Study: Many Students Talk about Schoolwork on MySpace
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Debra Lau-Whelan -- School Library Journal, 08/15/2007
With all the negative media coverage about the dangers of social networking sites, you may want to consider this: students say that education is one of the most common topics of conversation online
That’s right, almost 60 percent of students who use social networking sites such as Friendster, Facebook, and even Webkins and Nick.com, which are geared toward younger kids, say they talk about educational topics. And surprisingly, more than 50 percent specifically talk about schoolwork, says a recent study by the National School Boards Association.
What exactly are they chatting about? Fifty-nine percent of online students say they talk about a range of educational topics, including college or college planning; learning outside of school; news; careers or jobs; politics; ideas; religion or morals; and schoolwork.
This new revelation may help convince school districts to rethink their strict policies of banning nearly all forms of social networking during the school day, says the study, “Creating and Connecting.”
“In light of the study findings, school districts may want to consider reexamining their policies and practices and explore ways in which they could use social networking for educational purposes,” the report says.
The report goes on to stress the important creative outlets these sites create for teens and tweens as they use words, music, photos, and videos to express themselves on these sites. “There is no doubt that these online teen hangouts are having a huge influence on how kids today are creatively thinking and behaving,” says Anne L. Bryant, executive director of the National School Boards Association. “The challenge for school boards and educators is that they have to keep pace with how students are using these tools in positive ways and consider how they might incorporate this technology into the school setting.”
Nancy Willard, of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use points out that “It is essential that we help young people gain balance in the use of these technologies and other important life activities—including getting together with friends in person, physical activities and athletics, arts and music, social service –oh, yes, and chores, school work, and sleep.”
The report is based on three surveys: an online survey of nearly 1,300 nine- to 17-year-olds, an online survey of more than 1,000 parents, and telephone interviews with 250 school districts leaders who make decisions on Internet policy. The study received support from Microsoft, News Corporation (which owns MySpace), and Verizon.For a full copy of the report, visit http://files.nsba.org/creatingandconnecting.pdf.
