Note: I’m coming at this from the perspective of a College teacher, where my students are adults. I know there is fierce debate over teachers connecting on Facebook with high school or younger students. I’m not an expert on K-12 education, and can only speak from my own experience in adult education.
This semester, I have about 75 students (about 36 in each of two classes). I get them for 11 weeks.
The first day I go into a new class, I’ve got a whole group of new people I need get to know very quickly. In order to be effective as their teacher, I need to know some things about each of them – how they learn best, how they are motivated, and any issues or difficulties they might have. They have the expectation of me that I’m going to be able to understand what they need. That’s a big challenge, with so many new people to get to know in a very short amount of time.
Unfortunately, what happens in many situations like mine, is that the more outgoing students tend to get more face time in class, and the quieter ones sometimes have difficulty getting involved. It’s an ongoing battle to ensure that everyone is given the time and attention they need to be set up for success.
Social media changes this. You see, the very nature of connecting online allows you to expedite the process of getting to know someone. By extending your connections with students into the online social world, you can find out all sorts of things that can give you insight into what makes your students tick.
In my 1st year video production class tonight, I encouraged my students to connect with me on Skype, and through Twitter and Facebook. I totally gave them the choice to connect with me – I didn’t force it (I think I used the phrase “connect with me on Facebook and Twitter, at your own peril” 😉 ). A few have connected with me so far. I’ve gone in, viewed their profiles, and found out information that may seem inane to some, but is actually extremely valuable, and interesting. I found out if they have kids, or dogs, or budgies. I found out what kinds of movies they like, if they are musicians, or artists, or carpenters. I learned a bit about the things they care about, and saw little snippets of how they interact with others. I associated faces (avatar photos) with names. I’ve given them the opportunity to do the same with me.
Those students I’ve connected with so far, I’m going to remember. I’m going to be able to talk with them between classes, and keep a closer eye on their progress, and on the things that may either be helping or hindering it.
Sometimes, teachers are concerned that opening oneself up via social networks breaks some sort of barrier between themselves and their students; that somehow their authority as a teacher is compromised because students know their dog’s name or where they went for dinner last night. Don’t you think we owe it to our students to be connecting with them on a more human, personal level?
Certainly, every teacher has the option to share only as much or as little personal information as they are comfortable with students, classmates, colleagues and even friends. But we have to remember that, we are all just people, with experiences, and lives, and situations, who, for just a few short weeks, will be sharing some space, and time, and knowledge with one another.
By even opening the door a just a crack wider, have an opportunity to get to know our students for who they really are, gain new insights into helping them be more successful, and ultimately, positively impact our classroom environment.
What say you?
[photo credit: Spencer E Holtaway on Flickr]
Hi! I came across this post linked in #edchat on Twitter and thought I’d say hi. I’m just beginning my Master’s program in curriculum studies. My main area of interest is the role of social media in education. I am fascinated by the question you’ve raised and would love to see updates from you on how your experiment goes. Right now I’m reading extensively about Jean Piaget and constructivist philosophies in education. I think he’d be a fan of what you’re doing and very interested in your results. By knowing our students’ realities, we can better respond to their needs, no? Knowing some of what they bring to the table helps us understand why they may excel or struggle in certain areas or what ideas and filters they may be applying to what we’re teaching. I find it absolutely useful and wonderful and applaud you for bucking convention (even if just a little).
Joshua, thanks so much for your comment. I know this is a topic of much debate. I do agree that there are some issues around connecting with younger students (high school age or younger). But in a situation where we are all adults I think there is much benefit to making these connections.
I also think it’s important that connecting via social networks should also be optional on the part of the student. Only if they are comfortable should they connect in this way, that is for certain.
Nothing wrong with a little convention bucking, I say. 😉
Suze – Could it be that most teachers who are concerned about opening oneself up via social are subconsciously confined within an “authority” mindset?
Suze,
I do something similar with my students. I should specify that I am not a teacher. I do, however, work the evenings at a high school, as security. Instead of working with a classroom, I work with an entire chunk of the school, and have to manage roughly 150 teens.
I find that it is easier to “control” and “police” this environment when the kids have a certain friendship with me. I’m very careful not to cross any “social lines” but I do befriend them. Playing the good cop is easier than playing the bad cop.
Hope this comment helps!
Yours truly, Follower 5000.
Thanks, Follower 5000! That does help, because it reminds us all that everyone in the school system has an equal responsibility to help the environment be the best it can be. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, Sue, I’m impressed. I’d love to have had you as a teacher. I think this is totally awesome and applaud you for taking an “open door policy” and expanding it to really mean something in today’s world.