Teachers and Social Networking
Karen Craig
EDU 533W Micaela Boesche
Here are the 3 main links that came up when I entered my maiden name, Wiedmann, into google:
http://www.washingtontrack.com/1989girlsaaa.htm
http://www.reunionswithclass.com/asp/public_report.asp?rid=1247&tid=3
http://www.kentmeridiantrack.com/Track/State_Results.htm
When I entered my married name into www.pipl.com, only my address and phone number appeared. I was surprised to see how many Karen Craig’s there are right here in Vancouver. Now I know why I get AARP mail every other day. There is nothing embarrassing I need to change on the internet regarding my background or what students might find out about me that I know of. This may be one positive of being a “Digital Immigrant”; I haven’t been on the internet enough to reveal anything embarrassing!
I do think teachers should be held accountable as far as community standards and how they portray their personal lives on the internet. What a teacher does on his or her own personal time is their own business. There may be a student or parent out there who does not agree with those choices. A teacher needs to realize this, and unless they are ready to deal with that kind of conflict, they should not broadcast these choices on the internet. They are personal.
I believe the same holds true for speech. A teacher should be held to community standards. However, I have a hard time with teachers losing their jobs or being exploited over some information found about them from their past. People change, and their views change as they mature. They may have made some unwise decisions in their past that they have learned from. This does not include illegal activity, in which case the school would probably already know about that.
The most interesting fact I found in this article is the story of Tamara Hoover, a teacher in Austin Texas. She was reprimanded for nude photos found on her partner’s website, who is a professional photographer (p.683). It appears the photos were professional, and I think she should have won the lawsuit. I am a mother with children in elementary school, and my initial reaction to this story would be that it would not bother me. On the other hand, I would choose, as a teacher, not to post this type of photography if it meant my students or parents may find it.
I think a teacher should use social networking, both for their students and for their personal lives. I really don’t foresee any problems in having to protect myself. I am a somewhat private person, and have always used my Facebook just to share some photos or drop a note to someone I haven’t talk to in awhile. I don’t see that changing, unless I set up a network for my students, in which case it will be all school related.
References
Carter, H. L., Foulger, T. S., & Dutton Ewbank, A. (2008, May). Have You Googled Your Teacher Lately? Teachers' Use of Social Networking Sites. Phi Delta Kappan, 89, 681- 685.
Karen Craig
EDU 533W Micaela Boesche
Here are the 3 main links that came up when I entered my maiden name, Wiedmann, into google:
http://www.washingtontrack.com/1989girlsaaa.htm
http://www.reunionswithclass.com/asp/public_report.asp?rid=1247&tid=3
http://www.kentmeridiantrack.com/Track/State_Results.htm
When I entered my married name into www.pipl.com, only my address and phone number appeared. I was surprised to see how many Karen Craig’s there are right here in Vancouver. Now I know why I get AARP mail every other day. There is nothing embarrassing I need to change on the internet regarding my background or what students might find out about me that I know of. This may be one positive of being a “Digital Immigrant”; I haven’t been on the internet enough to reveal anything embarrassing!
I do think teachers should be held accountable as far as community standards and how they portray their personal lives on the internet. What a teacher does on his or her own personal time is their own business. There may be a student or parent out there who does not agree with those choices. A teacher needs to realize this, and unless they are ready to deal with that kind of conflict, they should not broadcast these choices on the internet. They are personal.
I believe the same holds true for speech. A teacher should be held to community standards. However, I have a hard time with teachers losing their jobs or being exploited over some information found about them from their past. People change, and their views change as they mature. They may have made some unwise decisions in their past that they have learned from. This does not include illegal activity, in which case the school would probably already know about that.
The most interesting fact I found in this article is the story of Tamara Hoover, a teacher in Austin Texas. She was reprimanded for nude photos found on her partner’s website, who is a professional photographer (p.683). It appears the photos were professional, and I think she should have won the lawsuit. I am a mother with children in elementary school, and my initial reaction to this story would be that it would not bother me. On the other hand, I would choose, as a teacher, not to post this type of photography if it meant my students or parents may find it.
I think a teacher should use social networking, both for their students and for their personal lives. I really don’t foresee any problems in having to protect myself. I am a somewhat private person, and have always used my Facebook just to share some photos or drop a note to someone I haven’t talk to in awhile. I don’t see that changing, unless I set up a network for my students, in which case it will be all school related.
References
Carter, H. L., Foulger, T. S., & Dutton Ewbank, A. (2008, May). Have You Googled Your Teacher Lately? Teachers' Use of Social Networking Sites. Phi Delta Kappan, 89, 681- 685.
Hey Karen,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post. Congrats on all your track accomplishments, that is so cool! Which Karen were you though since there were 2 that went to your school. I definitely agree with you when you said that you don't think that teachers should be punished for stuff found out about them in the past (unless it was illegal). Everyone has something in their past that they wish they could change. Some more severe than others. However, as long as it isn't affecting them in their job and in the classroom then it shouldn't be a problem. Although nowadays parents will complain about just about anything so teachers really need to be careful what is said online. Good post!
Karen,
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the post. It's always interesting to search yourself and find out how many other people share your name even in the city you live in! I agree with both you and Kyle and think that teachers need to hold themselves to higher standards and be accountable for their actions. And I think that certain circumstances of foul judgment or immaturity should be handled differently from perhaps more current issues regarding a teacher that puts themselves in a poor situation through actions or words posted on the web. Keep up the good work on the blog!
Ty
It is nice to hear a parents perspective on this. I too don't post many private things. I am also a private person, it drives my students crazy when I don't share a lot of my personal life! They have even come up with some ideas of their own regarding what I do outside of school! Pretty funny! I think there are other ways to reach students, besides pouring out my private life to them! Thanks for the thoughtful reflection.
ReplyDelete