ERIC Number: EJ970551
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: N/A
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-1253
EISSN: N/A
realfriends: A Student Social Action Project
Van Zoost, Steven
Education Canada, v52 n1 Win 2012
"realfriends" is a social action project created by Grade 12 English students in Windsor, Nova Scotia. Its purpose was to create a face-to-face social network that would help change the school climate into a more social space. Interest in socializing is nothing new for teenagers, but these students articulated a worry that people their age may be losing their social skills due to technologically assisted communication. This worry is represented in the students' motto for realfriends: stop cliquing, start connecting. Media often taints the reputation of teens with impressions of strange subcultures, rebellious activity, suspicious behaviour, and secretive peer-communication. But these young people show willingness, openness, and readiness to develop problem-solving and social skills. Because of a heavy reliance on technology to communicate, it is more important than ever for teachers to model and facilitate face-to-face communication in classrooms.
Descriptors: Student Attitudes, Subcultures, Social Action, Foreign Countries, Information Technology, Grade 12, High School Students, Social Networks, Educational Environment, Interpersonal Competence, Friendship
Canadian Education Association. 119 Spadina Avenue Suite 705, Toronto, ON M5V 1P9, Canada. Tel: 416-591-6300; Fax: 416-591-5345; e-mail: publications@cea-ace-ca; Web site: http://www.cea-ace.ca/education-canada
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Grade 12; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A