"Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts" Ch. 9 Reflection

In today's culture social networking is common among almost everyone. In my own personal experience, I am aware that every one of my friends has Facebook and that almost every student at my University as Facebook or some kind of social networking site. In July of 2009 Facebook was growing by about 700,000 memberships PER DAY, totaling in close to 250 million memberships. Social networking is a way to keep people connected to one another whether it's keeping one connected to their family, classmates from high school, someone they have met once, to even those they have never met. Social networking is also becoming popular among a wide age range. Children as young as elementary school are becoming social networking users all the way up to our grandparents whom are becoming familiar with social networking and becoming users as well. Although a predicted 90 percent of schools block social networking sites such as Facebook, students are able to use social networking as a self-directed, peer-based learning. It is understood that students are able to engage in inappropriate behavior on these types of sites. This reading has given me a better understanding on how to use Facebook in my future classroom. The reading makes it clear that Facebook should be used in the classroom for "interest-based" rather than "friendship-based" purposes. I have learned that it is also important to have valid and appropriate reasons to back up your decision to use a site such as Facebook in your classroom. It is important to get your principal, supervisors, as well as the parents to your students all on board with your decision.

After this reading I have gained a better understanding of how to appropriately use a social networking site such as Facebook in the classroom. First and foremost it is important to make it an understanding to your students that this is only being used for educational purposes rather than friendship-based purposes. It is important to get everyone on board with your decision to use this site and have a clear argument on why you are using it. When using Facebook in your classroom it is important to make a group and have a private setting on that group so only those in the class are able to join and contribute. In most cases using an online interactive class discussion can help all students, even the shy and quit students, feel comfortable in participating in class discussion without feeling embarrassed. In my own opinion this is a great way of including all students into class participation but I think that it can also be hurtful in your class for two main reasons. One concern is that students might depend and rely on only answering online and never step up in class to answer or talk. Students will rely on answering in ways they feel most comfortable and never step out of their box and become comfortable discussing in person. Another reason that using social networking in the classroom is bullying. Over the past few years this has become a serious problem among young students. Students are able to feel bold and say things to students online that they would never say face to face. Overall this reading has given me a better idea of how to use social networking in the classroom and how to make sure it is appropriate.