Article Reflection

Title: Navigating Social Networks as Learning Tools

Author: Will Richardson

We as a society are just beginning to break into this new world in which, with the aid of technology, we can do things together globally. The possibilities are exciting, revolutionizing our methods in education. But dangers are ever present, our students and children commonly search through the endless amounts of information, opinions, propaganda, and social networks without the assistance of educators or even parents. They are not being educated in its proper use or need for caution.  The internet world of their parents and teachers was one of passive search and retrieval of information, now they have a “read/write” relationship anyone that potentially cross their digital paths. These same children and teenagers are able to produce fairly sophisticated products such as video to be posted online to a much greater ability that the majority of adults. Our young people are interacting in a vast world of “internet connections” that generate a whole new style of classroom and learning, in which anyone can become a student of another who might share similar passions.

This online 24 hour collaboration has led to a major “tectonic shift” in the course of our human existence. All of us who have access to the web are able to learn in groups that reach across cultures, space, and time. All facets of our life are in transition, and our education systems are beginning to feel the change as well. The major issue lies in how far behind the technology curve most educational professionals reside. Many teachers live in a paper world, citing disinterest or lack of time, causing them to remain technology illiterate. The problem is that if we want to “speak our students’ language”, we’ll need to model our passion for learning and developing proper network relationships.

I personally love all the possibilities the internet has to offer to education. But I think we really need to lay out on the table all the dangers and problems that exist. As we put more of ourselves out on the internet, checking ourselves in places on Facebook, and tagging locations can put the wrong kind of information into the hands of people who don’t have the right motivations. Parents who may not have the full understanding of the type of direction their children need, tend to let the internet do the babysitting. Using the internet for entertainment purposes can develop into harmful and addictive behavior. I believe that we need to work collaboratively, schools, communities, and families to brainstorm how we can educate our children, keep them safe, and use the amazing potential of the internet to revolutionize how we do school.