Introduction
At some point during the first week of school I present a questionnaire to my new sixth grade students. I enjoy using this tool as a simple way for me to get to know their likes, dislikes and some other basic background information about who they are. I'll ask about their birthday, how many siblings they have, what their favorite and least favorite class is at school, whether they have access to a computer, etc. Questions that I recently added to the questionnaire are whether they have their own email (if so list) and if they use social media and what type. 90% of my students claimed they have an email address as well as a Facebook and/or Twitter account. My students informed me that the new form of social media is an application on your phone called Instagram. I asked my student Nick to show me his Instagram and Twitter account and to explain what the purpose was for these two forms of social media since I didn't quite comprehend that. According to Nick, Instagram is an application that will allow you to take a picture with your mobile device, photo-shop the picture to a certain extent then post for your followers to see. If the photo receives enough 'likes' or comments by other people, it gets featured on the main page. These photos can also be linked to your Facebook and Twitter account so that the people on those sites can see the photo as well. Nick said the purpose of Twitter was a way to share your thoughts/feelings with your followers any time you want. A red flag went off in my head about the possibility that this site can be an unsafe environment. I continue the conversation with Nick about the various social media sites:
"Well, what do you mean by followers?"
"Followers can be your friends, celebrities or bands, or other people that have cool blogs or just seem interesting. You are following them to see what they post; this can be thoughts they have, pictures, songs, videos."
"So there are people you follow or allow to follow your posts that you don't know?"
"Yeah…sometimes. Most of the people I follow though are my friends at school."
"What about your parents?"
Nick laughs, "My mom has no idea how to use Twitter or Instagram. I'm lucky if she can turn on the laptop."
This is a huge problem in regards to my students using social media. They do not realize that these statements or pictures posted are permanent; these postings may not have an immediate effect on their lives, but it can have an effect on their future. Later in the school year, we had an issue with a student bullying another through the means of Instagram later in the school year. The bully would post degrading photos of their target with the intention of causing harm and embarrassment since the bully was aware that anyone who was friends with either her or the victim could read as well as comment on what was posted. The bully went as far as to post the comment "I'll keep posting mean, horrible comments and pictures until you commit suicide." This comment was linked not only to the students Instagram, but Twitter and Facebook accounts. The school took action and the bully was suspended from school; the bully also lost her chance of remaining in at Conrad for next school year. She will also not be allowed to reapply for our high school program. Further, the bully may not now realize the staying power of her comments now. Since these photos and comments can be accessible through the Internet, she has already created a negative identify for herself that will allow for others such as high schools, colleges and other students to think negatively of her. Clearly, many students are not being conscious of the pictures or statements they are leaving behind for others to see.
Looking at this unfortunate incident, I want to teach my sixth grade students the power of indentify and reflection. I want them to reflect upon who they are as individuals and consider what image or character they want to leave behind. In this unit, students will be writing a memoir where they will reflect on an incident that has changed them. Next, the students will become biographers in writing a peer's biography and reflecting on how this person's incident can be reinforced as a positive lesson for future generations to learn. Finally, the subject of the biography will reflect and work with their peer to write a memoir discussing their identity and what they truly want to be remembered by in the years to come.
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