Beyond Social Networking: Building Toward Learning Communities by Ruth Reynard

http://campustechnology.com/articles/2009/07/22/beyond-social-networking-building-toward-learning-communities.aspx

Summary: This article is mostly about social networking websites can be used to facilitate learning in the classroom. The author gives reasons why social networks should be used as well as tips on how to utilize it effectively. The strongest argument the author makes for using websites like Facebook is the concept of social networking and collaborative learning. Instead of just limiting students to small groups, they can use these social network to automatically build connections and share information to the entire class almost automatically. The author stresses that while the students can use this media to interact socially with each other, teachers should only use it in a professional capacity when using it with students. Like with any other type of learning and thinking the teacher must be there to scaffold learning. She also states that it is important to constantly update and keep track of the information on the social network site all the time and not just from 9-5. The author points out that students in this generation are good at multi-tasking, but if the scope of the information is too broad they could get lost, so using multiple platforms with a narrow topic is good. The author then points out that many skills that teachers try to traditionally teach can be enhanced by using modern tools, such as discussion skills.

Reaction: I agree with this article for the most part. I sort of feel that for younger kids there needs to be a clear separation between personal life and school life, which can get blurred if you use social media this way. It is also difficult to ignore how valuable social media is in the professional and academic world. If these students go to college they will be expected to know how to use social media to synthesize ideas and do academic work. When working with middle and high school students though, there can be good things and bad things with blurring those lines. Those lines can and will get blurred in college and in most knowledge based professions, so in a way, starting will just give them more practice later on. Overall it is a complicated issue and really requires a teacher to examine their students and figure out what is appropriate for them.