15 Responses for "This is not a newsflash: Teachers use social media too"

1. Doug Belshaw May 26th, 2009 at 6:17 pm 1

   The temptation would be to try and make the AUP as all-encompassing and detailed as possible. I’d resist that and go for something based on principles such as this one.

   After all - as you say - we are meant to be professionals!

2. mrslwalker May 26th, 2009 at 6:20 pm 2

   I agree Doug, and the pace of change is such that a detailed AUP would soon be overtaken and outdated. If it’s based on principles and professionalism, then it should work across platforms and tools; even the ones that don’t exist yet.

3. mrslwalker May 26th, 2009 at 6:29 pm 3

   From Twitter:

   gippopippo: Social media guidelines? Being transparent, yourself, bearing in mind you’re conversing with other people: being human & fair.

   grumbledook: an explanation of how to separate personal and professional life? Or at least help make a distinction if needed.

   skipdiver: Here are two: ‘Do not do it in lesson time’ and ‘Do not slag off the children in your care’.

4. Jordan Kent May 26th, 2009 at 6:31 pm 4

   When twittering at work, ensure that you have a professional purpose. It is very appropriate to use twitter at work if you are searching for resources, discussing pedagogical ideas, sharing resources with educators, and posing educational questions.
   http://teachigen.blogspot.com/

5. Doug Belshaw May 26th, 2009 at 6:33 pm 5

   @skipdiver But if you didn’t use Twitter in lesson time you couldn’t ask your network the type of questions that Tom Barrett does in his primary school classroom

6. Dan H May 26th, 2009 at 6:35 pm 6

   Its a mixture of common sense, professionalism, accountability and the Mom Litmus Test = “don’t say anything you wouldn’t say to your mom.”

   Dont discuss/comment on anything that might endanger the safety and well being of any individual (teacher or student).

   Teachers are in a position of responsibilty and should act responsibly.

7. mrslwalker May 26th, 2009 at 6:45 pm 7

   Thanks for that Dan. Thanks also for the link to various industry social networking policies: http://vl3.co.uk/?p=50

8. Kevin Mc Laughlin May 26th, 2009 at 6:51 pm 8

   Teachers can and should be trusted but then this happens. Twitter should not be held responsible and turned into the irresponsible party. It’s an incredibly useful tool and its use should be further encouraged rather than eliminated from the classroom. Responsible use is the correct measure and drawing up the AUP as Doug’s link points out is certainly a positive way forward.

9. dave t May 26th, 2009 at 6:59 pm 9

   As mrslwalker says - these things get outdated quickly. My Council reminded us all today about their Computer Use Policy yet it hasn’t been updated since 2001 and mentions bulletin boards….this is like saying when driving we’ve still to have a wee man with a red flag walking in front!

   I like the digital one…am going to speak to IT bods tomorrow and show them error of their ways. Teachers HAVE to be allowed to experiment with the latest social media etc as this is what their students are using to communicate and edit information today. Teaching them using the methods of yesterday to cope with tomorrow won’t work - we MUST be allowed to use these platforms etc.

10. Stuart Ridout May 26th, 2009 at 7:18 pm 10

    This is a toughie! How much advice can we as schools (and employers) give to our staff. This is not really even a digital issue (although problems are exacerbated in the digital arena) as it is a wider issue of how teachers conduct themselves professionally in public.

    I have had to play the ‘bad guy’ in the past and have vetoed internet projects (such as an e-mentoring project that was unrecorded and untrackable) for safety reasons but these are work issues that I have control over. Can we do the same for personal use of the Internet?

    I personally do not allow students access to my facebook account but can we prohibit others from doing so? It’s all about how you want to portray yourself online. I think we can just educate people that they can post online but they rarely can unpost as once it is out there you can’t take it back!

    There are some that say that this confusion occurs when teachers are operating in ‘their’ world (’Their’ being the students or “digital natives”) but I consider myself to be an informed digital native and I think some teachers are operating naively (in the same way that young people post provocative images and personal information online).

    In the DT department they say “Measure twice, cut once” to avoid mistakes there. Perhaps we should be saying “Think twice, post once … or not at all!”

11. Christine May 26th, 2009 at 7:34 pm 11

    I don’t agree with “Teachers are in a position of responsibilty and should act responsibly.” (sic)

    Yes. When we are on the job or with our students, you should be professional at all times, appropriate to the age group you are teaching.

    But, you can not seriously expect someone to live their job. I can’t imagine having a life with ‘responsibility 24/7′. I don’t think folks should say anything about individuals (students or colleagues) but that should be the same in all jobs.

    If you are happy with it on a billboard next to your face then say it. That should always be the case. But NOT that teachers can’t have a life. There was obviously no news the day that the article was written.

12. John Cotterell May 26th, 2009 at 8:57 pm 12

    If a teacher was discovered sharing sensitive information via phone or mail the reaction would be focused on the message and not the medium.

    Authorities tend to be happy to restrict a form of communication they don’t actually use themselves, but would never consider it an option when it’s a device they use and depend on every day.

    At least twitter and facebook are getting the flack now instead of the entire internet itself

13. Mary Lou Buell May 26th, 2009 at 11:09 pm 13

    Our Acceptable Use policy is outdated as well. I have a few jokesters who express their undying love for me in comments on my blog–made during the school day from library computers. IT knows exactly who the “anonymous” students are—but admin refuses to punish since making inappropriate comments on a teacher’s blog, hosted off-campus, is not mentioned as a violation of current policy. They are afraid of the cans of worms this will open if they attempt to punish these offenders.

    As for Twitter—my account is linked on my blog—I mostly keep things professional, with the occasional random tweet…but nothing off-color and no cursing and I don’t talk about students…just perhaps my classroom policies which they all know anyway. I’m also pretty vigilant about what I RT.

    If your Twitter is public you really should watch what you say…..if it’s personal keep it on Facebook and let’s face it everyone is getting waaaaaay TMI these days—some things should just be kept to yourself, period.

14. Mary Howard May 27th, 2009 at 11:12 pm 14

    The moniker “social networking” itself presents a problem. Perhaps we need to clarify the name of tools (such as twitter) and refer to them as educational networking tools and utilize them as such. Administrators often glom on to a name or a concept before they truly understand the tool itself and, unfortunately, the educational value of the tools gets lost somewhere along the way.

15. Sharon Elin June 1st, 2009 at 6:26 pm 15

    My guidelines are simple: Assume administrators, your students, and their parents are also reading your posts. Don’t say anything that would alienate them; instead, feel free to build community and express your professional goals/ideals.

    A private Facebook site might be a safer place to vent if you want to trash a student or express your job frustrations, but even better is a real life conversation over coffee with a close friend/colleague.