You've probably heard the saying that before passing judgement, you should try to understand what it is like to walk in someone else's shoes. This is an important concept when helping students learn empathy. Interestingly, social media platforms such as Facebook can give you insight into what life is like in someone else's shoes. At least the version of their shoes they choose to wear in public.
And that's not a bad thing.
Social media provides individuals with the opportunity to get an insight into the best foot that all types of people have put forward. That can help us get to know and understand others that we might not have an opportunity to know and understand so well.
What if we helped our students understand that social media helps others understand us and we have a responsibility to represent what we think we stand for...
The rich and poor. The young and old. The single and coupled. The white, black, brown. The plain and beautiful. The introvert and extrovert. The athlete and fashionista.
Whatever it is, we all are something and stand for many things. We all know that it is likely others are looking at our timeline and getting a sense of what it is like to stand in our shoes. Maybe they are in our shoes and are just happy as heck to know there are others out there like them!
Knowing this means realizing you have a responsibility. Someone who is not familiar with those like you can gain a deeper understanding.
What do you want them to understand about the type of you, you are? What do you want them to see? How can you inspire? Get laughs? Bring joy?
When we think about social media we must think about the power we have to influence how others see the we, we are.
What is your profile saying about you? Who do you want the world to see?
How are you conveying that story? How are you helping your students convey their story?
You've probably heard the saying that before passing judgement, you should try to understand what it is like to walk in someone else's shoes. This is an important concept when helping students learn empathy. Interestingly, social media platforms such as Facebook can give you insight into what life is like in the shoes someone else chooses to wear in public.
Social media provides individuals with the opportunity to get an insight into the best foot that all types of people have put forward. That can help us get to know and understand others that we might not have an opportunity to know and understand so well.
What if we helped our students understand that social media helps others understand us and we have a responsibility to represent what we think we stand for...
The rich. The young. The coupled. The black. The disabled. The gifted. The poor. The white. The beautiful. The gay. The single. The shy. The athlete. The native. The fashionista. The animal lover.
Whatever it is, we all are something and stand for many things. We all know that it is likely others are looking at our timeline and getting a sense of what it is like to stand in our shoes. Maybe they are in our shoes and are just happy as heck to know there are others out there like them!
Knowing this means realizing you have a responsibility. Someone who is not familiar with those like you can gain a deeper understanding.
What do you want them to understand about the type of you, you are? What do you want them to see? How can you inspire? Get laughs? Bring joy?
When we think about social media we must think about the power we have to influence how others see the we, we are.
What is your profile saying about you? Who do you want the world to see?
How are you conveying that story? How are you helping your students convey their story?
Lisa Nielsen writes for and speaks to audiences across the globe about learning innovatively and is frequently covered by local and national media for her views on “Passion (not data) Driven Learning,” "Thinking Outside the Ban" to harness the power of technology for learning, and using the power of social media to provide a voice to educators and students. Ms. Nielsen has worked for more than a decade in various capacities to support learning in real and innovative ways that will prepare students for success. In addition to her award-winning blog, The Innovative Educator, Ms. Nielsen’s writing is featured in places such as Huffington Post, Tech & Learning, ISTE Connects, ASCD Wholechild, MindShift, Leading & Learning, The Unplugged Mom, and is the author the book Teaching Generation Text.
Disclaimer: The information shared here is strictly that of the author and does not reflect the opinions or endorsement of her employer.
