Technologies in Education: Limiting Risks, Maximizing Benefits of Social Networking in Schools

1. Technologies in Education:Limiting Risks, Maximizing Benefits of Social Networking in Schools www.nycomprehensivecenter.org Anushka Paul Emily Rukobo Jonathan Shrem

2. Checkpoint

3. Goals • Gain knowledge of the potential link between educational networking and student achievement. • Become aware of the challenges and concerns surrounding educational networking, and how schools, districts, or states may alleviate these inhibiting factors. • Understand what policies or protocols can be leveraged to create a successful pilot program using educational networking. • Learn about how school and public libraries can be used situationally to balance risk and reward. About the Presentation The primary goal of this presentation is to provide a current landscape surrounding social networking research, policies, and practices in P-12 education.

4. Recent Findings • School Principals and Social Networking in Education http://www.edweb.net/fimages/op/PrincipalsandSocialNetworkingReport.pdf • In-depth survey, online discussion conducted by edWeb.net, IESD, Inc., MMS Education, and MCH Strategic Data.

5. Research Finding 1 Most principals believe social networking can provide value in education. • A way for educators to share information and resources with an extended community of educators. • Creates professional learning communities; improves school-wide communications.

6. Research Finding 2 Most principals think social networking tools make a substantive change in students' educational experience. • Increased social/collaborative view of learning. • Improved motivation, engagement, and active involvement. • Connected to real-life learning.

7. Research Finding 3 None of the principals had school or district policies in place on social networking that were deemed adequate. • They were either characterized as inadequate or in need of revision. • Some were non-existent or in the process of revision. • Therefore there were concerns around legal issues, inappropriate use and the need for proper monitoring.

8. Social Networking: Motivation or Menace? • Public records law and educators. • Balance between the personal and professional. • Understanding software security settings. • Knowledge of Information Literacy

9. Policy and Program Development Online learning challenges the relevance of traditional classrooms. • Rigor: traditional reading and writing literacies are more - not less – necessary. • Professional development: teacher modeling of safe, efficient, effective inter-connected technology use is required. • Challenge of multiple environments: photos, videos, audio, tags, social-book marking and hyperlinks. • Challenge of diversity in online networks: not echo chambers of like-mindedness.

10. Checkpoint

11. Early Recognition of Student Needs and Formative Assessment • Establishment of Classroom Community • Student Engagement • Sense of Student Achievement • Information Management • Access to Marginalized Students Benefits of Educational Networking

12. Benefits • What are some other possible benefits of educational networking, other than those listed above? • How can educational networking be used to address the diverse needs of students?

13. Legality • Privacy of educators • Equity of access • Lack of resources Concerns relating to Educational Networking

14. Concerns • What are some concerns you have about educational networking, other than those listed above? • At a policy level, how can these concerns about educational networking be addressed?

15. Checkpoint

16. develop a pilot program • set a criteria for pilot schools • develop an agreed-upon appropriate use policy for educational networking • deploy pilot with an accompanying evaluation process in place • develop a network with schools, community-based organizations, and cultural institutions Implementation of Educational Networking Programs The Process

17. Roles and Responsibilities • Timeline for Pilot Implementation • Pre-Implementation (March to April 30th) • Choose the Educational Networking Committee (ENC) • Develop or refine the AUP • Ascertain District Readiness • Choose Platform • Choose the Sample for the Pilot • Implementation (May 1st to June 30th) • Design Phase • Plan program evaluation • Post-Implementation (July 1st to Sept 30th) • Use of social media with the Sample • Conduct Evaluation • Develop a plan to scale the project Educational Networking Implementation Plan

18. Educational Networking Pilot: Design and Implementation • Who would you choose to involve in the process of the Pilot Implementation? • Who would be part of your Educational Networking Committee? • How can you best implement educational networking in your area? • What are some challenges you might face during implementation?

