MySpace, Facebook Promote Literacy
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By Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 6/25/2008 2:00:00 PM
There’s a lot more to MySpace and Facebook than meets the eye: teachers and librarians can use these and other social networking sites to boost students’ technology, literacy, and communication skills, says a new report.
“Young People and Social Networking Services”by the U.K.-based Internet safety organization Childnet International says there are potential “formal and informal” educational benefits for kids who use social networking services.
For one, “Using [these] sites to communicate, collaborate, and create means learners use and can develop a wide range of literacy skills,” the report suggests. Students, for example, learn about copyright issues and what kinds of permissions service providers require, important digital literacy skills that can help develop creative, social, or entrepreneurial skills.
And although some schools and libraries already ban social networking sites, they can actually promote e-safety. “Staying safe, keeping personal information safe, protecting yourself and your belongings, making sure that we don’t participate in bullying or other antisocial behavior, and helping out other people who might be affected by these issues, is a key part of digital citizenship,” the report goes on to say.
A growing number of educators are also starting to recognize the benefits of other Web 2.0 tools, where users can include video and photo-management sites. “Educators and other professionals are increasingly using social networking services to form communities and connect to others who share their interests,” the report adds. “In addition to providing a whole community with useful information about a school, college, organization or event, a profile on a social network sends a clear message to learners that you are aware of the types of spaces they enjoy online.”
Social networking sites are also used to organize activities, events, or groups to showcase issues and opinions in order to make a wider audience aware of them. These sites can also hone debating and discussion skills in a local, national, or international context, the report says.
Sites like Bebo and Xanga also support creativity because users can showcase content such as writing, film, or photography—and they learn about copyright and licensing issues as they make informed decisions about how and what they can place on the site.
Collaboration, discovery, and becoming a team player are all encouraged because these sites promote working, thinking, and acting together. They also help young people develop their interests and find other people who share the same interests; introduce new things and ideas, and help broaden users’ horizons by helping them discover how other people live and think in all parts of the world.
“Online spaces are social spaces, and social networking services offer similar opportunities to those of offline social spaces: places for young people to be with friends or to explore alone, building independence and developing the skills they need to recognize and manage risk, to learn to judge and evaluate situations, and to deal effectively with a world that can sometimes be dangerous or hostile,” the report says.
And when it comes to gaining real-world experience, social networking sites fit the bill. “Being able to quickly adapt to new technologies, services, and environments is already regarded as a highly valuable skill by employers, and can facilitate both formal and informal learning,” the report says.
