Social Media in the Classroom
Pros and Cons
Pro
Using social media allows teachers to meet kids where they are, making tasks more relevant and authentic.
Con
Not all students or parents (depending on who the target audience is) have social media at all or the particular social media platform, which creates an access gap.
Pro
Social media use in the classroom teaches students that these are tools for learning, too, not just platforms for entertainment and socialization.
Con
Laws limit access to many sites for kids under 13. Having students create accounts without reading the fine print may lead to teachers inadvertently breaking the law.
Pro
Students and teachers can expand the classroom to the world by connecting with people from around the world--other students, authors, experts, etc.
Con
Companies mine accounts for information. Using many of these sites may essentially be selling out our students.
Pro
Parents can better be kept up to day and engaged with what's happening in class with images, videos, and comments shared by classes.
Con
Students may misuse social media, putting themselves and other students at risk through cyberbullying or even just sharing private information. This also puts the school at risk for being held accountable for students' social media usage.
Pro
By using and modeling responsible social media use, teachers can better help teach/reinforce positive behaviors like building a positive digital footprint and creating a culture of kindness.
Con
Social media is still a legal gray area, and there aren't clear guidelines for use and regulation within schools.