#RuralEdChat is a chat that focuses on the needs of the rural educator. This chat has been revised by Tammy Neil (@MathNeil), John Martin (@edventures) and Natalee Stotz (@nataleestotz).
Tonight #RuralEdChat will be talking about how to help our communities navigate social media. We hope you will join us. Possible questions are listed here: https://t.co/IG92WPW4Qe
As we get started tonight, we are going to begin with the Q1/A1 format unless a conversation breaks out. Don't forget to add #RuralEdChat to your tweets so we can all share your brilliant ideas.
*Q1*
Lately there has been a ton of news about social media. Describe for us how YOU use social media. Does the platform make a difference to you? How? Why?
#RuralEdChat
A1a Social media is one of my ways of networking and staying in close touch with amazing educators and social justice advocates, and friends and family too.
#RuralEdChat
A1: Platform makes a difference - facebook is pretty personal, keeping in touch with friends and family, mostly. Twitter is some personal, some professional - mostly use to connect with people and ideas in education. #RuralEdChat
*Q1*
Lately there has been a ton of news about social media. Describe for us how YOU use social media. Does the platform make a difference to you? How? Why?
#RuralEdChat
*A1*
I use it to stay connected with my fellow #ruraledchat peeps, stay in touch with issues I care about and share about topics that are close to my heart. I also follow Conan O'Brien. Gold.
*Q1*
Lately there has been a ton of news about social media. Describe for us how YOU use social media. Does the platform make a difference to you? How? Why?
#RuralEdChat
A1b Social media is also my way of constantly learning about what's going on in the world and in classrooms, of elevating other people's voices (especially POC/LGBT/women), of raising my own voice.
#RuralEdChat
A1: Social Media has become much more for professional connections in the past few years. I will admit, thanks to Twitter Lists, I can also use Twitter to feed my entertainment/news needs as well. #RuralEdChat
A1c In other words, social media is integral to my life in many ways. It is not my whole life by any means. But my life would be less rich without it.
#RuralEdChat
A1 I went from being staunchly opposed to embracing it during library media science training program in 2010. I use Twitter for education & current issues, Facebook for friends & family, Instagram for creative things & Voxer for longer conversations. #ruraledchat
agreed. It's allowed me to connect with so many different perspectives and voices around the world that I wouldn't have been able to connect with otherwise. #ruraledchat
A1: for professional connections, communicating with a larger audience, and getting different perspectives. We can model all of these things for children. If we aren’t, shame in us. #RuralEdchat
Me too. I would be so much less effective a social justice educator without my social media peeps, going back to the 90's and listserve days (if that early precursor counts!).
#RuralEdChat
A2b But I've heard and support the advice that some platforms are much less risky than others (safer, less likely to induce harmful focus on competitive appearance, etc.), and that conversation and responsible oversight can go a long way.
#RuralEdChat
*A2*
I have 2 teenage boys... It's about maturity. 13 might be an average, but I know some are more ready than others to wade through the social media ocean. #RuralEdChat
Somehow I missed AOL IM but definitely remember the first tentative time of emails. Shrike was the system we had at college. Interesting to zoom back to where we've come from in SM. #ruraledchat
A2: Maturity plays a big role for me. Many just aren't ready to manage the onslaught of constant connections. Many adults can't handle it either. #RuralEdChat
Q2: I think it's some of the same - most of us just said twitter is good for connecting with people, but unfiltered, monitored connections with strangers has risks. It can be done, but needs to be the right platforms, the right level of independence, etc. #RuralEdChat
Yup. I believe @anahomayoun@cultureodignity and @RachelJSimmons all talk of the importance of readiness for social media as an individual developmental moment, not a strict age-based thing. Some younger kids are ready. Some aren't.
#RuralEdChat
In reply to
@TG_Neil, @anahomayoun, @cultureodignity, @RachelJSimmons
I posted a question about developmental growth and digital lives a few weeks ago. I think it's a realm we are beginning to explore more. So many variables and influences. #ruraledchat Looking forward to exploring these individuals' work.
A3 Depends on the age of the minor. Parents/caretakers and schools need to be more vigilant when kids are younger, but kids need to take increasing responsibility for themselves as they get older.
#ruraledchat
A3: Couldn't have said it better. Start with "it takes a village", shift to "they need to have the power and responsibility". Like most other parts of education, really. #RuralEdChat
A3 Depends on the age of the minor. Parents/caretakers and schools need to be more vigilant when kids are younger, but kids need to take increasing responsibility for themselves as they get older.
