PLNs & Education

What is the role of social media in education?

Social media can help teachers and students stay connected during periods of online learning or if a student is unable to come to school. It can also help teachers and students stay connected to the world around them and ensure that they are staying up to date with current issues and world events. This is so important for students if we want them to develop global citizenship. They need to learn how the world works, how to value differences in people, and work together to find solutions to big problems (UNESCO, 2026).

What are some problems with social media communications in education settings?

Social media includes many tools that can be useful for education, but it also comes with risks for students. The first issue that comes to mind for me is privacy for students online. Social media platforms may be helpful for teaching, but when they require students’ personal information, they become unsafe.

In the video below, Harry Dyer discusses how, with the increase in use of social media, there has also been less of a clear divide between the offline world and the online world (TEDx Talks, 6:46, 2016). While I agree that the online world brings in new ways of communicating, which can be beneficial for students, I also worry that students will gain less interest in their local environment and the physical things that exist in their classrooms and at home.

Another concern with social media communication and schools is that, along with newfound access to global perspectives, comes the possibility of cyberbullying and online harassment. Students can easily communicate with people they don’t know who are capable of causing mental, emotional, and physical harm (UNICEF, 2026). To ensure that students are using social media safely, educators should introduce conversations around how to use it and what to avoid.

What is the role of a PLN in a professional capacity?

In education, collaboration is a useful tool to ensure that you are providing current, effective, and engaging lessons for your students. Having a PLN in a professional capacity allows you to make new connections with fellow educators and peers, as well as gain new insights from non-educators. In his course EC&I 831, Alec Couros describes how he embedded the Open Movement: He explains that the open movement prioritizes sharing, transparency, accessibility, and interoperability (Couros, p.111, 2010). As educators, we can build an effective network that allows for collaboration through openness with our peers by prioritizing the same values as the Open Movement and developing a willingness to help colleagues.

Which social media platforms are beneficial in education?

A digital platform that I used during my elementary and high school education is the Google Suite. My classmates and I each had our own Google email linked to our school district, which allowed us to have access to Docs, Slides, Sheets, Classroom, and more. I really liked the Google Classroom system because it allowed students and teachers to communicate on one platform, all while creating projects in a consistent format. Microsoft Teams can also be useful for the same reasons: it allows you to communicate with everyone in your team, and you are able to conveniently share files and assignments.

When working with the vulnerable sector, how does social media fit into professionalism and regulations?

As a prospective teacher in BC, I have spent lots of time getting to know the Professional Standards for BC Educators, a document created by the BC Teachers’ Council that outlines the standards that all educators are held to to ensure the success and safety of students. As mentioned in the document (embedded below), educators must always act in the best interest of their students. It acknowledges that Educators are put in a position of trust and authority, adding that they must respect student privacy and that they cannot abuse or exploit students (BC Teachers’ Council, 2019). When using social media, teachers must keep in mind student privacy. It is not safe to post any personal information about a student or any pictures where they may be identifiable.

In addition, Standard 2 explains that educators must “act ethically and uphold the integrity, credibility, and reputation of the profession” (BC Teachers’ Council, p.4, 2019). Educators are held to a higher standard, meaning that they must act ethically on and off duty. On social media, this means understanding that anything you choose to put online can reflect on you as a teacher and on the profession.

— Sofia

BC Teachers’ Council. (2019). Professional standards for BC educators. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/kindergarten-to-grade-12/teach/teacher-regulation/standards-for-educators/edu_standards.pdf

Couros, A. (2010). Developing personal learning networks for open and social learning. In G. Veletsianos (Ed.), Emerging Technologies in Distance Education (pp. 109–128). AU Press. https://www.aupress.ca/app/uploads/120177_99Z_Veletsianos_2010-Emerging_Technologies_in_Distance_Education.pdf

TEDx Talks. (2016). Incorporating & accounting for Social Media in Education | Harry Dyer | TEDxNorwichED. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZteEZbAtsNI

UNESCO. (2026). What you need to know about global citizenship education. Global Citizenship and Peace Education. https://www.unesco.org/en/global-citizenship-peace-education/need-know

Unicef. (2026). Cyberbullying: What is it and how to stop it. UNICEF, for Every Child. https://www.unicef.org/stories/how-to-stop-cyberbullying