tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post3619386426628424461..comments2024-03-29T06:57:49.917-04:00Comments on Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: Facebook Doesn’t Get Teachers Fired - Inappropriate Behavior DoesLisa Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-28813150874746170932011-03-06T23:13:33.822-05:002011-03-06T23:13:33.822-05:00Thank you so much for this article. You have hit ...Thank you so much for this article. You have hit some of of my own main points and my own ideas that Students need to learn to behave appropriately no matter the situation or the medium- Facebook is classified as public domain- even lawyers have acknowledged that. So if they are in a Park down the road, or on Facebook (twitter, bebo etc) laws governing behaviour still apply. The problem is so many people are afraid (particularly teachers) of going into those areas, that we are now faced with a lack of supervision, and a lack of guidance using social networking sites- rise in cyber bullying, rise in sexual predators, etc. Personally, I care about my students online and offline, and if I knew they were going somewhere that could potentially lead to harm, I'd want to do all in my power to make sure they were protected and knew what how to behave and what to do if an issue arises. <br />Retreating or tying our hands behind our backs doesnt do any good in the long run, neither does ignoring the issue and doing my own (sometimes reckless) things online just because I can and I'm an adult. <br />Facebook is PUBLIC and what we post online is PERMANENT. Actually, I think this is a good thing for keeping me accountable, if my actions and everything I do online are transparent, then I shouldn't need to worry about privacy issues.Wild Leafhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04774717176741987883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-40978646804947718962010-11-03T08:31:04.845-04:002010-11-03T08:31:04.845-04:00I think this is a clear black and white issue with...I think this is a clear black and white issue with no room for gray. Teachers should not be allowed to communicate with their students in any way on Facebook. With that said, some 'bad' teachers will always find a way to circumvent any policy or restrictions that might be placed on them. ‘Good' teachers will be smart enough to stay away regardless. The slope on this one is just too slippery.Clay Boggesshttp://www.bigeventfundraising.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-29644154305890091842010-10-27T23:34:02.666-04:002010-10-27T23:34:02.666-04:00Great post. I subscribe to the idea of not friend...Great post. I subscribe to the idea of not friending current students on my personal Facebook. I do however believe it is alright to set up a classroom Facebook page and I friend current students and parents with this. I make some suggestions on my website about privacy settings for the students but leave it up to them to follow them. So many educators spend time discussing ways to increase student and parent communication and then over look this incredible resource. Websites, Moodle pages, and the like are great, but parents and students have to make a conscience decision to visit those pages. When a parent or student friends a classroom Facebook they are giving you the opportunity to post information about your classroom into a place they check frequently. This year my students have thanked me for reminders of classroom assignments, used facebook to communicate with me when they are sick, and asked for clarifications on assignments. When I discuss this with other teachers I often hear how they don't have time or don't want students intruding into their personal time outside of school. Personally I have found that the few minutes it takes me to post updates (via Twitter) and to respond to students saves me more than enough time to make it worthwhile. By using Twitter to update facebook, I can also have those updates appear on my websites and classroom Moodle pages. Essentially updating four online resources with one post. Add to that Google Voice (a teachers personal secretary) and it is pretty easy to create a very transparent classroom for students and parents. I'll post a link to my communication page below in case anyone is interested. I hope you don't mind...<br /><br />http://suter.hanoverpublic.org/educator-tech-resources/communicationJason K. Suterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03191450817515402401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-33749512438227599452010-10-21T00:41:11.463-04:002010-10-21T00:41:11.463-04:00@Eric, how inspiring/exciting that you are rethink...@Eric, how inspiring/exciting that you are rethinking policies. I think this is so important for educators and educational leaders. Chris Lehmann and Eric Sheninger are two leaders who I very much respect. If you aren't already, you may want to consider friending them and following their blogs. <br /><br />I do understand and respect the fact that some educators want to keep personal and professional lives separate (I'm not in that category, but I get it), but even if that's the case, I know kids need us in their online lives...even though it's hard. That might be through a regular Facebook page, a professional page, a fan page. All work well. It doesn't need to be every teacher / administrator, but having some adults watching out for students in their worlds is powerful!Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-10798744974774956352010-10-20T21:04:35.538-04:002010-10-20T21:04:35.538-04:00Okay - now you are forcing me to rethink my previo...Okay - now you are forcing me to rethink my previous personal policy. I see the contradiction in my own decision not to friend students. Just another benefit of online dialogue - LEARNING! Thank you for helping me to think through my beliefs.<br /><br />It is interesting that this discussion is going on concurrently with a discussion that we are having at school. Our school just won a $5 million dollar grant, 1.1 million needs to be spent on technology by Sep.of 2011. We have hired a consultant that is asking us questions that that force us to envision what learning looks like in 5 years at our school. <br /><br />I used this discussion thread as an example of how we should be looking past the fear of the unknown.