Even if you are careful who you add as friend, you must think carefully about what you post on facebook
I, like many other teachers have a profile on Facebook. Eventually, I received several requests from students who wanted to be my friends. Because I want to protect my privacy to students as much as possible, I ignored these requests. I also thought that kids do not need to follow communication between adults.
As requests streamed in, I thought I would make a temporary attempt to be friends with my students on Facebook. I am a teacher in 6th grade. I'm not very active on Facebook, do not post photos or write any personal confessions there. I am of course aware that friends can see friends' photos and read comments. I decided however to do the test over a short period.
In addition to concerns for the publication of my own privacy to the students I experienced several negative consequences.
As requests streamed in, I thought I would make a temporary attempt to be friends with my students on Facebook. I am a teacher in 6th grade. I'm not very active on Facebook, do not post photos or write any personal confessions there. I am of course aware that friends can see friends' photos and read comments. I decided however to do the test over a short period.
In addition to concerns for the publication of my own privacy to the students I experienced several negative consequences.
* Due to lack of digital expertise and knowledge of written communication over social media, it was a lot of misunderstanding to clear up in. One student sent me for example a message in the inbox: "When will you accept me?". I first became quite desperate, because I thought she was my friend, and that she meant that I did not treat her fairly in the classroom. It turned out that she was not my friend, and had seen that I was friends with other students, and wondered why I had not replied to her request.
* Several times while I sat at home and was signed into Facebook, students came and wanted to chat with me. I was asked about school things, like homework, the social environment in class and more. I felt that my work hours were suddenly put out to cover my entire awaken existence.
* Several times while I sat at home and was signed into Facebook, students came and wanted to chat with me. I was asked about school things, like homework, the social environment in class and more. I felt that my work hours were suddenly put out to cover my entire awaken existence.
* I witnessed that my students were not nice to each other. They send nasty comments on each others' status updates and photos. As an educator, I was faced with a difficult choice. I was actually at their home arena, where I have really nothing to say about how they behave. At the same time, as an adult friend, I could not ignore this.
* I also felt that some students would be my friend to sneak into my private life. I discovered that a girl had deleted me as a friend. Her explanation was: "you had no pictures ..." Was that the real explanation, or did she think that I cared too much about her comments to other students?
* I also felt that some students would be my friend to sneak into my private life. I discovered that a girl had deleted me as a friend. Her explanation was: "you had no pictures ..." Was that the real explanation, or did she think that I cared too much about her comments to other students?
* I also found it discouraging to read students' negative comments about school and schoolwork.
* Facebook has the 13 years of age. This was also very difficult for me, when my students in the 6th grade suddenly had a 15 - year birthday! Could, or should I comment on this?
Was there any positive consequences?
I got of course to know my students in a different way than I have the opportunity at school. I could use information from Facebook to resolve conflicts between students - conflicts that arose because of the activity on Facebook, which they then brought with them to school.
These things were however too difficult for me to relate to. I also felt that I was teaching full time. Now I have deleted my students as Facebook friends, and am only their teacher during my working hours.
* Facebook has the 13 years of age. This was also very difficult for me, when my students in the 6th grade suddenly had a 15 - year birthday! Could, or should I comment on this?
Was there any positive consequences?
I got of course to know my students in a different way than I have the opportunity at school. I could use information from Facebook to resolve conflicts between students - conflicts that arose because of the activity on Facebook, which they then brought with them to school.
These things were however too difficult for me to relate to. I also felt that I was teaching full time. Now I have deleted my students as Facebook friends, and am only their teacher during my working hours.
