Social Media

Social media networks have changed the world and the marketplace.  Students today need to learn to interact with each other, and to create products online. A major component of professionalism and competence in the work world of the future will be media literacy. The ability to connect with customers and partners in a social networking environment will be imperative.  Netiquette is an important social skill that we must teach our students in school. Often our students use social networking sites and technology at home, but we cannot be sure that they are developing the netiquette and social networking skills that will be required to be professional in the world of work and adult life.  Just as we must often teach our students to use socially acceptable behaviors in the everyday physical world we must teach our students to do the same in cyberspace. The anonymity of cyberspace makes it more likely that people will feel freer to act in more extreme ways than they would in face- to f-ace encounters. Students often feel invincible and are often more bold in their behaviors.  Teachers and parents must take the time to teach students how to use social networking sites appropriately, and to use them for positive self -promotion.

Students in my county are prohibited from using social networking sites at school. This is a tragedy because social networking sites are a good way of teaching students to respect others and themselves in various online environments. These lessons can also carry over to everyday life, providing a relevant context for the importance of respecting the opinions and rights of others.  Social networking sites like Ning and Facebook provide great opportunities for students to get to know each other and to collaborate on various products and projects that can improve their lives, education, and the live of others. Social networking sites hold particular promise for people with disabilities and people with mental health issues. These sites provide great opportunities for people to connect, relate, and share resources without being limited by physical borders.

If social networking sites were allowed at my school, I would have a wonderful social studies tool. Students could connect with students on the other side of the world, and gain insights into other cultures not possible without genuine cultural sharing and communication. Social media networks are also great tools to create service learning communities and opportunities.  As students learn about issues of global import, they will be able to organize and create groups to enact change and to impact the world in which they live. There are so many wonderful experiences to be had in the world, and social networking sites can be the doorways for the average person to change the world.