Welcome to the Weisure Lifestyle By: Michelle Carusio, Steven Schreck, Lesley Harris, John Dunlevy
What is Weisure? (Michelle)
Coined by New York University professor Dalton Conley
Abandonment of the 9-5 work day for a 24/7 weisure life; a blur between work and leisure
According to Conley it is the integration of the work sphere and leisure sphere into one; doing away with the 1950’s saying “don’t mix work with pleasure”
Social Networking sites (Facebook,Twitter), Smartphone’s, and other technologies have all contributed to the rise of weisure:
Networking
Collaborate with business
Work is accessible when away from the office, while with family or on leisure
i.e.: chatting on Facebook while on a conference call; checking emails on a family vacation
“Creative Class” (Michelle)
Work becomes fun
Ideas are integrated into work
Conley states: thus the work-all-the-time mentality is partly driven by choice and desire”
Advertisers, artists, writers, video game creators are some examples of professions that make up the creative class.
Public versus Private Sphere: (Michelle) Public: we are open to all, visible by all
Greek term polis: which is free to citizens and was strictly separate from oikos which the individual had its own realm.
We see words like public opinion, publicity work, public affairs, publicized, informed public; while they all have different meanings, part of their definitions are generated by the public and their knowledge.
The public sphere does not have a specific name or location, it is simply considered a sector of society.
Private: generally attached to the household by name only, exclusion from the public
Today the private sphere has become publicly relevant due to political, economic, and social transformations (ex: journalism and “news”, technology advancement, and creation of social networks like Facebook and Twitter)
The problem arises when private people are working in a public sphere
Haberamus states that in the Middle Ages there was no public sphere, which meant that the private sphere did not exist. Publicity was associated with power.
This is similar to the ideologies today; the more people we socialize and network with, the more powerful we become. Due to the advancements in technology we can communicate with people all over the world at our own convenience, which is usually when we are home or during leisure hours.
Putting the “L” Back into Leisure: (Michelle)
While the concept of “weisure may be beneficial for some, others have a different take on this new ideal. Many feel it is important to devote time to family, friends, or simply time to
yourself, also referred to as “putting the ‘L’ back into leisure” here are some suggested helpful hints from a blogger who helps those with time management skills,
while promoting a weisure free lifestyle:
1. Define your role with your employer at the beginning , and then set your schedule accordingly. A life of weisure is usually something we evolve into. Most of us don’t seek out jobs knowing that they will require us to work 60 to 80 hours a week. They generally begin with reasonable working hours, and over time, we gradually build up to it. So set the proper precedents and work hard to maintain them. 2. Keep your job in perspective , and remind yourself why you’re working in the first place. This help you to define your goals at work as well as at home, then establish an acceptable amount of time exclusively for work or play.
3. Be organized (part 1). I realize this is a no-brainer, but it’s amazing how a little organization goes a long way. Set up a schedule and stick to it, letting others know that you won’t give in to exceptions. This also includes keeping your work space tidy. I can’t tell you how much time I’ve wasted searching for something lost in the mess of my desk, not to mention the frustration and aggravation that ensues.. And lists can be your best friend.
4. Keep a journal of your time. History is a great teacher. By knowing how your time was spent in the past, you can gain a much better understanding of how to optimize your time in the future.
5. Learn to delegate. This is a complicated issue, because for some of us (myself included), the insecurity of wanting to know we’re needed turns us into martyrs who refuse to let others do our work, thus giving us the illusion that we are indispensable. In certain instances you may be the best person for the job, but for the most part, work can be shared with good results. If you still feel that only you should do the work, then you’re really not in a position to complain when it was a self imposed circumstance.
6. Learn to say no. One of the hardest things I learned at work was that I had a right to decline a task if it was with good reason. In fact, duties were often prefaced with an inquiry as to whether I had the time to do something. Of course, I foolishly said yes to everything, even when I had the right to say no.
7. Prioritize. Tackle the most important jobs or the hardest ones first. With the heavy hitters out of the way, you can almost find enjoyment in doing the lesser trivial things, almost like a mini vacation (I know, it’s a stretch). Also, group similar tasks together and do them concurrently to maximize efficiency.
