Journal Entry 7 - MySpace can be a Learning Tool Too!

I really enjoyed reading the article “Myspace can be a learning tool too” by Liz Kolb from L&L Volume 36 No. 4. I found the article layout and the way she described the subject to be very informative. The author also provided excellent, specific examples of how to use social networking sites in the classroom as well as challenges and concerns of everyone involved. I really liked the idea of having a parent education night to show parents exactly how to use this technology. This will aid in calming their fears of their students using a social networking site in the classroom. Another part of the article I enjoyed was the fact that the author stated that the parents needed to be more involved in the internet life of their students. Parents should not be upset at teachers for showing their students how to use social networking sites and the like if they aren’t monitoring the students’ online behavior in the first place. The article also provides examples of the positives of social networking sites in the classroom. Although these ideas are not great for a future math teacher to use in their classrooms, I can see how I may be able to shape some of her suggestions to utilize myspace in a math classroom.

 

Question 1: What risks are teachers taking by using MySpace in the classroom?

First and foremost, teachers are risking parental backlash if they introduce students to this tool at too young of age, or if students aren’t allowed to use it at home. Teachers also risk students being connected to predators or inappropriate sites and images. By teaching digital citizenship from the beginning, teachers may be able to avoid this pitfall.

 

Question 2: Besides those listed, what are the unseen positives of using MySpace in the classroom?

Being able to discern good from bad information is the first positive that comes to mind that no one thinks about. The other is practicing safe digital citizenship in a controlled environment. Students are not able to roam the site freely and, thus, must practice safe internet browsing.