It's all about who you know?

I'm interested in the social capital element of social networking. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I attended a presentation this past summer about how we can use networks to connect underprivileged youth with learning opportunities outside of traditional classroom. I think it is a fact of life in our culture that a lawyer's kid has many more positive out-of-school learning opportunities than a kid who's parents can barely put food on the table. With many studies showing that out of school time is incredibly important*, we need to do something to connect students to opportunities. An example of such an opportunity would be the Summer Experiential Learning Programs through Summer Search, a non-profit organization.

Another element of social networking that I find interesting is how schools react to online social networking sites. Most schools (in fact all that I know of) use filters to prevent students from accessing myspace and facebook. The reality is that kids do end up accessing them in cities at least (via neighbor's wireless connections), and schools are sending the message to kids that social networking sites are "bad." Are they bad for kids? No, probably not. The only hesitation that I have about allowing students to access facebook in school is that if teachers start to use facebook for course information or communication with students about academics, then kids might not use it in the same way for socializing with their friends. An ah-ha moment I had earlier this semester at my student teaching placement (an all girls school) occurred when a parent said that the way that the girls talk to boys is through IM and facebook. These forms of communication have become really important for developing their social identity. So, if teachers start to use facebook for academic-related communications, won't that impact how students use it for socializing?


* The After School Corporation presents some evidence on their site for why after school programs are important: http://www.tascorp.org/section/aboutus/important