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Why Banning Access is Not the Answer to Safe Social Networking in Schools
A recent report from state and national educational organizations recommends against social media blocking in K-12 schools as a way to deal with the challenging issue of safe social networking safety for students. The report, entitled "Making Progress: Rethinking State and School District Policies Concerning Mobile Technologies and Social Media", includes statistics showing the widespread use of social media among K-12 students and explains why social networking safety cannot be assured simply by blocking all access to social media. In fact, the report gave several reasons why educators should embrace safe social networking. A summary of their conclusions:
- Allowing social media, while assuring social networking safety helps students bridge the gap between formal classroom learning and informal learning outside the school, which can help them be better prepared for real-world experiences.
- Providing social networking safety rather than simply social media blocking applications will help students achieve academically and acquire the skills they need for the 21st century.
- Social media tools help students connect with each other and their teachers, and access an almost limitless supply of resources that can enrich learning while students develop social networking safety skills
- Social media provides real-time feedback, and allows students to exchange information and receive assessments during classroom instruction through text messages or Twitter
- Students can document and record their work with images taken on and off campus
- They can receive and submit homework assignments digitally, and learn how to use mobile devices and safe social networking tools to pursue lifelong learning
There is a strong distinction between social networking safety and social medial blocking. EdgeWave provides an effective approach to managing social media to maintain its resourcefulness while eliminating the dangers.
Contact EdgeWave today at 800.782.3762 for additional information about our social networking solutions, or learn more about: iPrism Corporate Internet Monitoring solutions.
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