8. Break up big jobs , if possible, and finish them over the course of more than one day. Chipping away at the stone helps make big tasks more tolerable. Don’t try to do everything in one fell swoop if possible. Also, breaking things up will often give you a fresh point of view when you return to it, which might ultimately help you do a better job.
9. Communicate. Be on the same page with other important people in your life. This includes your boss as well as your friends and family. We often are incapable of seeing how our lifestyles are affecting us and those around us, though your boss won’t hesitate to let you know. Like any relationship, constant communication will relay to you how your time spent is affecting your professional and personal relationship.
10. Deal effectively with distractions and interruptions. Unless you lock yourself up in your office (assuming you have an office) and unplug the phone, things are going to interrupt the flow of your work. The question is how to deal with them. When possible, take a message or promise to call back, whatever it takes to shorten the duration of the interruption. Also, don’t make yourself too comfortable during a distraction (I read somewhere it’s good stand up during a phone call) and keep the important task at hand in plain sight to remind you to keep it short.
11. Be organized (part 2). Set aside a block of time to return calls or respond to emails. Don’t try to take on everything that crops up, including phone calls, emails, and inquiries. Unless it’s urgent, which it usually is not, tactfully let people know that you will address certain things at certain times, and stand your ground.
12. Give yourself a cushion. Don’t schedule every working minute because things never work out exactly as you plan them. A break in time will give you a margin for error that can compensate for lost time due to complications.
13. Give personal or family time the credit it deserves. That doesn’t mean you have to pencil in time with your spouse in your calendar, but when you set aside personal time, give it the importance that its due. Don’t think of it as time that is easily sacrificed because it’s not as important as your working time. And try to do without cell phones for the few short hours that you spend outside of work. For most of us, there won’t be any negative consequences.
14. Consider compromising time in one place to have more in another. In other words, less time at lunch or in the break room might translate into more time at home (for some people this may not be desirable). This may not guarantee that you can leave work early (in fact, it probably won’t), but it might mean you won’t have to stay later.
15. Defend your own time. Others will feel that their needs are greater than yours. When you multiply that effect over many people, it can simply overwhelm you, and it’s a slippery slope when you start compromising your own time to attend to everyone’s issues. So let them know (again, tactfully) that it’s not okay to interrupt you and don’t accept the preface, “I know you’re busy, but…”
Celebrities Reinforce and Promote Weisure (Steve) With celebrity endorsements being a major part of our lives through the internet and media, it is inevitable that the "weisure" lifestyle is becoming a part of everyone's daily life. By seeing the amount of money companies spend on celebrity endorsements, it is very clear that they are trying to adapt society to a weisure lifestyle by purchasing the devices that go along with it. As we can see in the below pictures, some of the most notable celebrities are marketing off cellphones and the ipad. While the average individual may not realize during their purchase, they are slowly entering themselves into the weisure life when they do so. Celebrities are without a doubt a major influence in the consumer market and they are now becoming key figures in the new weisure lifestyle.
Dwayne Wade and Charles Barkley
Stephen Colbert
Paris Hilton
Weisure by the "Numbers" (Steve)
IMPACT
47% of US teens say their social life would end or be worsened without their cell phone.
57% credit their cell phone with improving their life.
Of 17 million teens, 4 out of 5 carry a wireless device.
ENTERTAINMENT/SECURITY
52% agree that the cell phone has become a new form of entertainment.
1/3 of teens play games on their phone.
80% say their cell phone provides a sense of security while on the go.
Teens carry cell phones to have access to friends, family and current events.
TEXTING IS NEW COMMUNICATING
Teens admitted spending nearly an equal amount of time talking as they do texting each month.
The feature is so important to them that if texting were no longer an option 47% of teens say their social life would end or be worsened.
Advantages such as multitasking, speed, the option to avoid verbal communication, and because it is fun.
42% of teens say they can text blindfolded.
