Blog 3 Topic (EDUC 630)

As a mathematics professor at a publicly funded community college, personal social media has basically no place in my classroom.  There is a very delicate legal issue with using social media in the classroom.  Personal social media accounts should never be used to interact with students at any level of education.  If a teacher or professor would like to use something like Twitter or Facebook to interact with their students, then they should absolutely make a separate professional account that is used exclusively for educational purposes.  While this may seem like a hindrance, it is necessary for both the teacher’s and students’ protection.  While I have seen some educators use Twitter or Facebook groups to stay connected with students outside the classroom, the potential lawsuit risks far outweigh the benefits.  I personally do not see any reason to use social media for education, because there are professional platforms that are able to do everything that social media can do in a much safer environment.  Learning management systems like BlackBoard, Canvas, Sakai, and many others allow for easy communication, sharing, and group work.

A Church is much freer to use social media to stay connected with their congregation and attract new members, because they are not controlled by the government.  My Church likes to promote special services and potlucks via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  It is a great way to spread the Word!