This article describes the use of social media for communication following the east Japan earthquake. In a social studies classroom this could prompt a number of discussions about the usefulness of social media in terms of news or communication during emergencies. After all, many students learn about news from social media rather than traditional news reports or newspapers. It could also prompt some interesting comparisons between communication in earlier times and in our own...and the impact instant news or communication has on society.

This articled details the efforts being made by New York's DOE to limit inappropriate online communication between teachers and students, while still allowing for constructive and appropriate use of social media in schools. It offers examples of teachers and students who had inappropriate interactions via social media such as facebook but also notes that students need to be taught to use such tools appropriately.

I really appreciated that this article acknowledged the efforts being made by educators and administrators to adapt the process of teaching in response to the communication revolution that technology has created. It is much more involved than simply giving students computers or iPads. And though the buildings and classrooms may look similar to how they have looked for 100 years, what is happening inside in terms of learning and multimedia communication is quite different!

This online discussion forum offers adults insight into the legal, social, and safety issues tied into specific social networking sites.

This article offers insight into the process of appropriately constructing class discussions online. It cautions that discussions should be based on critical thinking than on sharing facts or answers. The author notes that problems can result if a student posts incorrect information and then other students respond thinking that it is correct.

November 11, 2010 Making Online Discussion Boards Work for Skills-Based Courses By: Rob Kelly In this article, an accounting teacher described how he used online discussion boards for study groups in his course. I appreciated this suggestion...online "study groups" could be a great way to motivate students to study and also for faculty to monitor their studying. Teachers could step in to clarify information a group appears to be confused about based on their discussion strand.