#ruraledchat
*A3*
Ajit Pai. Kidding. It falls on us, as guidance and instruction has always fallen on adults who give a darn about raising good kids.
*A3a* Because I can't wait for someone else to do it. Even Ajit. #RuralEdChat
They are all three fantastic. I've read their work and seen them in person at different times. Honest, genuine, sensible, knowledgeable, helpful.
#RuralEdChat
A3: We all should be helping to monitor the portion of social media we experience. Encourage/model proper behavior. But ultimately, the parents must take responsibility for their children's behavior online. #RuralEdChat
A3 I'm keeping pretty close tabs as a parent of a 12 y.o. but he isn't as interested in social media platforms as I thought he might be yet. #RuralEdChat
My son has never been as into social media as I am, nor into his phone in general. Not sure I was the best role model, but he's come through it well anyway. :-)
#RuralEdChat
Just makes me wonder what platforms they have adopted. Found out my son got into a "discussion" on YouTube comments. Some platforms we don't think about. #RuralEdChat
Just makes me wonder what platforms they have adopted. Found out my son got into a "discussion" on YouTube comments. Some platforms we don't think about. #RuralEdChat
That’s interesting & I appreciate you sharing that, Bill. I’m hard on myself about how engaged I can get in conversations in digital spaces, but my son & I talk about this frequently. We make efforts to step away fr screens & also share what we experience with them. #RuralEdChat
A4 I think it depends in part on how you use it. I would never connect w/kids on FB even if my school allowed it (not that there's anything scandalous there). But I can't prevent it on Twitter without overly restricting my life here. So I tweet w/that in mind.
#ruraledchat
I have begun leaving all of my social media accounts set to public. I want students to know I'm here. Some have reached out asking me to confirm things they've heard. I've been able to calm some nerves. #RuralEdChat
However, I also take lots of screenshots of the interaction so I can verify our conversations if needed. Have to protect myself professionally. #RuralEdchat
I have begun leaving all of my social media accounts set to public. I want students to know I'm here. Some have reached out asking me to confirm things they've heard. I've been able to calm some nerves. #RuralEdChat
And that's a great approach. Human, based in conversation and learning. Oddly, if I'd been more worried about my son, we would have done more of this. Oh, well. As I say, he's well adjusted and happy! :-)
#RuralEdChat
And the comment section can be so toxic. That's where a lot of the first exposure happens. We just don't think of it a "social" network like we think of twitter or FB #RuralEdChat
I think it's the second most popular among kids. But even my own kids, in a trivia game we did earlier this year with the middle schoolers, didn't identify it as one of the three most popular.
#RuralEdChat
Oh, I do. I mostly listen to music on YouTube, and occasionally leave a note of appreciation. Sadly, that's sometimes when an artist I love has died.
#RuralEdChat
A5 When it happens (which is surprisingly rare), we handle it basically the same as we would any other inappropriate behavior. Immediate conversation with kid, report back to parent, ongoing conversation(s) as needed.
#ruraledchat
A5: Depends on the issue. I want parents to help me teach their student the appropriate way to use social media. Taking away a device never truly solves the problem, besides we don't take away paper and pencils. #RuralEdChat
*A5*
As an individual parents are tired of me sounding the warnings of the potential follies. As an organization we could do a way better job of parent education and outreach. #RuralEdChat
*Q6*
What resources do you have that others can share with parents & community to have honest open conversations about minors using social media?
#RuralEdChat
A6: I'm no expert. However, I think we should be having open conversations with parents/community about our CHILDREN using Social Media. Let's help them learn as we learn. #RuralEdChat
A6b: I've offered parent nights, but so many are with their kids then. Maybe videos on YouTube to help them when they have time??? Just brainstorming. #RuralEdchat
I'm not sure we can solve this issue during a Twitter Chat. I think it's up to each of us to make a difference locally. Like my friend @DougTimm34 says, "Think Globally, Act Locally". #RuralEdChat
I know @KerryHawk02 offers lots of support with the "Safer Internet Day" program. She helps students and parents see that they can be safer. #RuralEdChat
Thanks everyone. I have to run and walk our latest charge, a great old foster dog. Wishing you all a good night and thanks for connecting...about connecting! #RuralEdChat
As we wrap up #RuralEdChat tonight, I leave you with a challenge. Have the difficult conversations with your students/parents/community about what is happening on social media.