What the Professionals Say (Steve)
“In the future, mobility for teens means mobile banking, mobile voting, location based services, personal entertainment - the sky is the limit for how mobile our lifestyles can be”- Steve Largent, President and CEO, CTIA - The Wireless Association.
“Teens have created a new form of communication. We call it texting, but in essence it is a reflection of how teens want to communicate to match their lifestyles. It is all about multitasking, speed, privacy and control,”- Joseph Porus, VP & chief architect, Technology Group
Balancing Work and Personal Life (Lesley) It was predicted that as the use of technology increased, so would the amount of time people had for leisure. The opposite seems to have happened because now workers always have access to their work and they are expected to respond to emails and phone calls in a timely manner. The boundaries between work and leisure are relatively weak in the UnitedStates. If something happens at work, it is brought home and it effects family members. If something happens at home, people tend to bring their personal problems to the workplace where it effects their performance and others at work. Weisure is also known as the "spill over effect", which causes around the clock availability. The increased use of ICTs further blurs the boundaries between work and leisure.
The Curse of Technology (Lesley)
People who frequently use their cell phones usually have a less satisfying family life.
With laptops, the Internet,cell phones and faxes, the workplace can be anywhere and everywhere
The creation of "workspheres", the idea that "work is where you are"
Work Dominance as a Personal Choice (Lesley) While some people work long hours because they need multiple jobs to support their families, others chose to work long hours. They may chose to have limited work/life boundaries because of:
the absorbing and satisfying nature of their work
their professional identity
a sense of self-worth
career achievements
For some work may be an escape from their home life. The use of ICTs help bring work life to the home, giving those who need an excuse to get away the opportunity to do so. The more time spent on work, the more difficult relationships at home are to maintain. This just reinforces peoples desire to spend time at work, and to spend their leisure time working from home. Work has become the 'new leisure' for some and the use of cell phones and the internet help workers to bring their work home.
The Boundaries of Weisure for Teachers (Lesley)
Out of the 500 million users on Facebook, many of them are teachers. They do not want to be left out of something that is such a big part of their culture, so they need to manage the boundaries between work and personal life. The amount of information they disclose can help their students excel or cost them their jobs. Using Facebook for professional communication:
Passive user: Professional users tend to be passive users. They only responded when contacted by others. They post minimal personal information and little information regarding their preferences as far as music and movies.
Facebook is an extension of the classroom:
Some students see Facebook as an extension of the classroom. Students may request to be friends with their professors and teachers so they can stay in contact outside of the classroom. This puts teachers in a position where they need to turn their personal Facebook into a professional tool for communication.
How Does a Teachers Use of Self-Disclosure Effect Their Students? (Lesley) Students who viewed the Facebook profile of a teacher, high in self disclosure, prior to taking their course reported:
High levels of motivation
High levels of affective learning
A positive attitude towards the teacher and the course
Feeling a personal connection with them which generates respect and interest
Students are more likely to email teachers who use immediacy behaviors (first names and emoticons)
Teachers who personalize the material they teach through stories, humor, and self-disclosure are more effective and teach clearly, according to their students. Self-disclosure can be an effective learning tool if used correctly. Students are more likely to email teachers who use immediacy behaviors like emoticons and first names. Creating a personal bond with students encourages open communication and enhances learning.
How Credible are Teachers Who Use Self-Disclosure on Social Networking Websites? (Lesley) Teachers as social actors:
Teachers, as social actors need to balance the amount of private and personal information they want to disclose. They need to disclose enough to create a comfortable learning environment that encourages the development of a friendly relationship, but not enough to damage their credibility.
Teachers who are high in immediacy have high levels of credibility. The following increase immediacy levels in person and online:
Smiling
Personal gestures
Nonverbals
Self Disclosure
Font use
Punctuation
Language
Teachers who use high levels of self disclosure on Facebook are regarded as more credible than those who are low in disclosure. Teachers are warned to monitor the quality of information they disclose so it does not have a negative impact on their credibility. If a teacher is perceived as friendly and relaxed online, but is strict in person, the inconsistencies can have a negative impact on their credibility. While self disclosure may give students a chance to find commonalities with their teacher, things like opposing political views, religious views, or lifestyle choices can have a negative impact on credibility and further distance students from their teachers.
