Teachers, the social web and professional responsibility (part 2)

I blogged about this subject last November suggesting that Headteachers might do worse than talk to their staff about Facebook/MySpace profiles. The post obviously got lost in the blogosphere as no-one seemed to read it. I note today that the Washington Post ran an article on Monday in which it talks about teachers being removed from post due to inappropriate material on their Facebook/MySpace profiles. I'm not at all involved in teacher training, but I wonder how many colleges are talking to students about their online presence and what appears on their social networks? And most importantly, what happens if a student contacts them online? Can anyone enlighten me?

As a result of Danny Nicholson's follow up post on this subject, I just had to share the video he posted on his blog. Watch it at home as it's bound to be filtered at school - well worth it. Bet you think about your Facebook profile afterwards!

Comments

[danny]

My PGCE students set up a Facebook group to keep in touch and to blow off steam. I had to remind them to make it private since anyone could have read it.

I haven't warned them about facebook profiles as such, but in light of the Washington Post article it is probably worth mentioning to them in my last session with them in June before they finish the course.