Facebook, is it your friend or foe? We are told over and over not to be "friends" with students. Some districts even go so far as to tell teachers that they cannot have a Facebook page. But are there elements of Facebook that can be beneficial for teachers, students, and schools? It is surprising to see how many schools have a Facebook page and yet they tell their teachers not to have one. We have to admit that Facebook is a part of our student’s world, and we need to learn how to turn it into an effective tool within the classroom. I know that many are thinking, 'Facebook is blocked at my school and just about every school in the United States', and you would be right. Which websites should be blocked and which ones should not be blocked is a completely different discussion for another time, but what I want to let you know about is an effective way to use Facebook with your students. Facebook allows you to create a "Group". A "Group" can be set up one of three ways: Open- which means that anyone can join and see what members post (regardless of whether they decide to join the group, Closed- which means that someone must be invited to the group before they can become a member of the group, but anyone can still see what has been posted to the wall of the "group", or Secret- which means that only members can see what is posted and you have to be invited to the group. Why even think about starting a group? Many, many, many students are on Facebook and most of their parents are on Facebook. Most people check their Facebook page before they will ever check their e-mail. A group page can allow you, the teacher, to post announcements about your class, post newsletters, highlight what is going on in your class, and post homework. Parents and students can ask questions, and you can even hold a "parent meeting" without any parents having to show up to the school (This is done with the "Group Chat" feature).
Another benefit to Facebook "Group" pages is that students can create groups for school group projects. They can post pictures of their project to allow other group members to see how things are going with the project, as well as communicate about any questions they may have. The students can use this as an extremely effective communication tool when organizing a group project and while trying to iron out some of the confusing details of a project. If you decide to go this route, make certain that students include you in the group so that you can actually print off the group discussions as part of their participation grade.
This issue always tends to come up, so I might as well go ahead and address it, 'What if my students don't have a computer at home or What about the students who don't have Facebook accounts?' First and foremost, don't use Facebook as your only line of communication with parents. If you want more parents to get the information you send home with their child, and you know that parents are not reading the newsletter that you e-mail them, chances are better that they will read something that has been posted on Facebook. Still communicate with parents via letters and phone calls; the human contact part is still important when building strong relationships. Talk to the parents about your plan to use Facebook with the students as well as with parents. Be up front with them about your reasoning behind the use of Facebook. As far as not having a computer at home...most parents will gladly take their child to the library to work on a computer. If their child is at a library doing homework, they are not elsewhere getting in trouble. This is the kind of homework that students do not mind having.
As always, feel free to share your opinion, but remember...keep it friendly, professional, and if you disagree...state an alternative. Just saying that you do not agree with something doesn't advance people professionally, it only cause an argument and not discussion. :)
Another benefit to Facebook "Group" pages is that students can create groups for school group projects. They can post pictures of their project to allow other group members to see how things are going with the project, as well as communicate about any questions they may have. The students can use this as an extremely effective communication tool when organizing a group project and while trying to iron out some of the confusing details of a project. If you decide to go this route, make certain that students include you in the group so that you can actually print off the group discussions as part of their participation grade.
This issue always tends to come up, so I might as well go ahead and address it, 'What if my students don't have a computer at home or What about the students who don't have Facebook accounts?' First and foremost, don't use Facebook as your only line of communication with parents. If you want more parents to get the information you send home with their child, and you know that parents are not reading the newsletter that you e-mail them, chances are better that they will read something that has been posted on Facebook. Still communicate with parents via letters and phone calls; the human contact part is still important when building strong relationships. Talk to the parents about your plan to use Facebook with the students as well as with parents. Be up front with them about your reasoning behind the use of Facebook. As far as not having a computer at home...most parents will gladly take their child to the library to work on a computer. If their child is at a library doing homework, they are not elsewhere getting in trouble. This is the kind of homework that students do not mind having.
As always, feel free to share your opinion, but remember...keep it friendly, professional, and if you disagree...state an alternative. Just saying that you do not agree with something doesn't advance people professionally, it only cause an argument and not discussion. :)
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