Module 4 Topic 4.2: Social media and educational networking

“Social media used for educational networking helps to connect learners in exciting ways and therefore should be considered as a vital part of the DLE.”

What are your thoughts about this? What is your position on the use of social media for learning locally as well as globally?

The internet has given us an opportunity that educators in the past simply did not have.  We can learn from somebody across the world, our students can connect directly with people who are in other countries and living vastly different lives.  It is something that educators should use to unite their students with peers around the world.  Listening to others viewpoints, knowing their background can help us understand each other and come together in positive ways.

Giving students the chance to create and collaborate with others outside their immediate circle will more likely expose them to experiences they have never had.

What evidence can you find to support your views?

In the article Why children should be taught to build a positive online presence Rachel Buchanan discusses how a positive digital footprint can be an asset.  She discusses the need to teach student “what to display publicly and what should remain private”.  By posting things like work they have created and awards they have won they are setting up a positive digital footprint, one that can (and most likely will) be used by others in the future as part of a selection process (new job, application for higher education etc.).

It is important for teachers to introduce and teach this because they may not get this information at home.  Raising Children Net’s post on Digital citizenship: teens being responsible online informs parents what their kids get out of being a digital citizen, it offers suggestions as to how you can help your kids, but where parents are not in this position due to their own lack of education or skills, then schools have to help break the disconnection with the world, by showing students how to do it.

References:

Buchanan, R. (2018, January 11). Why children should be taught to build a positive online presence. The Conversation. Retrieved from: https://theconversation.com/why-children-should-be-taught-to-build-a-positive-online-presence-89855?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20January%2011%202018%20-%2092027806&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20January%2011%202018%20-%2092027806+CID_89945028a0ff14c0f1dc94fb14ab7cac&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Why%20children%20should%20be%20taught%20to%20build%20a%20positive%20online%20presence

Raising Children Net (2016) Digital citizenship: teens being responsible online. Retrieved from: http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/digital_citizenship.html

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *