How Social Networks Fit Into My Workflow

I enjoy social networking sites, especially Facebook. Such sites allow me to keep current with the varied lives of my friends, family members, and acquaintances while allowing them to take a peek into my own life as well. Although I have been utilizing social networking sites since MySpace was popular, this is the first time I have consciously analyzed how social networking can fit into my workflow, as it applies to my personal life, professional life, and the lives of my students.

Social networking sites are well suited for personal interactions. Participating in an online network extends my sense of community, both with people who live in my neighborhood and also friends and relatives, regardless of distance. The effortless ability to connect with people makes my world feel smaller. I also enjoy being able to coordinate social events at my convenience, knowing that others are able to respond at a time that is convenient for them as well.

Professionally, social networking has many possibilities for me. I currently use Facebook to keep up-to-date on the projects that many of my peers are undertaking. I have also been able to keep connected with news stories, special events, and new ideas. My main issue with social networking is the difficulty to make a distinction between professional and private realms. My sister in Arizona, who carries her smartphone with her at all times, posted a joke on my Facebook wall last week – but is this appropriate for my work colleagues to view?

As reliance on social networking increases, I also need to look carefully at ways students create similar public and private distinctions in their online choices. Just as with any learning tool, children need to clearly understand responsible etiquette and be able to conduct themselves appropriately. Of course, attentive supervision and safety features must be in place in order for everyone to be successful.

Over the past few years, I have become more comfortable participating in social networking sites. Although my posting style will never be of the “Here's a picture of what I'm eating for supper” type, I am able to post a few items a week with confidence. I will continue to be mindful of the need to separate my professional and private realms, but I am excited to explore the possibilities of this amazing networking tool.