SM4SS2

Social media and the classroom

What is social media?

• Media = means of (mass) communication (medium of communication)
  
  • Text
  • Photo
  • Video
  • (Woodcut? Stained glass window? Handbill? Statue? Poster? Billboard?)
  • ...or any combo
• Social media = ??
  • By casual / non-expert creators (e.g., Wikipedia)?
  • For casual / non-scholarly purposes (e.g., YouTube)?
  • For socializing (e.g., Facebook)?
  • ...or none of the above (e.g., a teacher's blog)?

Why use it? Why not use it?

• PRO
  
  • "Media is the backbone of social studies instruction" (e.g., maps, paintings, primary sources)
  • Social media = unique opportunity to take a wide-angle look at a community – for example, a collection of photographs about Islam, by Muslims.
• CON
  
  • Social media is chock-full of undesirable qualities; students will be exposed to it
    
    • Erroneous information
    • Agendas: Spin / bias / marketing
    • Not Safe For K-12 (NSFk12)
  • Social media can enable undesirable behaviors; students may engage in them
    
    • Bullying
    • Cheating
    • (etc.)

Is social media appropriate for the classroom?

• Yes?
• No?
• Yes, but...
• No, with exceptions...

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