Repercussions for Crossed Boundaries on Social Media Websites (Lesley)
Teachers are being banned from having a profile on Facebook. They are being fired for personal content posted on their pages. Applicants for jobs are not being considered because of content discovered on their social networking pages. Personal information that is found about professionals online can follow them for their entire career.
Tamara Hoover, a high school art teacher in Austin, Texas, was forced to resign from her job due to nude photos of her found online. She argued that the First Amendment protected her right to express her artistic photos and was put on paid administrative leave.
Anu Prabhakara, a foreign language teacher at a middle school in Maryland was put under investigation for information posted in her online blog on myspace.com. She explicitly expressed her dissatisfaction with parents, students, and the school system. After is was discovered her job was at risk. She is temporarily out of the school while her case is investigated.
27 year old Stacy Snyder was denied her teaching certificate and given an English degree instead of an education degree because of photos discovered by the school on her Myspace account. She filed for a federal lawsuit for $75,000 against the university
Teachers feel that they can not participate in social networking websites because it is too dangerous. Without the websites they feel isolated from their friends and
family. They are forced to keep their professional and private lives seperate by not
participating in social networking websites, or by strictly monitoring their use.
As social networking websites have grown in popularity over the years, the need for security settings grew as well. Facebook has developed a series of customized privacy settings that the user can set to protect their information. Teachers need to use their discrepancy on who to add and the privacy settings they need to chose to set a boundary between their professional and private lives.
References 1) Schwartz, H. L. (2009). Facebook: The New Classroom Commons?. Chronicle of Higher Education, 56(6), B12-B13. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. 2) Mazer, J. P., Murphy, R. E., & Simonds, C. J. (2007). I'll See You On “Facebook”: The Effects of Computer-Mediated Teacher Self-Disclosure on Student Motivation, Affective Learning, and Classroom ClimateThis project was funded in part by a Teaching-Learning Development Grant from the Center.. Communication Education, 56(1), 1-17. 3) Carter, H., Foulger, T., & Ewbank, A. (2008). Have You Googled Your Teacher Lately? Phi Delta Kappan, 89(9), 681-685. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database. 4) Estrada, A. (2010). Saving face from Facebook: Arriving at a compromise between schools' concerns with teacher social networking and teachers First Amendment Rights. Thomas Jefferson Law Review, 32(2), 283-312. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database 5) http://www.bittenandbound.com/2008/09/18/tamara-hoover-pictures/ 6) Kist, W. (2008). "I Gave Up My Space for Lent": New Teachers and Social Networking Sites. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 52(3), 245-247. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database 7) Mazer, J. P., Murphy, R. E., & Simonds, C. J. (2009). The effects of teacher self-disclosure via Facebook on teacher credibility. Learning, Media & Technology, 34(2), 175-183. 8) http://www.somdnews.com/stories/060607/rectop180341_32082.shtml 9) "Cell Phones Key to Teens’ Social Lives, 47% Can Text with Eyes Closed." Marketing Charts. Available from http://www.marketingcharts.com/interactive/cell-phones-key-to-teens-social-lives-47-can-text-with-eyes-closed-6126/. Internet; accessed 19 December 2010. 10) Lewis, S. (2003). The integration of paid work and the rest of life. Is post-industrial work the new leisure?. Leisure Studies, 22(4), 343-345. 11) Montgomery, A. J., Panagopoulou, E. P., Peeters, M. W., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2005). THE MEANING OF WORK AND HOME. Community, Work & Family, 8(2), 141-161. doi: 12) Maume, D. and Bellas, M. (2001) The overworked American or the time bind. American Behavioral Scientist, 44, 1137–1156. 13) Perlow, L. (1998) Boundary control: the social ordering of work and family time in a high tech organization. Administrative Science Quarterly, 43, 328–357. 14) http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/05/11/weisure/index.html?iref=allsearch 15) Lawson, W. (2006). Curse of the Cell Phone. Psychology Today, 39(2), 28. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. 16) ALASTAIR, G. (2001, September 2). Personal Business; As Work and Life Blur, Office Furniture Goes 24/7.New York Times. p. 10. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.. 17) Harrison, R. (2006). From landlines to cell phones: negotiating identity positions in new career contexts.Journal of Employment Counseling, 43(1), 18-30. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. 18) COUSINS, K. C., & VARSHNEY, U. (2009). Designing Ubiquitous Computing Environments to Support Work Life Balance. Communications of the ACM, 52(5), 117-123. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
