Pearson BTEC module requires students to use Social Media -how do you deal with that?

[fiza]

We have just had a request to allow access to Facebook and Instagram as students doing IT are required, as part of the Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in IT, to create Business accounts on these platforms.

As far as i am aware you need to create a personal account on both platforms before you can create a business presence.

 

If your school is running the same qualification how are you dealing with this?

[Aprice]

Really....

 

Would it not be against the T&C's of the platform to create 'fake' business accounts on them?

 

Secondly, I don't see how you could filter the usage of these accounts should something inappropriate be sent to a student. What then happens if the student accesses the account that school instructed them to setup at home and then something happens.

 

I would be really surprised if an exam board required this, it sounds more like a teacher wanting to do it as a practical exercise not having considered some of the 'complications involved', and if they do insist on it being a requirement then get it in writing from the exam board that students must sign up to Facebook / Instagram as part of the course.

 

I suspect the exam board really want something more like mockup posts made in publisher, PPT e.t.c rather than kids signing up to social networks.

[clareq]

From the Scheme of Work for that BTEC:

• Small-group activity: Using a range of specific case study businesses, learners create a house style for the business they select and set up social media accounts and profiles for the business.

 

I've always hated Pearsons...

[fiza]

Really....

 

Would it not be against the T&C's of the platform to create 'fake' business accounts on them?

 

Secondly, I don't see how you could filter the usage of these accounts should something inappropriate be sent to a student. What then happens if the student accesses the account that school instructed them to setup at home and then something happens.

 

I would be really surprised if an exam board required this, it sounds more like a teacher wanting to do it as a practical exercise not having considered some of the 'complications involved', and if they do insist on it being a requirement then get it in writing from the exam board that students must sign up to Facebook / Instagram as part of the course.

 

I suspect the exam board really want something more like mockup posts made in publisher, PPT e.t.c rather than kids signing up to social networks.

It is actually in the specification as noted by @clareq above!

 

From the Scheme of Work for that BTEC:

 

 

I've always hated Pearsons...

@clareq do you have the qualification at your school? If so how are you dealing with it?

[clareq]

No we don't, I just looked it up because it seemed so outlandish. It does mention a "simulated" social media account later on in the SOW, but it is vague.

[fiza]

Anyone else who can comment on this please?

[Steve21]

Depending on which part exactly you're referring to, the suggestions by Pearson do say about bypassing the live/public requirements:

 

You will need to organise simulation and practical tasks for this learning aim, as learners will need to perform research, produce and manage content, practice posting materials and review data and user feedback on the posts.

 

Learners could, for example, set up a private Facebook group to allow other learners, friends and family to interact with them without involving the general public.

 

It is unlikely that your learners will be able to access social media websites at your centre, so much of the practical work associated with this unit will need to be carried out by learners outside the classroom as homework.

 

Learners could demonstrate their ability to set up posts and collect data about their followers by means of screenshots and printouts.

 

Set up a simulated activity that requires learners to take the role of social media users interacting with the posts made by other groups. This will limit the realism of the project but is appropriate given the timescales and the nature of the exercise.

 

etc

 

That's all from one of the other Pearson IT requirements, but I don't see why it should be any different as it's the same module across all the qualifications

 

Steve

[jthompson]

Not run into this before, but I have to post if only to express how gobsmacked I am by the [apparent] requirement for students to set up fake business profiles on live social platforms. What world is the person who came up with that idea living in??

 

As already mentioned, it'll be against the T&Cs of Facebook et al. How can you educate pupils about misinformation, responsible online behaviour, catfishing, etc. one day, then ask them to do this on another? "There are rules to follow online, kids, but we don't really mean any of it. Do whatever you like". Is it not also problematic from a GDPR standpoint for a school to actually require students to hold accounts on those platforms in order to complete their work?

 

And then there's also the ethics of the thing. Even just doing mockups in Word or whatever is kinda legitimising an industry which is essentially the new Big Tobacco (although I appreciate that will still be a minority view).

[GrumbleDook]

No .... just No!

[psydii]

If you have office365 you could have them set up a sharepoint site for some student activity (say student voice, or ‘common room’) and monitor and report on that.

[fiza]

If you have office365 you could have them set up a sharepoint site for some student activity (say student voice, or ‘common room’) and monitor and report on that.

 

We are a Google School. We have Google Sites but not sure how that could be set up to emulate a Facebook/Instagram Business page.