The concept of social networking is far from being a new idea. Rather, what is new is the online format. Perhaps you've heard the adage "it's not what you know, it's who you know." Following this theory, each person knows a collective body of individuals. The primary level is comprised of family, friends, and coworkers. Secondary groups of contacts, friends of family, friends of friends, and friends of colleagues then emerges. As more levels are added, the complexity of social linking continues to grow.It was J. A. Barnes, not Tom over at MySpace, who coined the phrase “social networking” in 1954 and the topic has been studied by experts from a wide range of social disciplines ever since. At the heart of social networking theory is the belief that connections are nodes on a map. The value and strength of the relationships are measured by their levels of integration. Therefore, a strong network is characterized by associations who share common beliefs and ideas, whereas a weak social network is described as having limited interconnectedness amongst group members. It has been argued that everyone in the world can be reached through a short chain of fewer than six acquaintances. This hypothesis, commonly known as “Six Degrees of Separation” was developed and tested by social psychologist Stanley Milgram in the late 1960s (Mathews, 2007, p. 76).
Fast forward forty years. Social networking takes place all around us. However, the setting is now the World Wide Web. Social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, and LiveJournal are but a few of the most popular. People use Nings to form communities for schools, businesses, or just because. Take for instance the novel Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. There are countless communities for fans to come together to discuss characters, plot, and conflict. Teachers, media specialists, and school administrators are starting to catch on to this trend. The Teacher Librarian Network is one example of a network for media specialists from all over to communicate in one place. Another example, SMART Board Revolution, is a great place to ask questions and share ideas. Sounds great, right? In theory, yes, but a large number of school districts still block these helpful resources, although slowly but surely schools are coming around.
In general, members on social networking sites can create and share profiles, connect with one another, join groups, send messages or announcements, chat, upload photos, write entries, and search for even more people they know. It is important to set privacy controls to protect one’s identity (Mathews, 2007, p. 79). It is also important not to provide too much information (TMI) because being an open book can lead to trouble if one is not careful. This is especially true with students. The knee jerk reaction is to simply block access to these sites. But that’s not solving any problems. Students still access MySpace and Facebook on their mobile devices, and an alarming number of teens have accounts they access at home or at friends’ houses. That is why it is important to educate students on proper online behavior.
It is a known fact that online predators lurk in the dark corners of the Internet waiting for the vulnerable and the naïve as evidenced by Dateline NBC’s program “To Catch a Predator.” But there are pedophiles walking our streets, living in our neighborhoods (see the National Sex Offender Registry) and these sickos prey on children in real life too. We teach our children not to talk to or take gifts from strangers, not to open the door when mom’s not home, and never to tell strangers personal information that could place them in danger. Why should the Internet be any different? The risks are still very real, and we need to prepare them even if they never log onto a social networking site at school. It is almost a sure bet that those curious enough will find a way somewhere, somehow to get online and see what the hype is all about.
As for the risk of accessing adult content, parents and teachers have to be mindful of that anyhow. Sex can sell just about anything these days, and you can even find innuendos in children’s programs/movies. We can turn off our radios and TVs and walk around the mall blindfolded if we care to filter everyday life the same way schools filter the Internet. Depending on the purpose of the group, there is little or no risk in accessing Web sites designed for school purposes anyhow, especially when memberships are moderated. Using online networks in a classroom setting holds a lot of potential, and it therefore seems counterproductive not to use them to enrich learning. Students connecting with other students on a large project promote global relations and those who visit a site to discuss math, science, or other subjects can “talk” with other people near and far through posting and responding. Not to mention that blogging and posting on an online forum improves written communication skills. Moreover, social networking may also motivate reluctant students.
