Social Media and Schools - Teacher's Pet or Class Clown?

Educator Access Director Emily Hayes works with dozens of educator's associations and literally millions of teachers looking to save with Access discount programs. Occasionally an issue comes up that impacts both education and business. Social media definitely qualifies, and Emily has taken a look at the issue of social media in schools.

In this era, learning to evolve is usually a key factor in success. Keeping that in mind, will the success of education in the future depend on the adoption of new technologies? Will embracing our current technology-centered culture help or hinder the education of kids?

Traditionally, the use of every-day technology in school like cell phones has been discouraged. It seems some schools are now singing a different tune. Select teachers and schools boast of the advantages that come with using social networking sites in accordance with education. Teachers can communicate with students and their families, encourage students to post their work, as well as send out reminders and updates.

According to USA Today’s article, Social media find place in classroom, at one New Jersey High School, “In class, teachers routinely ask kids to power up their cellphones to respond to classroom polls and quizzes. Rather than ban cellphones, Sheninger (the principal) calls them ‘mobile learning devices’.”

The article also argues the point that using the technology kids have grown up with as part of their education encourages them to create and share better work. This type of modern education can also help students learn proper technological and social media etiquette.

Let’s face it: social media isn’t going anywhere. It may not be Facebook and Twitter 15 years from now, but people will be sharing content online, and the earlier they learn to do so responsibly, the better.

But many schools aren’t quite convinced the good outweighs the bad. A lot of what is found on the internet can be deemed offensive and inappropriate for students. There’s also the issue of cyber bullying. And if students are allowed to use cell phones in class will talking and texting prove to be more of a distraction than a learning tool?

I guess the question is….what are the pros and cons of integrating social media as a part of the modern teaching curriculum?

What do you think… Teacher’s Pet or Class Clown?