A few days ago, I heard about a new program being tested at Brockenhurst College in the UK that aims to give social media a more positive role in classrooms there, and across the globe. Developed by IBM, this private social media program not only allows students to contact teachers and view grades (like other popular applications Canvas and Blackboard), but also to build a stronger connection between the school and its pupils.
Before the school year even starts, teachers can prepare using something that IBM calls "predictive analysis." This tool gives the teachers data from their students' previous years so that they may have a better understanding of how each individual learns. And if a student appears to be struggling in a certain class, that teacher can reach out to his/her colleagues to corroborate using data and find a solution. Brockenhurst College Principal Di Roberts calls this "a development of what we already do," as the recorded statistics can provide an additional, potentially more solid analysis than solely the previously relied on human observation.
Another slightly more controversial side to this program gives the school the ability to monitor students' personal social media accounts (with consent). This would be used to find "keywords" (such as "I'm bored") in posts, tweets, statuses, etc. and use them to track students' stances on teachers and classes. Roberts states that "students do deserve to have their privacy" but does believe that this tool could enhance the learning environment at Brockenhurst.
Though it's still just in the trial stages, this program could massively improve the way schools are run around the world, especially as educators begin to integrate more and more technology into their curriculums. I feel that providing teachers with a more solid understanding of how students are functioning can improve the crucial teacher-student relationship and the students' overall engagement in the class. And despite the fact that I might not consent to personal social media tracking, I believe it is a good start to a very successful program. Although social media is often the biggest distraction of high school and college students everywhere, IBM is finding ways to use it to foster a more productive learning environment.
Abbey- I completely understand how websites, like this one, can enhance the learning process yet I fear the security of the site. Yes, students have to allow their teachers to view their social media pages but if those pages are linked to a teacher's account, there is a danger of hacking, therefore making the student's profile public. I think the information that this technology can provide can be very beneficial if used safely.
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