19)http://brightrising.com/pdf/week04/Jurgen%20Habermas%20-%20Social%20Structures%20of%20the%20Public%20Sphere%20-%20The%20Structural%20Transformation%20of%20the%20Public%20Sphere.pdf 20) http://www.jstor.org.proxy.libraries.rutgers.edu/stable/2505605?seq=4&Search=yes&searchText=goodman&searchText=dena&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Ddena%2Bgoodman%26gw%3Djtx%26prq%3DPUBLIC%2BVS%2BPRIVATE%2BSPHERE%26Search%3DSearch%26hp%3D25%26wc%3Don&prevSearch=&item=5&ttl=976&returnArticleService=showFullText&resultsServiceName=null
Welcome to the Weisure Lifestyle
By: Michelle Carusio, Steven Schreck, Lesley Harris, John Dunlevy
What is Weisure? (Michelle)
“Creative Class” (Michelle)
Public versus Private Sphere: (Michelle)
Public: we are open to all, visible by all
Private: generally attached to the household by name only, exclusion from the public
Putting the “L” Back into Leisure: (Michelle)
While the concept of “weisure may be beneficial for some, others have a different take on this new ideal. Many feel it is important to devote time to family, friends, or simply time to
yourself, also referred to as “putting the ‘L’ back into leisure” here are some suggested helpful hints from a blogger who helps those with time management skills,
while promoting a weisure free lifestyle:
1. Define your role with your employer at the beginning , and then set your schedule accordingly. A life of weisure is usually something we evolve into. Most of us don’t seek out jobs knowing that they will require us to work 60 to 80 hours a week. They generally begin with reasonable working hours, and over time, we gradually build up to it. So set the proper precedents and work hard to maintain them.
2. Keep your job in perspective , and remind yourself why you’re working in the first place. This help you to define your goals at work as well as at home, then establish an acceptable amount of time exclusively for work or play.
3. Be organized (part 1). I realize this is a no-brainer, but it’s amazing how a little organization goes a long way. Set up a schedule and stick to it, letting others know that you won’t give in to exceptions. This also includes keeping your work space tidy. I can’t tell you how much time I’ve wasted searching for something lost in the mess of my desk, not to mention the frustration and aggravation that ensues.. And lists can be your best friend.
4. Keep a journal of your time. History is a great teacher. By knowing how your time was spent in the past, you can gain a much better understanding of how to optimize your time in the future.
5. Learn to delegate. This is a complicated issue, because for some of us (myself included), the insecurity of wanting to know we’re needed turns us into martyrs who refuse to let others do our work, thus giving us the illusion that we are indispensable. In certain instances you may be the best person for the job, but for the most part, work can be shared with good results. If you still feel that only you should do the work, then you’re really not in a position to complain when it was a self imposed circumstance.
6. Learn to say no. One of the hardest things I learned at work was that I had a right to decline a task if it was with good reason. In fact, duties were often prefaced with an inquiry as to whether I had the time to do something. Of course, I foolishly said yes to everything, even when I had the right to say no.
7. Prioritize. Tackle the most important jobs or the hardest ones first. With the heavy hitters out of the way, you can almost find enjoyment in doing the lesser trivial things, almost like a mini vacation (I know, it’s a stretch). Also, group similar tasks together and do them concurrently to maximize efficiency.
8. Break up big jobs , if possible, and finish them over the course of more than one day. Chipping away at the stone helps make big tasks more tolerable. Don’t try to do everything in one fell swoop if possible. Also, breaking things up will often give you a fresh point of view when you return to it, which might ultimately help you do a better job.
