What are the Benefits of Social Networking for Teachers?

Social networking is a powerful tool for teachers that can be used either for personal or professional means. On a personal front, social networking lets you mix with people from all over the world. It helps maintain relationships easily. Now, instead of having to call someone and force a conversation of a decent length, one can simply comment of others’ photographs and status messages or just drop them a message online. This aids communication, especially with friends and family who stay in another country or another continent even.

On the professional front, social networking acts as an informal resume. Potential clients and employers can ‘check you out’ on these networks and browse through your educational qualifications and experience. Some business networking websites lets you upload a portfolio to your profile and even get reviews from others on that network with whom you have previously worked.

Social networking is as important for teachers as it is for others. While, social media is a handy tool in the classroom, it can be as beneficial outside the classroom. There are a number of ways that one can take advantage of networking.

• Sharing ideas

Social networks allow teachers to share idea with each other. Comparing notes on classroom teaching techniques and learning styles can help you enhance the learning experience in your classroom. One can also share lesson plans and visual aid ideas.

• Partnership with other schools

Social networking allows teachers to connect with teachers in other school. These partnerships are useful as they keep you abreast of changes in curriculum and content in others states and maybe even other countries.

• Getting information

Teachers can also use social networking to connect with teachers and other persons from another country. This can help them get accurate information on other countries and not just use content from the internet that is often outdated. For example, you can now plan a virtual field trip, as discussed on our website earlier, with ease and accuracy. If you are planning a virtual trip to another country, you could get in touch with people from that country and understand their lifestyle, food habits and culture. You could also have them live via webcam during the virtual field trip and let them answer questions that the students may have.

• Professional development

Social networks help you know of seminar, conferences and other development workshops in your area or online.  Touching base with individuals from those entities would help them connect with you and keep you in the loop.

• The value of contacts

While this is often not talked about, contacts are key to professional development. The world today revolves on who you know. Establishing relationships with others in different school can help you enhance your career. Getting a job is generally a lot easier if someone knows you and recommends you. Social networking for teachers, or business networking as it is often called, can be used to build contacts with teachers from others school and help keep your options open.

There is so much that one can do online. Perhaps, the best way to get started would be to check out our facebook page.

Learn More… Take this course: Introduction to Technology for Teachers

Discuss Here: How has social networking for teachers enriched you as a professional?