boundaries
Who should ultimately be responsible for what's appropriate in media sharing, instructors or administration?
Akilah,
Great question. I would hope as the instructor I would determine that but it would depend on the venue of the media sharing. The institution could determine that. This is something to really think about.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The instructor will be responsible for using social media within the guidelines that the institution has established. If those guidelines are not clear or do not address specific questions the instructor may have, clarification should be sought. This can be accomplished through demonstrating what course outcomes are complemented or enhanced with the use of social media, how it will be used, and a list (maybe such as the one in this course) of student guidelines in its use. Use of social media may be an option for students rather than a requirement, as are chats and additional discussion board forums I add in the classroom where I currently teach. Links to specific media presentations might also be used.
George,
Good post. You could provide a "real life" example of a good blog done by an expert in the field.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I would think that instructors would want to be responsible for what is appropriate in media sharing as pertains to the material which is being taught and how that is communicated. Administration may also play a role as relates to general rules and guidelines.
mary,
You are right. I find that many institutions will limit what can be used and distributed in that fashion. You do have to make sure that you are following policy. There clearly should be expectations set and enforced as well as boundaries established to make this type of media work in the learning environment.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The professor is ultimately responsible for ensuring appropriate usage of the online tool. But I also tell my students they are responsible for the energy they bring into the online environment. For instance, you may come across as harsh if you use all CAPS or begin your posts with something you liked about another person's post prior to giving them constructive criticism.
Instructors need to be consistently aware of what they are allowing in the classroom. Creating a set of boundaries is essential for students to understand the differences between general media sharing and appropriate, content related material.
Chastity,
Great post. I think you make a great point in they do bring the energy and the personality to a course.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Morissa,
Great point. Yes, the instructor needs to be aware of content and resources. Students need to be taught how to discern the different types of media.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I'm sure for many institutions it's a blend between the administrations policies and then the instructor's comfort and engagement level. Start with the administration policy, expand as necessary or allowed within the instructors comfort. But in some institutions, there may be set social media outlets and sites for the entire school and each instructor may not create a separate site. For instance, a college Facebook page that all content is driven towards instead of individual class Facebook page. For schools with multiple locations, it's probably best to have location specific sites as the demographics, programs offered and surrounding geographic influences differ.
Linda,
You make a great point as I don't think so much about institutional boundaries but some schools may have that type of policy. Even if they didn't the instructor has to feed comfortable about the role of social media in the learning process. It needs to be a good fit for the content, audience, delivery. . .
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
In my classes, each student creates their individual blog. Through guided discussion, each student creates a journal of activities throughout the term.
Michael,
What a great idea . How do you grade it?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Everyone should be responsible. Administration should provide clear behavioral guidelines for faculty and students. Faculty should inform students and hold them accountable. Boundaries should be flexible and adaptive while reinforcing ethical standards.
George,
Great post! You make the point of faculty not just creating policy and informing students but also holding students accountable. It amazes me when faculty complain about student behavior when they don't hold students accountable.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
It is the responsibility of the instructor to follow the learning outcomes of the curriculum. This is the class outline for the instructor to follow.
Geri,
You are right, but if you are using social media as a way to assess outcomes you may need to create boundaries of the use of the tool.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Currently, grading is subjective including peer review. I hope to be working on a more objective rubric after I see how the peer revies turn out.
Michael,
I think that is a great goal. It will help you and your students know expectations.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
