Teachers and Online

Social Networking
Chapter 7: Ethical and Legal issues
What is social networking?
★ the use of an online service or site through which people create and
maintain interpersonal relationships
★ a network of individuals (such as friends, acquaintances, and coworkers)
connected by interpersonal relationships
Ethical Behavior:
★ An ethical behavior is the application of moral
principles in a given situation. It means to behave
according to the moral standards set by the
society which we live in.

★ Schools advise teachers not to “friend” students

★ Teachers should have educational relationships
with students, not social relationships
★ Interactions with students should be professional
 In order to avoid problems with
social networking:
Social Networking ➔ Become familiar with your

DO’s: school’s guidelines

➔ Keep your profile pictures
clean
➔ Put profiles on private
➔ Separate professional from
personal life
➔ Establish a clean social
media identity
 In order to use social networking

Social Networking to your advantage:

DO NOTs:
➔ Do not post during school
hours
➔ Do not offend others
➔ Do not act impulsively
➔ Do not speak bad about your
school/students online
➔ Do not post photos of your
students on your social
media
Social Networking Gone Wrong?

★ In 2010, a math and science supervisor called her students “germ

bags” on a public Facebook post. In the same post she also described
the parents as being “arrogant” and “snotty.”

Her post was unethical, The teacher offended The teacher was
because it did not follow her students and fired.
school guidelines. their parents.
Group Work:
Define “social networking” in your own words.

Analyze an example of teachers using or misusing social networking.

1. How was the teacher’s action ethical or unethical?
2. How were the students affected?
3. What are the consequences of their actions?
Exit Slip:
1. Online social networking is the use of an online service or site through
which people create and maintain interpersonal relationships. T/F
2. Teachers should maintain ethical and professional relationships with
their students. T/F
3. Teachers should not “friend” students on social media platforms. T/F
4. Teachers are highly encouraged to post photos of their students on
their personal social media profiles. T/F
5. Does my social media page display good ethics? Are all my posts
appropriate? non-offensive? Short Answer