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3 Tips for High School Teachers to Use Social Media Responsibly In Class

By U.S. News & World Report

Social media is popular among teens, but not among their teachers.

Eighty-seven percent of K-12 teachers have not integrated social media into classroom learning, according to a new survey from the University of Phoenix College of Education.

North Carolina educator Ike Smith says high school teachers may be grappling with how to take social media, which is relatively new, and integrate it into their existing practice.

“In high school, another layer to that anxiety can be that my students are also on the social media platform that I may want to use,” says Smith, a former high school teacher, who is now director of instructional support services for Watauga County Schools. Teachers may not know if or how to interact with their students professionally online, he says.

Many teachers are worried about conflicts that could arise from using social media with their students and students’ parents, according to the new survey. And some feel intimidated by students’ knowledge and use of technology devices.

But Smith thinks high school teachers should move past their fear and embrace social media because there is a lot they can do with it.

[Find out how to engage high schoolers with apps they love.]

Educators on Twitter shared with U.S. News their ideas for using social media in the high school classroom.

@alipannoni @USNewsEducation I use it to get info to my kids when we are not in class or send reminders. Debate coach & teacher

— Jamie (@thanksjamie) September 10, 2015

@alipannoni @USNewsEducation I use social media to promote the great things happening in my classroom so parents and teachers can see #edu

— Steve Sweigart,Ed.D (@Steve_Sweigart) September 10, 2015

Remind students of assignments, share positive things happening in class. I use it to “quiz” students on grammar. https://t.co/YrO0mqQ0rv

— Stacy Allison (@MrsAllisonLSHS) September 10, 2015

@alipannoni Classroom specific hashtags like#RoomE102 are a great way to share and archive the cool stuff that happens during the school day

— Eric Magette (@mistermagette) September 10, 2015

But when high school teachers are using social media for other educational purposes, they need to do so responsibly. Teachers can use the tips below as a guide.

1. Be wary about using the same social media accounts for personal and professional use: “Teachers may be enthusiastic about using social media in class,” says Smith. But if teachers use an existing personal account to start doing that, they run the risk of parents or students seeing content that isn’t professional, he says.

Teachers need to know how to skillfully draw that line and maintain a professional posture in the digital space, he says. That can be tricky since teachers do want to show a bit of their personal side to build strong relationships with their students, but students don’t need to be aware of every aspect of their teachers’ lives.

“I think if you are new to using social media in teaching, the easiest way to walk that line is to have two separate accounts and just have a clean divide,” he says.

He has never accepted friend requests from current students for his personal Facebook account. He has used Twitter and Instagram for professional purposes, but he never follows students on either platform.

Educators on Twitter shared their thoughts below.

@alipannoni they should tweet pics and text that are positive and promote student and teacher growth and learning Re-read posts before pstng

— Steve Sweigart,Ed.D (@Steve_Sweigart) September 11, 2015

Do use it to praise students, especially those who don’t always receive recognition for academics. https://t.co/2DHHmUuBqM

— Stacy Allison (@MrsAllisonLSHS) September 11, 2015

Don’t use it to discuss individual grades or to get in a confrontation with students (or anyone). https://t.co/2DHHmUuBqM

— Stacy Allison (@MrsAllisonLSHS) September 11, 2015

@alipannoni @USNewsEducation Never retweet some things in their timeline and always encourage them to be responsible!

— Senior Class (@joboclassof16) September 11, 2015

2. Be transparent with parents about how social media will be used: Smith’s found some parents get on board with social media right away, but others may have heard horror stories about what happens when students interact online and may be a little hesitant at first.

However, once they see why and how teachers are using it, they get on board. Smith taught Hamlet to his high school English class a couple of years ago, and had students adapt portions of the play for any medium they chose. One group chose short video social platform Vine — teachers could show parents a project like this.

[Ask these four questions when vetting new tech tools.]

Teachers could also show parents the class Twitter account during parent-teacher conferences, he says. Or teachers could have a night for parents to get the lowdown on Twitter, help parents set up their own accounts and show them how to follow the class feed.

An educator on Twitter agrees.

.@alipannoni Obviously an understanding of school/distinct policy is important, but so is communication…

— Eric Magette (@mistermagette) September 11, 2015

.@alipannoni …i.e. letting parents, students, admins know WHAT you are using SM account for, and being open to feedback

— Eric Magette (@mistermagette) September 11, 2015

3. Get proper permission from administrators and parents: Teachers should research any existing policies to ensure they follow proper procedure, says Smith.

If students are going to be required to use social media for class, teachers need to get permission from parents, he says.

Educators on Twitter shared their thoughts as well.

.@alipannoni Important to be deliberate and #StartWithWhy. Social media should fit with T’s philosophy and not be a for-the-sake-of-it thing

— Eric Magette (@mistermagette) September 11, 2015

@alipannoni From my POV, district must provide policies, procedures and training to teachers – this framework manages the inherent risks.

— Kristin Magette (@kmagette) September 11, 2015

Then, teachers should talk to their building administrator, Smith says.

“When you start that conversation, go into it prepared,” he says. Smith suggests teachers can go to administrators with a five-point plan or bulleted list and say precisely what social media will be used for, whether to communicate with parents or a project, for example.

“That’s something that an administrator I think would have trouble saying no to,” he says.

Have something of interest to share? Send your news to us at highschoolnotes@usnews.com.

More from U.S. News

High School Educators Share How They Became Twitter Rock Stars

Check Out That Selfie: How to Use Social Media in the Classroom

Talk to Teens About Being Responsible on Social Media

3 Tips for High School Teachers to Use Social Media Responsibly In Class originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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