If a student asks to be my Facebook friend, should I accept him or her? What about parents of my students? Where do I draw the line?

Those were some of the questions raised last week in an insightful social media training session at the WEAC Summer Academy in Stevens Point. WEAC Public Relations Specialist Marlena Deutsch and I facilitated the group discussion that covered many aspects of using social media within our association, in the classroom and for personal use.

The experience level of the teachers and education support professionals in the room ranged  from "just beginning" to "pretty expert," but they all shared a common interest in using social media both in the classroom and for personal use, and they were well aware of both the opportunities and the potential pitfalls of engaging in social networking.

One teacher told of a colleague who made an exception and befriended a student on Facebook, only to discover that opened the floodgates of other students asking to be her Facebook "friend." We've all heard stories about educators who became friends with students only to discover that put them in sometimes difficult situations when they were unexpectedly exposed to too much information about the students and their personal activities. Likewise, we also have heard stories about educators who shared too much of their personal lives online.

As a person whose job it is to encourage our members to engage in social media, I would never discourage people from taking advantage of this incredible technology. Used properly, social media is a great tool to share both professional and personal information and ideas with colleagues and friends. On weac.org, for example, our Success Stories forum and our MyTeacherIsGreat.org project are using social media to spread the word about daily successes in our public school classrooms and to shed light on the wonderful work of great teachers throughout the state. On the WEAC Facebook Page, veteran teachers are providing valuable advice to new teachers as they prepare to start a new career in the classroom this fall. In addition, classroom projects that utilize social media - and that are closely monitored and follow a strict set of rules - can truly enhance a student's educational experience.

Yes, social media has its traps, and some people unfortunately allow themselves to fall into them. But it really all just comes down to using common sense.

Here are just a few of the tips we shared with members:

• Ask yourself: "Would I feel comfortable if what I am posting showed up on the front page of my local newspaper?" If not, do not write it.

• Don’t accept friend requests from current or potential students or their family members on your personal Facebook page.

• Don’t accept anyone whom you do not know personally as a friend.

• Don’t join groups that may be considered unprofessional or inappropriate.

• Don’t post any negative information about your students, co-workers or school administrators.

We have developed a set of Social Networking Guidelines for weac.org, the WEAC Facebook Page and other social networking resources. It basically comes down to this simple rule: Be Respectful.

By applying common sense, being respectful and keeping a professional online demeanor, you can productively use social media to enhance both your work and personal life. It is true that as educators, we must be more careful about what we say and how we say it, even on our own private Facebook page talking to our close friends. We have to remember that anything we write or post online can easily find its way outside our circle of friends and colleagues.

But at the same time if we can set an example for others and generate a more mature tone to online conversations across the board, in my opinion, that would be a huge step forward for all social media.

For more resources, including Social Media Dos and Don'ts, visit the weac.org Social Media Page.