Social Networking

[Alison McCarthy]

Further Resources

 

This article provides a perspective for parents of social networkers— http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/familydevelopment/00144.pdf

 

This website includes links to social media pages for actual libraries and library organizations under "best practices"—http://ipl.ci.fsu.edu/community/wiki/index.php/Social_Networking

 

Questions

 

1.  "Teens are particularly drawn to social technology because it meets many of their socialization needs.  Young people talk about being unique and different from others, but at the same time they seek affirmation from their friends...Young people want to be involved with the world beyond the local community...they want to feel part of what is happening in the world" (Lamb and Johnson, 2006, p. 55).

 

The above quote describes three needs of teenagers that social networking fulfills: the need to assert one's identity, the need to belong, and the need to be an active part of the world.  Yet, teens are not the only or most prevalent users of various kinds of social media.  Do you think these needs are unique to teens or more universal to all human beings?  What other needs does social networking fulfill for teens and/or other demographics?  If social networking does fulfill people's needs, does it do so in a different way than traditional kinds of socializing (i.e. talking face to face, on the phone, or at social gatherings)?

 

2.  You must justify to your administrator(s) that the use of social media is beneficial in an educational setting.  What is the most important, powerful, and demonstrable reason you can give them?  Conversely if you disagree that it is beneficial, give the most important, powerful, and demonstrable reason against social media in an educational setting.

 

References

 

Lamb, Annette and Johnson, Larry. (2006). Would You be my Friend: What You Need to Know About Social Technologies. Teacher Librarian, 34(1), pp. 55-57. This article delves into the various reasons that social media attracts students and how educators and students can work together to use it more responsibly.

[Alison McCarthy]

I think you are perceptive to point out that social media is simply the tool that the millenials have grown up with and it is the most innate for them to use it than other generations. To them it is second nature: they quickly interpret and understand how to use it and a range of practical applications for it.

I also agree with you that the technology itself is affecting how people communicate and will shape what is an acceptable form of communication in various social contexts in the future.

I would like to pose an additional question to all participants in this conversation: will the resulting trends toward more convenient and quick communication tools be positive because of their ease and speed or will they damper our ability to express ourselves as needed by shortening our efforts to communicate? (Don't feel like you have to answer, but if you find this direction for the conversation intriguing tell us what you think.)

To be fair, I'll answer my own additional question. I actually look forward to more efficient communication methods because my brain fails to see the relevance of what may be considered "the propper way" of communicating certain social messages. I favor quick ways to get my messages to others and don't care if there is a more "polite" way of doing things. I also think as we shorten our words with each other, we actually become more concise, and therefore more effective at relying our actual meanings to others.

[Steven Nabinger]

I, also, am in favor of anything that makes communication more concise. To be fair, though, there's a difference between "concise" and "self-centered". The self-centered communicator chooses tools and methods of communication based solely on what is most convenient for them, not what is most convenient or even understandable for the person they are trying to communicate with.

Sometimes I think that all of our new social media are just serving to produce a society full of people who simply talk "at" others, instead of talking "to" them...

[D. Dubach]

I agree with your answer to Question 2...the use of social networking needs to be justified based upon its place and value in a student's overall education. In that light, what must be considered is relevance...i.e., how prepared and successful will the student be in the world in which he or she will live, work and play. I think the role of school, as students reach and move through the teenage years, is not only to judiciously impart select content, but also (and perhaps more importantly) to nurture critical thinking, problem solving, skillful writing, responsibility, and independence by having them actively challenged daily with doing these things. Social networking is one of several Web 2.0 tools that are justified because they will very likely be present in the student's adult world. As such, an educator's role is not to restrict the experience, but to prepare students to meet it successfully. This will involve appropriate training on safety, information reliability, and personal responsibility, as well as on anticipated consequences from a variety of actions.

[Stephanie Kosmerl]

A text as a thank you for an interview? Even with the prevalence of texting I do not think it is appropriate to text an interviewer rather than writing a follow up letter. However, it is the way that some people communicate and they see no problem in doing what she did. While you wonder whether her text was acceptable social etiquette, others may not be so nice. Digital immigrants, in particular, would probably see her text as inappropriate and maybe even immature, possibly costing her the job even if the interview went very well. Perhaps that is a good reason for social media to be taught in schools...so that people can learn when it is/is not appropriate to use certain methods of communication.

[April Steenburgh]

1. Those needs are not at all unique to teens. All people of all age groups have a need for socialization, to take an active part in the world and assert identity. Social networking is so prevalent at this point, I think it would be hard to make the case that it is a teen-only activity. Current teens, and younger, have grown up in an environment where that sort of communication and interaction is the standard. It doesn't take away from more 'traditional' methods of interaction, but it does facilitate an ease of communication/interaction that is part of what makes it so appealing. I will admit to finding some of the more traditional methods of communication, like a phone call, to be much less convenient for a quick burst of information, like arranging to get together or passing a quick status update. Social networking is merely another tool, and it is being utilized widely, and well. I had a plethora of pen pals when I was younger, and now I communicate with many more people all over the world through various forms of social media/networking. It is an advantage having these things available to me, and has replaced my need to write physical letters while intensifying my ability to connect with more people over greater distances. It is the same need for connection fulfilled in a new way.

