Here is my twitter tag: @ataylor9
Social networking sites are a means of keeping up with what is going on. They can be used for good and bad. The kids don't mind putting their whole life story for everyone to read. Some people put every little thing they do, "I sneezed in Chem class today", "I am going to the store" and being "tagged" or "poked" are just a few of the hazardous (silly) aspects to deal with.
As educators they can relay ethical information to students and parents such as reminders about homework or parent-teacher conferences, but should not be used as a one-on-one basis for privacy issues. They can keep the educator in contact with other educators and keep an open mode of communication.
As an administrative tool, they can be used to observe acts of cyber bullying or even in-school antics of upcoming pranks. I do not think that these should used between the teacher and student, but between teacher and parents.
I think in class as a learning tool, they could be useful, but you would have to have some pretty upstanding students that you know that you could trust with the privilege. Potential for positive school wide or extra-curricular activities could be a benefit to using them.
I never thought of using twitter or facebook as a homework reminder tool, I guess as long as the parents you followed didn't say everything they were doing it would be a great idea. Hmmm, I wonder if there is already a site where parents and teachers can social network concerning homework and school business? Maybe we could create one...
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