Schools Try Social Networking

Schools and teachers are stepping into social networking with Facebook and Twitter accounts. The reasons for this are numerous. It is an easy, trackable way to communicate. Parents, teachers and older students can communicate outside of school hours. Teachers post test dates on their classroom's webpage, which immediately sends out an email to parents and Tweet to students. Businesses benefit from social networking and schools are following. Overall, modern and connected schools lead to happier students and parents. Engaging in social networking is a sensible step for schools.

However, increased communication through social networking raises several dilemmas. Can teachers be responsible for answering emails after school hours? (Can students?)Will teachers hold off-campus office hours, online? Will they be paid more? What is the healthy boundary for chats on Facebook? If a teacher fails to comment or retweet at student's postings, will the student's feelings be hurt, with anger pouring over into class time? What about online parent and teacher communications gone wrong? Are communications admissible in school meetings? Think about your past updates, posts and tweets. Likely, these do not entirely represent you and may be regrettable. Imagine the analyzation teenagers and their parents could devote to these. These are the possible snags, but social networking can benefit schools as well.

Another view is that social networking equalizes educators and students. Students learn that teachers are humans who do not sleep in the book closet at school and students remind teacher of their life pressures and passions. Being open about passions and interests can build relationships and create bonds that interactions in a classroom cannot form. Teachers and friends friend and follow each other, often hoping for insights and open communication. Hopefully, teachers do not mind students viewing pictures of them in labor or hungover, or receiving updates about their romantic ventures.

Simply put, schools try to stay current and reach those they serve. Social networking is a large part of parents and students' lives. Schools can send out memos, research, updates and deadline reminders. The possibilities are endless. While this is a benefit, it may be the downfall as well.

Photo Credit: The Next Web