The problem I feel that is of critical importance related to
students and use of technology is that many do use social media
responsibly. Social media has
grown rapidly in the last several years.
This rapid growth has caused the majority of parents, teachers and
school districts to be almost unprepared in dealing with the repercussions of
inappropriate use of technology in the hands of our teens.
As a whole, the generation of students that is currently in
high school has not had formal training or education in use of social
media. Most of what they know
they’ve learned on their own without a lot of supervision or guidance. We are just now beginning to see states
putting laws into place that protect people from harm that may be a result of
negative behaviors online. School
districts are now wondering what role they have in holding students responsible
for choices that are made in relation of social media. Once the negative activity makes in
onto school grounds, many feel that schools must take action in dealing with
the behaviors.
I feel that through my action research study I will be able
to determine if implementing use of social media at the elementary level with
educational support and guidance will help reduce the occurrence of negative
behavior with technology. My
research will be done through literary and data research, including
implementing use of social media with my students by using a class blog. Through blogging with my class I plan
to actively monitor my students posts.
In addition I will incorporate lessons on using various forms of
technology related to social media.
Although most of my conclusion will most likely be a result
of research using data from other forms of investigations, I do plan to follow
my students into the next school year by assisting teachers in continuing the
use of blogs with their class. As
the chair of the technology team, this assistance will be part of staff
developments that is provided to teachers.
