Should teachers be ‘tweeting’ with students?
November 11, 2010 by Jake SimmsPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Internet, Latest News & Views, Uncategorized
Too many teachers and principals are learning the perils of social media the hard way.
Like the Pennsylvania teacher fired for a blog posting and the Michigan principal under fire for “friending” students via Facebook.
But that’s not stopping educators from jumping into the social media pool head first.
Like Cadott (WI) school district superintendent Joe Zydowsky, who told staffers they should start tweeting and incorporating Twitter into lesson plans, at a recent workshop.
Zydowsky started tweeting a year ago and primarily used Twitter for school closing announcements. Now he thinks others should join in.
“First and foremost I think it’s a good communication tool,” says Zydowsky. “I think it’s a great opportunity for staff to communicate with their students and parents in terms of assignments, expectations and really anything that’s going on in the school.”
That last part — “really anything that’s going on in the school” — is where the lines get blurred and some educators end up getting in trouble.
Should teachers be tweeting to students and parents? Share your comments below.
Tags: cadott schools, Facebook, joe zydowsky, tweet, Twitter, wisconsin
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November 12th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
As a music teacher I have a different relationship with students, sometimes teaching them for 8 straight years. My students are like family. I used Facebook to communicate concerts to students and parents. I sent encouraging notes to kids after concerts and in preparation for contests. I was also able to keep check on my teenage son’s and daughter’s. Many students would send me question/messages about music or where to find print music or with questions such as “When is my next lesson.” I enjoy photography as a hobby so I would always take lots of photos at concerts and plays and whenever we had special events. Kids like to tag themselves and have remembrances of our activities. I personally never would be stupid enough to put up incriminating things on the web site.
When we went back to school this fall our new principal told us that we must not be friends with our students on Facebook. I immediately dropped the kids from my friend list and they immediately became mad at me. I think if an individual is stupid enough to put up risky photos or off color jokes, then he/she should not be teaching.
I especially like the communication from parents. It puts us all on a more friendly footing.
November 12th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
We have an automated system that uses Twitter as well as text messaging and Facebook posts for disaster information like if the electricity goes out.
I teach computer mediated communication so I use both Twitter and Facebook with my students, but I don’t use my personal account. I have separate accounts for that purpose. I also suggest my students set up separate accounts for school use.
November 15th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
I think that if you are going to use Twitter or Facebook it should be a separate account for school use. Principal Hargis for example or Mrs. Lane or even Miss Emily Smith would be appropriate account names. Perhaps it could be monitored by the school system if there were complaints. I’m not sure the best way to handle this. I know some have used information from facebook to help keep kids out of trouble.
You could also tweet under something like LibraryMan (for the librarian). I know that I have found the tweets from my daughter’s enrichment teacher and librarian to be very useful.. It helps me stay connected on a daily basis and gives more direction to the end of the day “What did you do at school today?” questions. Being able to ask instead, Which Sequoyah books looked most interesting to you? or What reasons did your class come up with for why E isn’t part of the regular grading scale? Or Is it safe to drink water from another planet? These usually prompt a more in depth report of what went on in class.
November 20th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Schools monitor enough things! How about the simple fact that if you are ignorant enough to get “too friendly” with students on facebook/twitter/my space, etc. that you pay the price. Be smart teachers!!!
November 29th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Twitter is a broadcast tool. So a teacher tweeting is perfectly ok. It is the same as posting an announcement anywhere. Now should a teacher be “following” students’ Twitter accounts? Probably not.