As we progressed through high school, then college, and eventually out into the job market, how did we network? At least for me, it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time and meeting the right people. Social media has the potential to open up a brand new world of opportunities; however, do students today realize the impact of the technology in front of them?
As teachers, we must teach our students how to tap into all technology has to offer. As an instructor at a small business school, I have taught an introductory computer class many times. A portion of the class is devoted to social media. Part of the discussions involves maximizing the quality the digital footprint we are creating when entering the realm of Twitter, Facebook, My Space, and other similar sites, but the scope of my focus was rather limited. I have used examples of individuals who have lost a position or never received the opportunity for a position because of a picture or a post found on a personal page. To me, they are all very obvious points; however, what I did not consider were many of the points covered by Andrew Marcinek in “How to Help Students Use Social Media Effectively.”
In my opinion, the most powerful point made by Mr. Marcinek focuses on skills which never entered my mind. First, we all proofread endless papers ensuring our students are using effective writing strategies. What many of us do not do is encourage our students to use those writing skills to edit updates made to their social media pages. It absolutely makes sense. What is written as a tweet or a Facebook status update has a far wider audience than any class assignment. Additionally, along with editing for grammatical accuracy, students must be sure effort is exerted to post information which will matter to others. I have taught my students to be cautious of the language used or the references to drugs or alcohol, but I have not taught my students to think of the audience and to post accordingly.
Used correctly, social media can be an incredibly powerful networking instrument. As teachers, it is vital that we teach our student how that is done.
What an excellent point Lisa! I agree, I too have been hesitant to post or interact in Facebook or other social medias. If used properly, it could be an excellent tool for marketing, networking, etc... I recently read somewhere that our current president utilized a number of these medias and it (implied) that it helped him win the election. It could certainly open up your audience and encourage participation in a whole new way. Our instructor has also pointed out that we need to become comfortable with this media before we can adequately teach it - I agree with that as well. I'm not comfortable yet, but I am learning more and more every day. Thanks for reviewing this article and sharing your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteLisa W.