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-32735729142923102902010-10-20T02:39:08.752-04:002010-10-20T02:39:08.752-04:00I researched whether there are State laws/guidelin...I researched whether there are State laws/guidelines in Wisconsin, Ohio or New Hampshire. It does not appear to be state-wide but, rather, board-by-board or county-by-county. The line "Wisconsin, Ohio and New Hampshire" appears to be just a soundbyte.<br /><br />It's interesting that people are split on this issue. I wonder if the split is political, generational, or something else.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10191901828834963937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-38752227915891287932010-10-19T06:44:56.650-04:002010-10-19T06:44:56.650-04:00@kwaussie, You are welcome. Terrific points. You...@kwaussie, You are welcome. Terrific points. You've inspired me to write a follow up post sharing reasons responsible educators do "friend" students and also address the redefinition of the term. I'll be sure to include your advice.Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-51825811509177286552010-10-19T06:43:28.685-04:002010-10-19T06:43:28.685-04:00@Sheep Rustler - Absolutely. The behavior always e...@Sheep Rustler - Absolutely. The behavior always existed. We need to deal with that rather than take the perceived easy-way-out and blame the tool...which actually, makes it easier to catch these creeps.Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-9715078141272039092010-10-19T04:43:11.356-04:002010-10-19T04:43:11.356-04:00Thank you for posting this. I read the article on ...Thank you for posting this. I read the article on a twitter link but I didn't have the energy to comment on it. If I had, I would have said just what you said :-)<br />I do have student contacts on facebook ( and I call them contacts, not friends because it helps explain the difference."Friending' is a social media term that means something very different from the Oxford definition of friend.)Those that ask to add me tell me it's for several reasons. 1. Because it allows them to contact me easily and they and their parents often do, to ask questions about homework, to report absences etc. 2. Because it makes them feel safer to have an adult they trust in their online space.3. Because they enjoy having an insight into my life away from school and they enjoy having me make positive comments on things that they do.<br />Sometimes, as Eric suggests, it puts me in a difficult position when re online disclosure. More often though, it gives me an insight into issues that are occurring online and allows me to nip them in the bud before they get out of control.Anne De Manserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04421025018738546599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-43052212525562892972010-10-18T23:36:52.036-04:002010-10-18T23:36:52.036-04:00As with all tools of every sort, it's how you ...As with all tools of every sort, it's how you use it. I seem to remember that teachers were perfectly capable of inappropriate behaviour in the old days too!Sheeprustlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14927327455496824702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-81630816192568893292010-10-18T23:22:47.651-04:002010-10-18T23:22:47.651-04:00@Amanda, not surprisingly, I agree! It would be w...@Amanda, not surprisingly, I agree! It would be wise for school districts to mandate that educators, parents/guardians/families, students understand and exhibit appropriate use that empowers students to succeed in digital worlds.Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-89074664872880304572010-10-18T23:11:08.362-04:002010-10-18T23:11:08.362-04:00@Eric, thank you for the feedback and I have heard...@Eric, thank you for the feedback and I have heard the pool analogy too. Makes a lot of sense. I don't agree w/the gun analogy because the primary purpose of the device is to kill. The primary purpose of social media is to communicate. But, agree...don't want to get too controversial/stray from the initial topic. <br /><br />Regarding your "PS" comment, it is one I respect but it saddens me. Students need you to see their post or picture and guide them. Even if we don't look, it's still there. If all the educators are too afraid to see what students are doing, aren't they in essence swimming in uncharted waters without a lifeguard?Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-84204588310543950232010-10-18T22:43:17.789-04:002010-10-18T22:43:17.789-04:00Thank you! It's getting really ridiculous. Lik...Thank you! It's getting really ridiculous. Like I said in an interview last week, interacting with students via social media like Facebook should be perfectly fine as long as both the educator and the student understand appropriateness and boundaries that are easily observed in the classroom. Like you said, don't blame the tool. Very nice post. Thanks!Amanda Romjuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07765126996331398046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-79979331405357461342010-10-18T22:21:11.398-04:002010-10-18T22:21:11.398-04:00I agree. Good post. I read somewhere that when we ...I agree. Good post. I read somewhere that when we want students to be empowered around water, we teach them to swim. We don't tell them to stay away from water for the rest of their lives. We should teach students how to swim the sometimes dangerous waters of Social Networking.<br /><br />I don't want to get too controversial, here but the same argument could be made about gun laws - Guns don't kill people. People kill people.<br /><br />PS - Even though I agree, I still don't friend students. As an administrator, I am afraid I will read a post or picture that I would have to take disciplinary action on. I already do enough of that at work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com