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Identifying the nature of social media policies in high schools

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Abstract

This study aims to explore the existence and extent of social media visions, policies and guidelines in high schools in Flanders (Belgium, Europe) and how these policies are embedded in the schools. The research findings are based on qualitative data collected in 47 high schools. Next to an in-depth document analysis of all available school regulations, semi-structured interviews were carried out with school staff appointed to social media affairs. Results show a wide variety of guidelines amongst schools. In addition, schools often experience struggles in determining their position within the social media debate. Defining the school’s role in when and how to intervene against the use of and problems with social media appears to be difficult. In conclusion, this study provides input for the design of more coherent school policy decisions facilitative to social media’ use and consequently, contributing to the wellbeing of both students and teachers in high schools.

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Notes

  1. The parent council is a group of parents who are structurally committed to the school and democratically constituted according to the participation decree. A parent council is an official part of the school with certain rights and obligations. The parent committee is not decretal embedded, which indicates that the rights and obligations are not laid down by law. A parent council is obligatory if at least 10% of the parents request it.

  2. In the LOC, the management and staff representatives negotiate personnel matters, such as the labor regulations, the general principles of the personnel policy, the regulation of working hours, the performance scheme, and the measures of internal order. The conclusions of a negotiation are described in a protocol. If a unanimous agreement is reached in the LOC, the board cannot make a decision that deviates from this agreement (Onderwijs Vlaanderen 2018).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium

    Jaël Muls, Valérie Thomas, Free De Backer, Chang Zhu & Koen Lombaerts

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  1. Jaël Muls
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  2. Valérie Thomas
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  3. Free De Backer
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  4. Chang Zhu
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  5. Koen Lombaerts
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Correspondence to Jaël Muls.

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Table 6 Positions of the interviewees
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Muls, J., Thomas, V., De Backer, F. et al. Identifying the nature of social media policies in high schools. Educ Inf Technol 25, 281–305 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-019-09971-7

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