Social Media for First Term Students & Adjunct Instructors
Hi All!
While I understand the need to utilize social media, as it is prevalent in our society, with first term students there is so much on their plate. Not only are they learning a new LMS (and sometimes how to use a computer), but learning to create a time management system, getting the balance of work, home and school as well as the numerous resources the schools provide these days - I think adding social media may be overwhelming.
I also believe that as an adjunct, it is very hard to dedicate that much additional time to keep personal and work separate [on social media] when you are teaching one or two classes for two or three schools.
In theory it sounds great, but I am not sure it would work in practice for someone in my situation.
What do you all think about first term students using social media, as well as adjuncts who work for more than one school? I look forward to your thoughts.
Thanks!
Karen,
You have to decide what works for your students. It may not be a good fit. You want students understand the purpose of it; social media should not be busy work; it should have a purpose. For the first course online, it may be overwhelming. I did hear today of an online course that half the students dropped the course because of all the "stuff" they had to do online.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Again, not all of us are able to add elements and include them in graded aspects. I used to add pieces in to enhance the learning aspect, but found it gave me additional work that very few, if any, students ever took advantage of. I have since learned to color in the lines and use the resources offered by the school to help the students become self reliant so they are always able to find help when needed, whether via department contacts, videos, or library.
Karen,
Thanks for sharing. This is a good mentality to do. It is difficult when the course you teach isn't one you can add to. I know from experience, students don't often do work that is suggested.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
True, especially when it is not graded! :-(
That does happen alot if students do not have a good experience with online courses the first time. They can be overwhelming for a new student or someone that is not particularly computer savvy.
Donna ,
Tre, we have to make sure we incorporate this in a course not add on to an already busy course. Students may also see it as busy work and not take it seriously.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Karen,
You bring up some interesting points. I can see why it would be hard when you teach more than one course. I know that for me, I teach at a few different schools and it would be hard to keep them separate. I would love to incorporate social media more, but I think you would have to be very organized to keep it separate for the different schools and classes. I know it would be hard to do, but it is not unattainable.
Kara
Kara,
I admire you guys for doing what you love (teaching) at different schools. I hope you know how appreciated you are as you wouldn't be going through his professional development without your dedication. It would take strong organization if you have to have different sites for different courses or content. That would be the challenge.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hi Karen! I see your point and completely agree that first term students really have a full (actually, overflowing) plate as they get started and are trying to adjust to everything new. Beyond the classroom, I can see how using social media would be a way to connect the first term students to share and support one another through their experiences. However, it seems a general discussion board could do the same thing. I have worked at schools who had an "internal" social media system, kind of like Facebook, so various departments could set up pages and create a space for students to interact about class or other things and connect with one another (building community).
Stephanie
Stephanie:
You make a great point. It isn't for everyone and as all good educators we use a variety of tools to fit our students. My hope is that social media becomes a tool of learning for the learning tool box.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