9. Communicate. Be on the same page with other important people in your life. This includes your boss as well as your friends and family. We often are incapable of seeing how our lifestyles are affecting us and those around us, though your boss won’t hesitate to let you know. Like any relationship, constant communication will relay to you how your time spent is affecting your professional and personal relationship.
10. Deal effectively with distractions and interruptions. Unless you lock yourself up in your office (assuming you have an office) and unplug the phone, things are going to interrupt the flow of your work. The question is how to deal with them. When possible, take a message or promise to call back, whatever it takes to shorten the duration of the interruption. Also, don’t make yourself too comfortable during a distraction (I read somewhere it’s good stand up during a phone call) and keep the important task at hand in plain sight to remind you to keep it short.
11. Be organized (part 2). Set aside a block of time to return calls or respond to emails. Don’t try to take on everything that crops up, including phone calls, emails, and inquiries. Unless it’s urgent, which it usually is not, tactfully let people know that you will address certain things at certain times, and stand your ground.
12. Give yourself a cushion. Don’t schedule every working minute because things never work out exactly as you plan them. A break in time will give you a margin for error that can compensate for lost time due to complications.
13. Give personal or family time the credit it deserves. That doesn’t mean you have to pencil in time with your spouse in your calendar, but when you set aside personal time, give it the importance that its due. Don’t think of it as time that is easily sacrificed because it’s not as important as your working time. And try to do without cell phones for the few short hours that you spend outside of work. For most of us, there won’t be any negative consequences.
14. Consider compromising time in one place to have more in another. In other words, less time at lunch or in the break room might translate into more time at home (for some people this may not be desirable). This may not guarantee that you can leave work early (in fact, it probably won’t), but it might mean you won’t have to stay later.
15. Defend your own time. Others will feel that their needs are greater than yours. When you multiply that effect over many people, it can simply overwhelm you, and it’s a slippery slope when you start compromising your own time to attend to everyone’s issues. So let them know (again, tactfully) that it’s not okay to interrupt you and don’t accept the preface, “I know you’re busy, but…”
Celebrities Reinforce and Promote Weisure (Steve)
With celebrity endorsements being a major part of our lives through the internet and media, it is inevitable that the "weisure" lifestyle is becoming a part of everyone's daily life. By seeing the amount of money companies spend on celebrity endorsements, it is very clear that they are trying to adapt society to a weisure lifestyle by purchasing the devices that go along with it. As we can see in the below pictures, some of the most notable celebrities are marketing off cellphones and the ipad. While the average individual may not realize during their purchase, they are slowly entering themselves into the weisure life when they do so. Celebrities are without a doubt a major influence in the consumer market and they are now becoming key figures in the new weisure lifestyle.
Weisure by the "Numbers" (Steve)
IMPACT
ENTERTAINMENT/SECURITY
TEXTING IS NEW COMMUNICATING
- Teens admitted spending nearly an equal amount of time talking as they do texting each month.
- The feature is so important to them that if texting were no longer an option 47% of teens say their social life would end or be worsened.
- Advantages such as multitasking, speed, the option to avoid verbal communication, and because it is fun.
- 42% of teens say they can text blindfolded.
What the Professionals Say (Steve)“In the future, mobility for teens means mobile banking, mobile voting, location based services, personal entertainment - the sky is the limit for how mobile our lifestyles can be”- Steve Largent, President and CEO, CTIA - The Wireless Association.
“Teens have created a new form of communication. We call it texting, but in essence it is a reflection of how teens want to communicate to match their lifestyles. It is all about multitasking, speed, privacy and control,”- Joseph Porus, VP & chief architect, Technology Group
Balancing Work and Personal Life (Lesley)
It was predicted that as the use of technology increased, so would the amount of time people had for leisure. The opposite seems to have happened because now workers always have access to their work and they are expected to respond to emails and phone calls in a timely manner. The boundaries between work and leisure are relatively weak in the UnitedStates. If something happens at work, it is brought home and it effects family members. If something happens at home, people tend to bring their personal problems to the workplace where it effects their performance and others at work. Weisure is also known as the "spill over effect", which causes around the clock availability. The increased use of ICTs further blurs the boundaries between work and leisure.
