Social Media in the Classroom

    I will be sharing my thoughts on the use of social media in the classroom, more specifically looking at digital fluency and digital health and wellness. Digital fluency according to Karen Spencer is the combination of understanding and using the proper technological tools, being able to read and make judgments, along with the ability to communicate effectively. Digital health and wellness are described as enjoying the benefits of technology, but also knowing its limitations and how to balance its influence on your life. 

When considering the influence of technology in today's society we can all agree that it plays a major role in our everyday lives. The question in many educators' and parents' minds is: where do we draw the line? Caroline Knorr speaks about signs that children may show when they experience screen overload, including physical effects such as trouble sleeping, emotional outbursts, headaches, and isolation. It is important to recognize students' relationships with technology and work with it. As educators, social media and technology will inevitably play some role in our classrooms. However, it is important that we speak about balance. From personal experience, social media can be a black hole that I spend hours in without even realizing it. Many times I have missed out on fun opportunities sitting right in front of me because I was captivated by who was dating who, and the newest trends. We are not strangers to the pressure social media adds to our lives. The constant bombardment of body image and life expectations can have a damaging effect on a students' image. Having conversations with our students about balancing time in the digital world and the real world is not only crucial to their mental health but their physical health as well. By informing our students about the risks and pleasures of social media we can help them create a balanced and enjoyable digital life.  

Digital fluency goes hand in hand with digital health. Understanding boundaries between real life and social media is just as important in understanding the gravity of your digital footprint. Doug Johnson says “Deliberate distortion of events may harm both those involved in the event as well as the reputation of the reporter” (Johnson, 2002). Students need to understand that their words have an effect on the people in the digital world just as it does in the real world. That can be a hard concept to understand even for some adults. From behind a screen it is easy to say negative things because we don’t necessarily see the impact it has on the individual. We may not see students participate in this behavior in our classrooms, but it can very well be happening at home as well as right under our noses. Being a safe place for your students is crucial, oftentimes situations online can go unnoticed and have drastic consequences. Digital fluency can begin discussions on your expectations, as well as provide an opportunity for your students to come up with rules and boundaries of their own. 

In conclusion, social media can be a great tool and allow us to connect with other people and give us access to endless learning opportunities. However, like referenced in the lesson this week you wouldn’t teach someone to drive without touching the car. It is important to use this tool as a learning experience and help our students understand the risks and benefits of using technology. 

 References :

Gallagher, K., & Magid, L. (2021, December 22). Educator's Guide to Social Media. Educators Guide to Social Media.                                                          https://www.connectsafely.org/eduguide/

http://dougjohnson.squarespace.com/dougwri/developing-ethical-behaviors-in-students.html. (2002). Doug Johnson Website - Dougwri - developing ethical behaviors in students. Website - dougwri - Developing Ethical Behaviors in Students. http://dougjohnson.squarespace.com/dougwri/developing-ethical-behaviors-in-students.html

Knorr, C. (2020, April 29). Parenting, media, and everything in between: Common sense media. Parenting, Media, and Everything In Between.            https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog?page=7

Knorr, C. (2020, June 11). 5 signs of screen overload -- and how to handle them. Common Sense Media: Ratings, reviews, and advice.                                     https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/5-signs-of-screen-overload-and-how-to-handle-them

Spencer, K. (2020, March 16). What is digital fluency? What is Digital Fluency?  https://www.digitallearningcollab.com/blog/what-is-digital-fluency