19. Importance of Educational Networking and Family Engagement • To learn: Educators and Families learning how to use educational networks for family engagement • To collaborate: Engaging and communicating between educators and families • To contribute: Educators and families sharing best practices of family engagement on social networking sites Educational Networking and Family Engagement

20. Importance of Educational Networking in the Classroom • To learn • Addressing concerns about use in the classroom • Using social media tools effectively (Davis, 2010) • Learning how to use social media tools despite concerns about privacy and behavior • To collaborate • Promoting student engagement • Supporting college and career readiness • Using social media tools in a safe and constructive way to enable students to be responsible digital citizens • To contribute • Sharing student’s ideas and opinions through discussions about assignments Embracing Educational Networking

21. Educational Networking and teacher professional development • To learn: how to meet the students where they are, engaging students in just-in-time learning, learn about tools that can better inform teaching practice • To collaborate: how to build a Personal Learning Network • To contribute: sharing best practices with the education community at large and contribute resources that can be updated by users Educational Networking and Teacher Professional Development

22. Educational Networking Pilot: Engaging Stakeholders • How are the stakeholders in your district, currently using social networking tools? • Would you say they are using social networking tools in an educationally positive way? How might you change that? • Which stakeholder group would you be most willing to use educational networking with? • What are some other ways you think social networking tools can be used to improve communication and engagement within the schools and in the community?

23. Checkpoint

24. Libraries’ Use of Web 2.0 tools Source: Social Media, Libraries, and Web 2.0: How American Libraries are Using New Tools for Public Relations and to Attract New Users –– Third Survey November 2010.

25. Libraries, as strategic partners, can utilize social media to: • Provide access to space, technology, and infrastructure needs • Provide instruction and guidance for development of digital literacy skills needed to effectively utilize social media platforms • Foster collaboration between all stakeholders • Create a community of learners Libraries as Partners in Social Media Implementation

26. Providing Access • To physical space: • a common space for meeting and connecting • To technology and infrastructure: • 96% of students with Internet access use social networking tools (National School Board Association Report, 2007) • Public libraries provide the only internet access for 70% of impoverished communities. Innovation:Examples of the impact of social media on traditional library practices

27. Development of Digital Literacy Skills • Training opportunities: • From 2008-2010, there has been an increase in public library training opportunities available for all learners. • The number of public libraries offering: • informal point-of-use assistance increased from 52% to 79%; • formal training classes increased from 35% to 38%; • and the number offering online training material dramatically rose from 3% to 30% (Public Libraries & The Internet, 2011). • In 2009, 52 million people obtained help using technology from a librarian or volunteer, and 16 million took advantage of public library offered computer classes (Clark & Visser, 2010). • Digital services: • A 2007 University of Michigan study showed that a total of 23% respondents stated that “yes” or “maybe” they would be interested in contacting librarians through social networking sites. • Searching library databases has gone mobile. Through apps, such as “AccessMyLibrary”, students have the opportunity to access library resources and media on specific topics 24/7. Students can receive sources for homework, hobbies, research, and more, all free once a school is registered. Innovation:Examples of the impact of social media on traditional library practices

28. Collaboration • Library programs promote teacher-student, peer, and professional collaboration using social media, including opportunities for individualized instruction and 24/7 communication opportunities. • Teacher-student collaboration: • “Destiny Library Manager” a program, promoting communication between students and teachers • Peer collaboration: • “LibraryThing” is a site that promotes collaboration between students • Professional collaboration: • Programs such as “The Teacher-Librarian Network,” provides professional development to teachers regarding social media implementation. Innovation:Examples of the impact of social media on traditional library practices

29. Community outreach • Encourage the building of a community of learners through the implementation of social media. • Teach students, teachers, and parents about internet safety and cyber bullying • Establish a presence on social media platforms to update students and parents on relevant resources, information, and events. • Share recommendations for reading, reviews on books, and instructional resources with students, teachers, and parents. • Host student-created videos, photos and discussions to engage a community of learners. Innovation:Examples of the impact of social media on traditional library practices

30. Libraries as Partners in Social Media Implementation • How are libraries in your district currently using social networking tools? • Do you see library services as limiting the burden and risks associated with the implementation of social networking programs in schools? • What positive effects on students do you potentially see stemming from a partnership between schools and libraries, both public and school libraries, while implementing social networking programs in schools?

31. Checkpoint

32. Technologies in Education:Limiting Risks, Maximizing Benefits of Social Networking in Schools www.nycomprehensivecenter.org Anushka Paul Emily Rukobo Jonathan Shrem