Losing Control

 What would happen if some of that control was shifted, if trust was extended to students? 

Mike nantais 2016

Dr. Mike Nantais wrote an article summarizing his discoveries of the use of social media and how it affected a rural school. His goal was not to list the hows and whens of social media use, rather he aimed to discern the effects of social media on school culture and climate. His results determined that an altered level of connection and trust was established between students and teachers. He observed that when students were given more responsibility and autonomy for their learning; it augmented the accountability of student’s work, which in turn resulted in a more trusting and caring school environment. Dr. Nantais stated, that the “lesson here was that if we trust students, and involve them in decisions, most will return that trust”. That personifies a definite shift in traditional practice and control within the classroom walls.

Is loss of control the principal underlying issue over the use of social media in the classroom? Is it the shift in traditional teaching practice that creates alarm and anxiety when one combines the two words social media and classroom? I believe it is. Losing control is an intimidating and daunting concept when considering the classroom realm. But I do not consider it a loss of control, rather it is a transfer of control. As future educators, there has to be a point when we let go of some of that control and allow students to be accountable and responsible for learning.

This perceived notion of losing control with the use of social media connects to another contentious concept of teaching. That concept is inquiry based learning. There are countless studies that reinforce that authentic learning occurs when an inquiry based environment is established. But yet, teachers are reluctant to stray away from the traditional classroom environment. Is it because we do not want to create enduring understandings or authentic learning? Of course not. I believe it is the fear of losing control of students learning that these teaching practices encompass. Once again, as educators, we cannot view these teaching practices as a loss of control, rather it is a transfer of control where students gain autonomy and accountability.

Watch what occurs when both social media and inquiry based learning is combined

I am beginning to surmise that perhaps these very debatable practices of teaching are not only challenging and inspiring, but forces one to test the unknown and lose control.