education.com
asks:
Q:
What do you think: should students & teachers be 'friends' on social networks?
With more adults, including teachers, joining social networks like Facebook and MySpace, some teen students are now finding their teachers' social network profiles and sending them a "friend" request.
What do you think: Should a teacher accept the invitation and be connected to his/her students as online friends? Why or why not?
For some background on this topic, check out this Education.com article, "Should Students and Teachers Be Online "Friends"? by Cheri Lucas.
http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Stude...
In Topics:
Working with my child's teacher(s), Technology and my child, Children and the internet
What do you think: Should a teacher accept the invitation and be connected to his/her students as online friends? Why or why not?
For some background on this topic, check out this Education.com article, "Should Students and Teachers Be Online "Friends"? by Cheri Lucas.
http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Stude...
> 60 days ago
Additional Answers (5)
I talked about it with my neighbor who is a science teacher in middle school. he mentioned that he get tons of invitations to befriends from his students and that he never accepted them. (He doesn't have a facebook account)
When I told him that his students might think he's cool if they know more about him, he said, and I quote .."I don't need them to think that I'm cool, I need them to focus on their study and do their homework!"..
It was a funny reaction and we both laughed about it.
I do think that we'll see some smart teachers who will find ways to leverage these new online social media channels as learning tools and will be able to connect with their students on a whole new level. It is happening as we speak and we should get used to it.
When I told him that his students might think he's cool if they know more about him, he said, and I quote .."I don't need them to think that I'm cool, I need them to focus on their study and do their homework!"..
It was a funny reaction and we both laughed about it.
I do think that we'll see some smart teachers who will find ways to leverage these new online social media channels as learning tools and will be able to connect with their students on a whole new level. It is happening as we speak and we should get used to it.
> 60 days ago
This is a million dollar question! The answer for me is NO. I AM a teacher, college level, and I will not "friend" any current student who is taking one of my classes. If I need to inform my students of upcoming assignments, change in schedule, etc... I will do so via campus email or an email that is not for personal usage. I will be your social network friend, if mutually agreed, after you have completed college. However, chances are you will be bored by my web pages as I will restrict most students to what they can access. Yet, I will join an organization that is school based and has set up a networking site, such as a group on Facebook for the club that I advise. However, I limit access to anyone who I have not asked to be a "friend" to any personal materials or private websites on these networks.
I also am a youth group leader. I do not "friend" any of the high school students who ask to be my "pal" either. Again, they can email me if they need to share information.
In essence, I use network sites for mainly benign information and networking for my career.
I look forward to reading other responses.
I also am a youth group leader. I do not "friend" any of the high school students who ask to be my "pal" either. Again, they can email me if they need to share information.
In essence, I use network sites for mainly benign information and networking for my career.
I look forward to reading other responses.
> 60 days ago
I recently discussed this question with a friend who's a middle school teacher at a small, private, religious school. She said that she does accept Facebook "friend" requests from her students and that she uses those online relationships as a way to help teach her students about appropriate (and inappropriate) behavior (on and off line). If one of them posts something questionable about what they did over the weekend, she privately talks to them about the implications of the behavior and of publishing it on their "permanent" online record. She also gets more insight into the conflicts and relationships of her students (which may sound like an invasion of their privacy but they're choosing to share with her by inviting her to be a 'friend') so she's able to support them in those situations.
She herself is very conservative in terms of what she posts in her own Facebook account.
In a situation like this, it seems like a very healthy and helpful way for teachers to help their students. But I'm not sure she could get away with it in a different environment.
She herself is very conservative in terms of what she posts in her own Facebook account.
In a situation like this, it seems like a very healthy and helpful way for teachers to help their students. But I'm not sure she could get away with it in a different environment.
> 60 days ago
Very interesting question... There used to be a time when teacher was considered like a parent. Now it seems more and more teachers are getting down on the kids levels but are sending them mixed messages. I think this would send a kid a mixed message. I think being professional is always best for both people.
> 60 days ago
Wow, a ton of people said a ton of great things. I am personally friends with some of the parents of my students in my class. I teach children with autism, so this is another way for me to support the parents as needed. I think it is very important that whatever you decide that you are aware of your digital footprint. I am a part of many social networks. Facebook, myspace, twitter, youtube, and of course plurk. On all of these accounts I am very aware of what I post (including pictures) I think friending someone on a social network just depends on your personality and what you want to get out of it.
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> 60 days ago
