An article in Education Week examines the rising prevalence of social networking sites in schools. Educators cite the advantages of using the tools for professional development, student research, communication with families, and more. One principal describes Twitter as an effective means of leveraging resources and media coverage for his school. Others are more cautious, warning about violations of student and staff privacy, as well as the risk of cyber-bullying and other inappropriate or illegal online behavior.
EduDemic offers helpful lists of “dos and don’ts” with teachers’ guides to social media. Do the educational value of these tools outweigh the risks?