So what are schools to do about the social networking debate? Well, there has to be some filtering, I think we can all agree, and that is based on better judgment. And while it is true that not all social networks are appropriate for classroom settings, I believe that if used properly, social networking can enhance projects and help form new connections. School districts can use networking to communicate information to parents and businesses. Currently, most of this is accomplished via school Web pages. These require that a Webmaster keep information current whereas networks are updated collectively. Software for school sites usually cost a great deal of money. Social networks, like most Web 2.0 resources, are open-source and FREE. It is my hope that in the next five years that school districts will start allowing social networking in the classroom because once they move past the stigma, they really are awesome tools.
Mathews, B. S. (2007). Online social networking. In Courtney, N. (Ed.). Library 2.0 and beyond (pp. 75-78). Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.
Theresa,
Your posting is very well-written and was enjoyable to read. You covered so many aspects of social networking, including the benefits of the use in schools and the teaching opportunities these sites provide, especially responsible online behavior.
I do not use social networking sites, I must admit, because I am somewhat behind the times and because they do make me slightly nervous. I am aware that I need to jump in though, not only to join the ranks of tech-savvy media specialists, but so that I can learn how the sites operate for my students' safety and benefit.
I love the ideas of using social networking for project collaboration with students halfway around the world or around the corner. A great start for cautious districts is to create a network accessible to students within the same building with the theme centering around a common theme, such as animal research for elementary students. The potential for exchanges of ideas with schoolmates is fun and exciting for both teachers and students alike, and is a great way to get the toes wet! Thanks for the thorough explanation!
Theresa has several good points about social networking, “Using online networks in a classroom setting holds a lot of potential, and it therefore seems counterproductive not to use them to enrich learning . . . Not to mention that blogging and posting. . . improves written communication skills.”
Before the advent of cyberspace and networking, students sat at their desks writing stories or essays that almost no one ever read. Unless they were writing for a class assignment, the human connection was rare. If students later did some online searching, that experience was quite limited to what they could find by themselves. We know now that students who network really “work” together. Students have a human need to share artwork, feelings, inspirations, or information to get reaction and feel a part of their own educational experience. We know how much it pleases students when what they write ends up on a bulletin board or posted in the hall. When students blog, post photos, share links, or write online journal entries about a trip or experience they have had, they are posting on a global bulletin board and really get energized by sharing information with others.
Online educational forums give students the chance to exchange ideas, to critically examine others’ work, to post constructive feedback, to think more deeply about the issue at hand, and to improve their own writing. Success breeds success. Students can get so involved with online posting and sharing, learning becomes fun. Isn’t making learning fun what we educators always strive to do? Online forums seem to be a good answer to the “How do we motivate them?” dilemma we educators have so often. Without much trouble at all, online forums become online writing labs!
I have used Weekly Reader’s Writing Pals™ as a type of social networking with my students. Writing Pals™ operates in a controlled atmosphere with direction from a trusted source, in this case, Weekly Reader, that really motivates students to want to write. Available at http://weeklyreader.com/teachers/writingpals/index.asp
the free Weekly Reader Writing Pals™ Program connects classes across the United States and around the world. (Our class’ writing pals were in Montana—vastly different from Georgia, but so interesting.) Teachers sign up to connect with another class somewhere in the U.S. or elsewhere to trade emails, photos, stories, or other information online. Weekly Reader matches up classes as to size, grade level, and other criteria, and the networking begins. Weekly Reader is careful to give out only information needed to begin the correspondence and will not divulge any information to outside sources. This program is a safe first time online experience for elementary students. My students and I had fun, learned so much from our partners, and really improved our writing. Some students have told me later that this really gave them confidence to do more online posting. If we can affect students’ learning and thinking through social networking in this “baby step” manner, I am quite sure other students will find social networking in school with other programs to be beneficial, as well.
I would love to present Theresa's blog post to a school board meeting where my husband works (and where I use to work, but where I am currently being mentored). I know the media specialist I work with at the high school loves to see the Web 2.0 articles that we are reading in class, and she is all excited about and would love to have a wiki or a blog for the media center home page. However, the school system uses filters to block social networking sites.
