Before throwing any social media use
into the mix, teachers must start with the basics. Netiquette – internet ethics
and etiquette – should be taught first. Just because students use social media
each and every day, does not mean they are using it in an honest, respectful
manner. In fact, in many cases, it is quite the opposite. Teachers have an
awesome opportunity to teach students how social media can both enhance and
expand their learning, but only if it is used properly.
According to the Alliance for Childhood,
“children highly benefit from learning ethics in face-to-face interactions”
which makes the teaching of internet ethics in the classroom so important. So
you might be wondering why type of ethics I’m talking about. When it comes to
using technology and social media in the classroom, students should at least be
taught about…
Copyright.
Academic honesty
(plagiarism).
Electronic communications.
Social networking.
Cyberbullying.
And
confidentiality.
Teachers must provide clear guidelines
on expectations; there should be no gray area. In one of my previous graduate
classes, a professor shared a piece of advice from Gweneth Jones, the daring
librarian. Jones believes that “on social media, it’s good to overshare the
professional; under share the personal; and NEVER share the private. Because
that’s just creepy!” This would be good advice to share with students, because
it’s funny and easy to remember.
Another good list of Internet netiquette
rules was written by the Computer Ethics Institute. They are titled “The Ten
Commandments of Computer Ethics” and are as follows:
1.
Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.
2. Thou shalt not
interfere with other people's computer work.
3. Thou shalt not snoop
around in other people's computer files.
4. Thou shalt not use a
computer to steal.
5. Thou shalt not use a
computer to bear false witness.
6. Thou shalt not copy
or use proprietary software for which you have not paid.
7. Thou shalt not use
other people's computer resources without authorization or proper compensation.
8. Thou shalt not
appropriate other people's intellectual output.
9. Thou shalt think
about the social consequences of the program you are writing or the system you
are designing.
10. Thou shalt always use
a computer in ways that ensure consideration and respect for your fellow
humans.
Students should be guided in their
social media use and not left to their own devices (no pun intended). If your
school district has a technology and/or social media policy, it should be read
and discussed with the students. Knowing the district’s policies is also a good
way to ensure that you, as the teacher, won’t get into any trouble when using
social media in the classroom. Students should also be given an opportunity to
reflect on their social media use so that improvement can be made to their
practices.
Incorporating social media into the
classroom may seem daunting and even a little scary. But if done correctly, social
media platforms can make the curriculum more engaging and more relevant for
your students. Just remember to start with the basics; start with netiquette.
It's always a good idea to know what stakeholders want, which is why Top Hat, creator of a classroom engagement platform, performed a student pulse survey. In this survey, college students were asked a multitude of questions about technology in the classroom, including cell phones. The results from the cell phone portion of that survey are shown in this graphic. While students did admit to using their cell phones for non-academic purposes in class, the results are still very one-sided, with the majority of students feeling that mobile devices enhance their classroom experience.
