Social Networking in Media Centers

Social Networking in Media Centers

Social networking has become a huge part of our lives, especially the lives of teenagers.  The amount of students with Facebook pages is astounding.  Therefore, it should be no surprise that social networking has found its way into the classroom and the media centers.   Although many school systems are quick to shut down access to social networking sites, some schools are embracing them.  I think it is imperative to look toward incorporating social networking into schools in order to keep up with the ever changing world.  Below is a list of activities from webtools4u2ues. 

• set up a site on MySpace or Facebook for their school library media center for students and parents to access library media center resources and information
• see what topics students are discussing
• keep students focused on work
• share information about school library media services
• share information and ideas with other professionals
• request help from professional colleagues
• learn from professional colleagues
• share what they are reading with colleagues, parents and students
• host videos, photos and discussions with colleagues, teachers, and/or students
• learn about social networking
• keep in touch with friends, family and library media specialists in other schools and districts
• work on professional association committees
• teach students about social networks
• teach students about Internet safety
• teach parents about social networking and safety issues
• teach teachers about social networking and how they can use them
• provide a collaborative workspace for students' multimedia projects
• provide a collaborative workspace for teacher/lms work
• communicate with students
• provide a virtual meeting and sharing place for book clubs
• catalog books
• find new things for students to read based on what they like to read
• find new things for professional reading and personal reading
• collaborate with colleagues who have similar interests worldwide
• store related things together: videos, photos, articles, RSS feeds, etc. by curriculum area, teacher, or research topic

Many websites that were not traditionally used for schools are now finding new uses in schools.  To begin with, a website like Flickr used to share and post photos can be used in the classroom and media center to organize common themes by picture.  Other websites like Facebook, which allow for communication between various people, have spun Facebook like websites such as Edmodo.com.  Edmodo is specifically used in an educational setting.  What sets apart edmodo from Facebook is the security that is allowed by Edmodo.  One of the biggest concerns parents and educators have with social networking is security and protecting children.  Edmodo can only be accessed by students once they have been given a code by their teacher.  This way, not everyone has access to the students.   

It is no surprise that security is a main issues that administrators, teachers, and parents share.  Protecting students has often led to shutting down the use of social networking sites.  As we move forward and using social networking becomes a standard in the classroom, we must reeducate students on the correct usage of the Internet.