as technology to be learned. Kids don’t see it as technology; it has always been there for them; It is not new technology to them.
The idea that some policy-maker in education gets to decide whether or not Social Media should be part of the arsenal of learning tools used by educators comes a little late. Kids use Social Media in their everyday lives. Of course without the guidance of educators to use it critically, responsibly, collaboratively and creatively, kids might just be knowledgeable about sexting. That is our fault. Bad things can happen on the internet. It is a powerful tool. It is better to educate kids and use this tool for learning than to leave kids to their own devices to explore these tools on their own without guidance from those who should know better.
Of course the divide between those who are not Social Media aware and those who live in the world of Social Media continues to widen. There are some arrogant educational policy-makers who believe that they have the power to determine what is, and what is not used as a tool for learning. They think that they should take whatever time is needed to research and collect data before they can approve Social Media for educational consumption. The arguments continue today. No doubt one or two of those people may comment here, since I think only a few read education blogs. Hoping that I will not be sent to Cliché’ Rehab (it has been suggested) That Train Has Left The Station. It is now time for educators to do the tough thing and play catch-up. Whether or not Social Media is an educator’s thing or not, it does not matter; Educators exist to teach. Social Media is what kids today are using to socially learn regardless of whether or not schools ban it. If kids are using it despite adult educators who oppose it, don’t we as educators have a responsibility to teach them how to use it responsibly and intelligently?
Social Media has had a huge impact on the world. It is part of the new technology to the older generations. It is not technology to our children; it is what they consider part of their world. They don’t have to learn it because they live it. We as educators need to make it part of our lives as well, if we want our children to learn how best to use it. The genie jumped out of the bottle, and onto a horse that left the barn, and went to the station, boarded a train that travelled to the dock, to board the boat that left the dock. No way is that genie going back in the bottle.
Right on! Reminds me of another post I read recently (who knows — it might have even been one of yours!) saying that we need to rethink what we call “technology.” To someone who grows up without a particular piece of tech, that tech is just that — “technology.” Such a loaded word. But to a kid who doesn’t know a life without that tech, it’s just part of existence. To artificially keep them from using it or even learning about it properly is nothing but detrimental.
Keep on fighting the good fight, Tom.
[…] Social Media, More or Less The genie is definitely out of the bottle when we look at Social Media. Of course there are many who fail to recognize this, and continue to believe that somehow, someone must approve the use of so… Source: tomwhitby.wordpress.com […]
It is not technology to our children; it is what they consider part of their world. http://www.audiorosettastone.com/.
Great!!! and to prove it, look what Lyon Sonia said–and she did it in a tweet. English teachers for generations have been trying to get people to be concise. Now it is a requirement.
Nice piece. Thank you. (I have been writing about this my last two posts on http://geniusinchildren.org
[…] Blog post by Tom Whitby “Social Media, More or Less” in which he makes the argument for inclusion of social media in the toolbox of all educators. […]
PenguinWorld? Perhaps you mean Club Penguin?
Reminds of me a little of my Year 7 teacher who used to complain about me and my “little typewriter thing” (calculator): got the name wrong because he didn’t understand it!
At least you understand what you are talking about, Tom, whereas, my Year 7 teacher just didn’t get that my little typewriter thing allowed me to calculate far quicker and be far more efficient in Maths class than he could imagine!
I think many, many teachers today still believe that about any new technologies that kids want to use. If it makes them more efficient and effective learners, we should be embracing it, not banning it.
I’m not a huge proponent of using Facebook in schools. I think it is important that there is a delineation between the current model of schooling, and kids’ home/social lives.
In the past, teachers didn’t hang out in playgrounds or parks, to ensure kids were always learning. Nor did they go to students’ parties or weekend get-togethers. Likewise, I don’t believe that teachers should hang out in online social areas where kids spend so much of their time.
Are there any policy makers out there who are banning “social media” in schools? Can you locate a document from a school that suggests social media use is prohibited? I know such districts/schools exist that ban everything, but not simply because it is ‘social media’. There are usually other attempts at justifying (time-wasting, privacy concerns etc).
I disagree with banning as a form of control. The biggest issue with this is that it takes the education out of the school’s hands: ban Facebook and you then have no practical way of educating kids in how to use it appropriately. But I also think there is a fine line between what we should embrace in education, and what kids should be able to do, without their teachers hijacking it.
[…] stating that faculty are embracing social media in the classroom while Tom Whitby makes a case for why we as educators need to make social media a part of our lives if we want our students to learn how to effectively use […]
The genie may be out of the bottle and it may be a good thing but it requires a little reigning in. I agree that to our student’s social media has always been a part of their life. What a great way for people to stay in contact or is it?
Social media can empower the student with a fear of public speaking or it can keep them trapped in that fear. Within our classrooms we can encourage social media as a way of expressing oneself but encourage the responsibility that needs to accompany the privilege.
People lacking social skills needed for jobs will not build those skills on the computer world of social media. They need to disconnect from technology to learn that there are real breathing people at the other end of the social media. They have feelings, concerns, needs, and expectations.
You are correct in your comment “Of course without the guidance of educators to use it critically, responsibly, collaboratively and creatively, kids might just be knowledgeable about sexting.” I am not sure what you meant by “That is our fault.” I do not agree with the statement if by “our” you mean educators. We are not alone in this, we need to have parents as a partner, they may know less than us but we as educators we need to give them opportunities to learn.
The student’s we teach are going to be responsible for part of our future. We need to teach them not just responsibilities but consequences of the misuse of the social media.