Reviews
AML Event Review - Social Networking
April 25, 2008
Barry Duncan
Social Networking and Media Education
Attended by 45 teachers, the seminar was a splendid introduction to the topic of social networking. While the keynote speaker, cyber guru Jesse Hirsh had to cancel (his truck had broken down in North Carolina), AML executive member Neil Andersen took hold of the reins and, to no one’s surprise, did a superb job of moderating and catalyzing the audience.
At the outset, the message to all media teachers is: unless you want to be left behind your students, get on Facebook and get up to speed!
Yes there are cyber bullies and online predators and safety and privacy are of paramount importance but the social and creative possibilities of the various sites need to be trumpeted. The fearmongers should calm down.
Many of the sites serve as instruments for marketers and our students are often gullible customers as ‘smart cookies’ and ‘day after recall’ strategies can catch us in their net.
Media teacher Nina Silver shared her research and class assignments including brainstorming about the impact of Facebook: the good, the creative, but also the ugly.
AML executive Carol Arcus presented highlights of her media studies unit through the following;
- a comparison chart of Facebook and MySpace
- students responding to provocative quotes, e.g.,"Maintaining multiple personas online satisfies many goals for the digital individual." (from the work of the highly recommended danah boyd)
So peel off the layers, will the real ‘you’ please stand up!