Regardless, I wanted to make the information available to anyone who might benefit from it, so here is the PowerPoint with the "meat" of the presentation located in the "notes" section on each slide. For quick reference, I also want to include in this post the steps I plan to take to use social media in my classroom (references are in the PowerPoint).
- Extend the first-week “classroom behaviour expectations” discussion to include social networking. Teachers should have this talk even if they don’t plan to use social networking in the classroom, since use outside the classroom inevitably affects what happens in the classroom. Outline how inappropriate behaviour will be addressed, including potential legal ramifications. My general philosophy is to withhold access/functionality while student learns and develops attitude and understanding of appropriate behaviours.
- Align use and assessment of social networking knowledge and skills to the curriculum. This can easily be done within social studies, language arts, or ICT.
- Select social media and practice using it. Where commercial and non-commercial versions have no significant differences, chose the non-commercial version. Become aware of its Terms of Service and create mitigation plans, seeking the counsel of peers, administrators, and IT staff where appropriate. Blazer (2012) explains that it is insufficient to rely on programs or firewalls to block access to inappropriate content, since students can always manage to get around these; instead, she suggests an increase in monitoring of students’ usage.
- Ensure that use of social networking platform aligns with the CBE’s Web 2.0 Guidelines, that the necessary hardware and Internet access are available for equitable use, and that students and families have all signed Media Release Consent forms.
- Inform families about intent to use social networking, rationale (including curriculum alignment), adherence to school policies and overarching laws, and safeguard measures to be used to address risks. Invite feedback.
- Model use of social networking to students, including account registration, privacy settings, functionality/affordances, and intended use for assignments.
- Discuss with students how they will be assessed in their use of social media, and how use will be monitored, including teacher participation in the network. Focus will be not only on using the platform, but also analyzing and evaluating it as a tool.
- Under teacher supervision, where appropriate, allow students to use teacher or class account to complete tasks (e.g., arrange videoconference). Where appropriate, allow students to create account (separate from any personal account they might have) and use social network to collaborate and complete assignments that do not require homework.