The Curse of Technology (Lesley)
Work Dominance as a Personal Choice (Lesley)
While some people work long hours because they need multiple jobs to support their families, others chose to work long hours. They may chose to have limited work/life boundaries because of:
- the absorbing and satisfying nature of their work
- their professional identity
- a sense of self-worth
- career achievements
For some work may be an escape from their home life. The use of ICTs help bring work life to the home, giving those who need an excuse to get away the opportunity to do so. The more time spent on work, the more difficult relationships at home are to maintain. This just reinforces peoples desire to spend time at work, and to spend their leisure time working from home. Work has become the 'new leisure' for some and the use of cell phones and the internet help workers to bring their work home.The Boundaries of Weisure for Teachers (Lesley)
Out of the 500 million users on Facebook, many of them are teachers. They do not want to be left out of something that is such a big part of their culture, so they need to manage the boundaries between work and personal life. The amount of information they disclose can help their students excel or cost them their jobs.
Using Facebook for professional communication:
- Passive user: Professional users tend to be passive users. They only responded when contacted by others. They post minimal personal information and little information regarding their preferences as far as music and movies.
Facebook is an extension of the classroom:How Does a Teachers Use of Self-Disclosure Effect Their Students? (Lesley)
Students who viewed the Facebook profile of a teacher, high in self disclosure, prior to taking their course reported:
- High levels of motivation
- High levels of affective learning
- A positive attitude towards the teacher and the course
- Feeling a personal connection with them which generates respect and interest
- Students are more likely to email teachers who use immediacy behaviors (first names and emoticons)
Teachers who personalize the material they teach through stories, humor, and self-disclosure are more effective and teach clearly, according to their students. Self-disclosure can be an effective learning tool if used correctly. Students are more likely to email teachers who use immediacy behaviors like emoticons and first names. Creating a personal bond with students encourages open communication and enhances learning.How Credible are Teachers Who Use Self-Disclosure on Social Networking Websites? (Lesley)
Teachers as social actors:
- Teachers, as social actors need to balance the amount of private and personal information they want to disclose. They need to disclose enough to create a comfortable learning environment that encourages the development of a friendly relationship, but not enough to damage their credibility.
Teachers who are high in immediacy have high levels of credibility. The following increase immediacy levels in person and online:
Smiling- Personal gestures
- Nonverbals
- Self Disclosure
- Font use
- Punctuation
- Language
Teachers who use high levels of self disclosure on Facebook are regarded as more credible than those who are low in disclosure. Teachers are warned to monitor the quality of information they disclose so it does not have a negative impact on their credibility. If a teacher is perceived as friendly and relaxed online, but is strict in person, the inconsistencies can have a negative impact on their credibility. While self disclosure may give students a chance to find commonalities with their teacher, things like opposing political views, religious views, or lifestyle choices can have a negative impact on credibility and further distance students from their teachers.Repercussions for Crossed Boundaries on Social Media Websites (Lesley)
Teachers are being banned from having a profile on Facebook. They are being fired for personal content posted on their pages. Applicants for jobs are not being considered because of content discovered on their social networking pages. Personal information that is found about professionals online can follow them for their entire career.Teachers feel that they can not participate in social networking websites because it is too dangerous. Without the websites they feel isolated from their friends and
family. They are forced to keep their professional and private lives seperate by not
participating in social networking websites, or by strictly monitoring their use.
As social networking websites have grown in popularity over the years, the need for security settings grew as well. Facebook has developed a series of customized privacy settings that the user can set to protect their information. Teachers need to use their discrepancy on who to add and the privacy settings they need to chose to set a boundary between their professional and private lives.
References
1) Schwartz, H. L. (2009). Facebook: The New Classroom Commons?. Chronicle of Higher Education, 56(6), B12-B13. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
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