by Mckenna Beery
Currently, all Mira Costa students have free, uncontrolled access to social media web
sites which benefit the learning process therefore Costa should not block these sites due to their educational benefit and commonality in society.
As stated on the American Civil Liberties Union, under school Wi-fi, and on school grounds a school may prohibit all access to the Internet on any computer. It is legal for the school to ban Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and other social media networks if they believe that they are disruptive of learning. Considering Mira Costa Principle Ben Dale uses social media websites such as Twitter for educational purpose on a daily basis and is optimistic about its potential, the administration has no intention of blocking social media on the school’s student accessible wifi.
Many Costa students use these websites for educational purpose such as Junior Roman Bertozzi who uses Youtube to watch videos, such as Khan Academy and Bozman Science, for AP or other class related topics. Having the freedom to go online and watch supplemental videos, or share notes through social media is an efficient way for students to learn at a high level.
Social media and technology have a common place and integral part of many teenager’s lives and without access to these social media websites, many students would not be able to utilize the technological skills that they have developed over the years. Although there are students who do not use social media or technology during school, one can not ignore the place that technology now has in students lives. According to Science Daily the websites offer tremendous educational potential. Students have a positive attitude towards using technology systems, and are also practicing safe and responsible use of information and technology.
Some teachers, such as Edward Frigola use social media to post homework and assignments throughout the day. He has all of his students complete their work, assignments, tests, and quizzes on a website called moodlehub.com often during class. Without the social media websites and apps, these teachers would not be able to post necessary work and students in this case could not complete assignments.
If Costa potentially did not have access to social media networks under WIFI it would not stop students from getting online. Having these networks blocked may cause students to want to focus on them even more. Simply disconnecting from the school wifi, would allow students to still have access to social media. Blocking the free access to social media websites only attract attention to the situation, rather than just trying to control the over use of such websites by stronger enforcement and stricter technological guidelines in the classroom.
Although social media is a large cause of distraction for students, it gets the blame far too often. According to Dale, the devices are not the cause of the problem, but human nature is. It is either the student who is disrespectful or disinterested or it is a teacher who is not monitoring or forcing the situation. Given the privilege of using devices to advance education at Costa, students need to take it upon themselves to use their technology.
It is up to the individual to use what is provided to them appropriately. Teachers should be cautious, however, on whether the student is using their device incorrectly during class time. According to Mira Costa math teacher, Tim Kelly, if he sees someone on their phone when they are supposed to be copying down notes or listening to a lecture, he will confiscate it until the end of the period. According to Dale, by the time students are in high school they should be mature enough to know right from wrong when dealing with social media.
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