Pilot program teaches students social media etiquette, safety
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MOUNT VERNON, Wash. -- Sixth graders in Mount Vernon are learning more than their ABCs.
They are learning how to conduct themselves properly on social media while learning reading skills.
And Facebook is not a part of the program.
In the corner of Lea Legare's sixth-grade class at Little Mountain Elementary School, students are busily typing away messages to each other on a social media platform called Edmodo.
"It's a closed and secure environment. The kids have anonymous names, so they don't know who they are. No one can come into a group unless I invite them in, so they know it's just our class they are talking with," said Legare.
The students use Edmodo to answer questions that could be asked in front of class, but some kids are shy about giving answers in public.
"It makes us come out of our shell a little better," said student Ian Baisch. "It's easier to explain your feelings."
The class is engaged in a digital discussion in a social media context.
"I get to pretend that I'm on Facebook," said student Josh France. "It's kind of fun because my parents don't let me have one."
"They are learning about digital citizenship, online safety, making sure we are really cautious about what they are saying online," said Legare.
And no abbreviations are allowed.
"You can't do like text message or anything; you have to write full and compete sentence," said student Lucas Rodriguez.
The teacher, just like the students, can have a pseudonym, too, so she can sit down and be herself of act like a student to see what they are really talking about. And if students don't stay on topic, they can have their posting privileges taken away.
Parents go can also go online and see everything their child is posting.
"Everybody is anonymous, so you can always tell ... what you think," said student Emma Gates.
"It's easier because you don't have to be shy," said Josh France.
Edmodo is being used on a limited basis as part of a pilot program in the Mount Vernon School District. Other districts in the area are also exploring the platform.
They are learning how to conduct themselves properly on social media while learning reading skills.
And Facebook is not a part of the program.
In the corner of Lea Legare's sixth-grade class at Little Mountain Elementary School, students are busily typing away messages to each other on a social media platform called Edmodo.
"It's a closed and secure environment. The kids have anonymous names, so they don't know who they are. No one can come into a group unless I invite them in, so they know it's just our class they are talking with," said Legare.
The students use Edmodo to answer questions that could be asked in front of class, but some kids are shy about giving answers in public.
"It makes us come out of our shell a little better," said student Ian Baisch. "It's easier to explain your feelings."
The class is engaged in a digital discussion in a social media context.
"I get to pretend that I'm on Facebook," said student Josh France. "It's kind of fun because my parents don't let me have one."
"They are learning about digital citizenship, online safety, making sure we are really cautious about what they are saying online," said Legare.
And no abbreviations are allowed.
"You can't do like text message or anything; you have to write full and compete sentence," said student Lucas Rodriguez.
The teacher, just like the students, can have a pseudonym, too, so she can sit down and be herself of act like a student to see what they are really talking about. And if students don't stay on topic, they can have their posting privileges taken away.
Parents go can also go online and see everything their child is posting.
"Everybody is anonymous, so you can always tell ... what you think," said student Emma Gates.
"It's easier because you don't have to be shy," said Josh France.
Edmodo is being used on a limited basis as part of a pilot program in the Mount Vernon School District. Other districts in the area are also exploring the platform.
I think alot of parents would probably benefit from this more than the kids! At first, I was thinking that this is a hokey idea, but the more I thought about it, I actually can see the benefit in this. Just about everyone is linked technically these days. I was at the doctor's office the other day and all but one person was on their phone either texting, facebooking, etc. Its a way of life now -- good or bad. I think it would be beneficial to actually do some real life scenarios that kids might encounter -- i.e. spammers, scammers, people hitting them up for personal info, etc. and give them the tools to recognize it, report it and not fall victim to it.
it is anonymous, but "Parents go can also go online and see everything their child is posting."
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I can see the benifit, in the use of written english.. (in this case typed) since they cannot use abbreviations like "whr r u?"
however, this could also be accomplished in the classroom by simply doing some writing... Oh, what a concept.. writing stuff on paper..
then there are the benifits for those shy individuals who dont want to be publicly addressed.. yet at the same time, what is school for.. learning to be part of society? Can't do that from inside your home very easily..
How about old fashioned manners taught at home. Please. Thank you. May I?  And the most important - respect! Treat all as you want to be treated!
Thou Shall Not Troll
Holy crap this is the stupidest thing I've ever heard about. Do parents teach their kids anything these days? Etiquette is the same across all forms of communication, from face to face to public gatherings to keyboard and internet.
"And no abbreviations are allowed."
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That, by itself, is great. Too many simpletons are under the impression that internet shorthand is a valid substitute for legible text.Â
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And anonymous is the best way to have a presence on the web. The last bastion of unfiltered discussion is through anonymity.Â