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?