2. The most powerful benefit that social networking has going for it is the fact that the students are familiar with an enthusiastic about it, and that interest and enthusiasm can then be transfered to educational uses. Interact with them in a medium they appreciate and enjoy and they will get more out of the learning than any traditional lecture/test format. It is an opportunity to fully engage as we teach. Tayvon points out that it is about the education, and not the tools, and I could not agree with her more. Why hesitate to use something in an educational setting merely because it is seen as more recreational or social, if it can be utilized to fully engage students? It is our role as teacher/librarians to educate our students- teach them how to effectively use social media, and how to use it to their advantage and we will be taking a step in the right direction.

As for whether or not the trend towards quick and convenient communication will negatively affect our ability to express ourselves, I will have to say no. Watching my sister grow up with her cell phone attached to her and always on the computer, she is constantly sending little bits of information back and forth to her friends, but they also use that ease of communication to arrange getting together more often. Coordinating schedules is not easy, and it is definitely more convenient to try and do so through texts as opposed to a long series of phone calls. I also think that with things like blogs being so popular, we will still get expression, it is just in a far different format that many of us are used to. So information will be moved around more precisely, and people will still get together and still manage to communicate and express themselves. Things are just moving to new mediums, and there is definitely a period of adjustment for some.

[Alison McCarthy]

I didn't think about it from the angle of leveraging students' already present interest in social networking into educational opportunites. I like the idea of going to them as opposed to what traditional education does by making students come to it. As our world and communication methods change, more things will come to us due to techonological trends. Preparing students in the future may very well involve teaching them about the technologies and content that are coming and will continue to come at them on a daily basis.

[Christopher Bowlin]

I agree that we should leverage the medium/media that already motivate teens, and am also a proponent of not getting too swept up in the tides of changing technology at the expense of content. It is important to harness student interest wherever you can, and if that is with a social networking technology, so be it. While we need to educate kids to use these technologies appropriately, it is also important to educate them to learn those skills that might seem old-school, but stare still relevant and necessary in the workplace and everyday life. Writing a professional letter is still an important skill -- and knowing how to address an envelope, even though email has become more and more the norm. In planning a retirement party for a colleague, six students at my school offered to help make out envelopes for invitations. When they did, most were done incorrectly (even some included phone numbers). Although, maybe if most of the invitees weren’t retirees themselves, but rather millennials, we would have used evite and there wouldn’t have been a problem!

[Tanya]

Alison just working with my family for the younger ones they are so excited to be on the Internet. They are like "sponges" wanted to learn more. The more interactive it is for younger children they seem to blossom more. My grandson is a special needs child and I let him go crazy on Nick Jr. http://www.nickjr.com/. There are lesson plans as well as interactive tutorials for math, science, etc. He is very comfortable now going online. Of course we have to alot of time on Nick Jr.

[Christopher Bowlin]

I like that you pointed out using text and status updates are just more convenient, and that it doesn’t erode other communication skills, but rather is a stealthy way to coordinate: Less time is wasted in a series of phone calls which -- in certain contexts -- might not necessarily need a fuller avenue for expression.

[Stephanie Kosmerl]

You make an interesting point, that social media can actually bring about more face to face communication (in your comment about your sister). I must agree with that. Sometimes I wonder if we lose ourselves in social media, head turned toward the computer, fingers typing away on the phone. In my family, with all three of the children being 25 and under, we are all like that. We only call each other when our texts go unanswered and we "Facebook" (because apparently it is a verb) to each other from the next room. The convenience of this type of communication has actually brought about stronger relationships.

[D. Dubach]

Question 1: I think the need to assert one’s identity, have a sense of belonging, and take an active part in the world are universal to all human beings. Social networking sites provide the venue through which adolescents can interact socially to meet these needs. I think adolescents are more cyber-savvy than older generations and therefore may be more open, attracted to, and proficient at using this means of socializing. Conversely, older generations who have established face-to-face socializing behaviors may not readily recognize or easily accept social networking opportunities. Another need social networking fulfills for teens, as well as for specialized demographic groups, is enabling them to become, and remain, aware of issues and information of common interest. In this case, not only do they nurture a sense of belonging by establishing contacts, forming acquaintances, and making friends, but they also update, acquire, and share information to stay apprised of the latest news pertaining to their group.

Yes, social networking fulfills people’s socialization needs differently than traditional face-to-face, phone or social encounters. Social networking, unlike many traditional social encounters, can provide a great deal of anonymity, since age, appearance, gender, and other characteristics may be unavailable. Social networks also readily allow group interactions, while traditional social encounters often involve the interaction of only two individuals. I think older generations may not be aware of, or choose to participate in, social networking, since this venue may be outside their comfort zone for socializing. I’m reminded of my parents, who are “old-school” from the World War II era. They eschew computer technology entirely! Their comfort zone is to meet others face-to-face or speak by phone, and they refuse to change.

Question 2: The most important, powerful, and demonstrable reason to implement the use of social media in an educational setting is the very high interest teenagers have toward it. Teenagers' high interest levels can be leveraged by educators to support learning objectives, but perhaps more importantly is the fact that teenagers will very likely be using social media regardless of the position held by administrators on the issue. Educationally, use of social networks is both an opportunity to lead students, and a responsibility to prepare them for the world in which they live.

[Alison McCarthy]

You are the first to point out the additional need of people to become and stay alert of information that they value. This need may actually arise out of the changing communication technologies and methods since so much information is available and thrust in our faces on a daily basis that we need help picking out the bits we actually want!

In a way, the very technologies driving the trend of over-informing may also alleviate it. An interesting turn of circumstances.