So, summer is just about over. Many hours have been spent getting my classroom together. Last night I met several of my students and their families at Open House and I'm gearing up for a new year. In fact, I'm looking quite forward to the 2010-2011 school year.
Tuesday morning, before I leave for my first day of school with students, I'll post a status update wishing all of my Facebook friends, who are beginning high school and college, well. Yes, you read that correctly, I have accepted "friend requests" on Facebook from former students. I NEVER ask to be "a friend", but if a FORMER student does request my friendship on Facebook, I accept it.
There is a big debate out there as to whether or not this is appropriate behavior. I recently read an article, (Should students 'friend' teachers online?) published in the August 10, 2010 issue of the Chicago Tribune, regarding this very issue. It raises some very interesting questions and does a fine job of establishing both sides of the argument. As a fan of technology, including all the hardware, software, and Web 2.0 tools, I support the "friending" of students, because ultimately I'm looking to extend the school day past the final bell. If I can accomplish that goal by embracing technology/social networking, I'm going to do just that.
I hate to sound like a broken record, but I'm entrusted to teach 100+ students each day for 180+ days - I'd like to think I can make good decisions when it comes to using these new tools in a safe, appropriate, and instructional way.
I leave you with this final thought - a teacher could close the door to his/her classroom everyday of the school year, and I, you, we the public, would have no idea what was going on in there, and most likely we wouldn't question it, either. However, today we live in a day and age where our teaching and learning can be transparent, we finally have a window into the classrooms.
Where do you want your son/daughter to be - a closed classroom door each day, or a room with a view?