My input for the school, at least on the high school level, would be most importantly to educate students on safe and responsible use of the internet and social networking sites. All freshmen are required to take a technology class, and it seems to me the first week of this class should be spent teaching these skills. Maybe this would be an appropriate time to set each student up with a password and username to use throughout their school career. Research skills, and how to use social networking sites such as Facebook and myspace safely should be addressed. Yes, many students will already have accounts, but it is not too late for them to go back and change privacy settings, delete personal information that should not be there, and perhaps get rid of some photos that are "unbecoming". As adults, we do not want our students engagoing in inappropriate behaviors; however, who is teaching them what is appropriate and what is not? Many parents are not up to speed with the technology that is available to their children these days and how it can get them in trouble.
As a media specialist in an elementary school, I haven't been convinced of the benefits of the traditional social networking sites that you mention here, i.e., Facebook, MySpace, etc. I absolutely understand the part about improving writing skills with social networking, but a blog can do that, right? Facebook exists for free because of advertising, and I think we can get along without subjecting our students to more of that. I wonder why Facebook and other similar sites don't establish themselves in the education field with Facebook for Students, perhaps gearing their advertising to teachers who set up the student accounts. Hey, I really like that idea. What do you think?
As an aside, I'm at home tonight reading blog posts for our course and not at a 30-year informal class reunion because I have not succumbed to the hype of Facebook. My husband and daughter have accounts, but because they are not linked to my maiden name, I did not hear about the reunion, which I most certainly would've attended, until today. :(
Thanks y'all for great responses. Linda gives a beautiful description of how these tools can be used or adapted to K-12. Feel free to take this to your husband's school or wherever, Kristin, but we'll need to make a stop off at our district too. They block everything--blogs, wikis, social networking, etc.
Ruthie, it is harder to create a case for social networking with elementary school students, especially in younger grades, but it's not impossible. If students worldwide come together on a project like recycling, saving the Earth or endangered animals, I can see a need to chat with people in remote locations. Students are working on writing and communication skills which they do in elementary school. They may also be using critical thinking skills. Sure, a blog can help enhance writing, but there's more connecting involved with the social networks. I have been trying to figure out how to keep some of these things within a school so that they won't need to be blocked where I work. I mentioned Facebook and MySpace mainly because they are popular social networking sites, and Facebook, in fact, did start as a project at Harvard, an Ivy League university. However, I think their target audience may be an older crowd. There are teens on there of course. I am not sure yet whether or not I think those two particular networks are right for school, even though on Facebook you can make groups. I do love your idea of having a "school version" of these. You should write them and see if they like the idea since you thought of it. For education though I was thinking more along the link of Ning or some of the kids' networks so long as they are ad-free, so I totally agree about that too. Some of the virtual pets include online social networks (WebKinz), but those are not necessarily educational.
I think the Weekly Reader Pals Linda mentioned above, Shining Stars, and Kidlinkz are three examples of sites younger kids can participate in social networking. I'm sorry you missed your reunion, that stinks. (((HUGS)))
I am very impressed with your post Theresa. It is extremely well written and very informative. I really enjoyed the history lesson on social networking. I guess on some level we are all aware that social networking is not a new concept, but having the history presented to us definitely helps to solidify that fact. I also feel that you did a great job of relating how the original concept behind social networking has not really changed, but the manner in which the social network is facilitated has changed drastically in the last 40 years.
The fact I was most drawn to in your post is one that I taut frequently myself. Popular social networking sites such as FaceBook as well as professional social networking sites such as Teacher Librarian Network are all blocked in a nondiscriminatory manner by the majority of school districts. However, blocking these websites in a blanket fashion does nothing to address the issues. That fact remains that students still access these social networking sites at home as well as on their mobile devices, often on school grounds. Online predators and identity theft are very real factors that anyone who uses the internet faces. Students need to be taught responsible use of the internet and social networking sites. Without access to any social networking sites at school, teachers and media specialists ability to educate students on proper use is greatly impeded. It is very much like trying to teach a student how to drive without access to a car.