Facebook and Twitter
By now you have all heard about Facebook and most of you have heard about Twitter. Facebook and Twitter are the most popular social networking sites in use today. But, why would we suggest you check out a site that you cannot view at school? There a number of reasons. If you work in the middle or high school, you need to be aware of these tools, because your students use them fluently. Learning to use them properly and manage your privacy settings will take away the mystique that surrounds them and allow you to communicate safely with your friends and family. But, most of all, you should be aware of how teachers today leverage these tools to expand their professional development and collaborate with skilled professionals from around the world.
Facebook allows users to create a wall where they can post pictures, videos, comments and more. These posts are shared with "friends" that the user allows on the wall. Facebook has become popular because it allows users to search for friends based on relationships such as their interests, their Alma Mater, or their actual family. "Friends" gather on Facebook and comment on each other's walls and share current events. Another reason for Facebook's popularity, is that users can update their friends and family about their lives. If something wonderful happens to your family (or something sad) the news can be shared instantly, rather than with a series of phone calls and/or awkward phone messages.
Like Facebook, Twitter allows a person to share information quickly with friends and family. Rather than "friending" someone in Twitter, a user "follows" his or her friends or family. Twitter is a microblog, which means that the person sending out the messages only has 140 characters to use, so the messages are brief. It has become popular because people like to update everyone quickly and this format allows updates to be easily constructed on a iPhone or other smart phone.
What are the dangers? What do teachers need to know? Teachers have to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with parents and especially students. Facebook allows you to share about yourself and your interests, but you must be aware of your settings if you do not want all of your information to be on public display. Below are the tips that Meriden Public Schools sent to its teachers this past fall:
Because so many of you already use Facebook and Twitter, we will focus this Thing on exploring how educators use these tools.
To complete Thing 12 you must:
A. Read "A Teacher's Guide to Using Facebook"
A. Read "A Teacher's Guide to Using Facebook"
B. Explore How Educators are Using Twitter
C. Reflect on Thing 12 on your blog
A. Read "A Teacher's Guide to Using Facebook"
Read the article at this site. If you have not joined Facebook already, you may wish to join and explore. Be careful, it can be addictive! Please check your privacy settings. If you need help with your settings, watch the video below:
B. Explore How Educators are Using Twitter
Read the articles below:
100 Tips, Apps, and Resources for Teachers on Twitter
A Teacher's Guide to To Twitter
If you have not already joined, you may want to consider joining Twitter and finding some interesting people to follow. Are you a fan of Dr. Andrew Weil? You can follow him on Twitter. Like Facebook, it can be addictive. Here is another article that references Eric Sheninger, the principal of New Milford High School in Bergen County, New Jersey, who is a pioneer in the use of social media in K-12 education. You may want to check it out or do a search for Eric.
C. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 12
Have you joined Facebook or Twitter? Have you considered using Facebook or Twitter to further your own professional development and collaboration? Do you belong to other online communities? Are relationships formed online as meaningful as face-to-face relationships? Why do you think Facebook and other social networking sites are so popular with kids today?
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