Although I teach Internet Safety to my students and we discuss social networking, I’m not much interested in those types of networks for some reason. I don’t know why, because I’m blogging, Tweeting, and participating in a pretty wide Professional Learning Network. That in itself makes me feel a little “exposed” but not so much as life details on a MySpace would.

I was happy last semester that I finally got a parent to respond to me — via text message — about her child’s grade, but it surprised me she wouldn’t email. I probably don’t mind being reachable by text to adults. It might be better than a phone call sometimes. But I much prefer email to either because it gives me time to think about what I’m going to say and attempt to be clear. (Not sure I reach that goal…) Then I have a record of what I said.

All my students have my number, but only one has texted me. She is a deaf student, so talking F2F is difficult without an interpreter. She’s only 13 and is needing some guidance regarding how late is okay to text, etc. but she’s been very respectful. Sometimes she wants to chat, but I since I require the texts to be school-related or tech problem-solving issues, I just don’t respond. I’ve been trying to make tech easier and more accessible my since I’m the Computer Teacher at my school. Now I’m re-thinking whether I want to be that available.

The discussion about blurred lines is very helpful. I’m feeling like I can make better choices by thinking of electronic communications in that way. It’s tempting to get very active online to show the kids that we’re modern, approachable, and cool, but that’s sort of akin to wearing their clothes and speaking in their slang all the time — both creepy and unprofessional. Thanks for the post(s).

We have Voicethread presentations and discussion boards that are for our class only. We have wikis and blogs that we use to post our thoughts and give feedback to one another. In all of those forums, I’m active—-prodding thinking, modeling digital dialogue etc.

Informally, my students will often email me. Some even Skype me on occassion….and I definetly reply. But that’s the extent of it.

I don’t engage in informal conversations with my kids using social networking sites like Facebook or Myspace. Not only would my district frown on that, but I’d worry about blurring the lines between “teacher” and “friend.”

Does that make any sense?
Bill

however, i have to remind students that “just because facebook says you’re my friend doesn’t make it true” whenever they try to blur the lines of authority inside the classroom.

wanted to ask, is there a difference between public & private school teachers? if i taught at a public school there’s no way i’d friend any student on facebook. if something happened that could look inappropriate, i trust the admin at my private school to hear me out if anything online seems to look inappropriate. but i wouldn’t trust a bureaucracy to do me right.

So I’ll respond to the thread here.

I use facebook to keep in touch with students that have graduated. I don’t approve friend invitations for kids that still go to our school. I’m thinking Jose has the right idea, though about another account for school. I’m not opposed to interacting with kids online, just that my facebook account really was just me.

I will give up my teaching job before I will stop communicating with these awesome young adults. I agree people need to get over themselves.