Facebook in the Classroom {Part 1}

Due to the education-related Facebook scandals that circulate the media more often than one would like, lots of teachers are afraid to use Facebook in the classroom. I can definitely understand that fear.  But I think that, like anything else in life, if you use your brain and think before acting, Facebook can be a great classroom tool. 

I'd like to preface this post with the following information:

It is true that I think Facebook can be valuable in the classroom. But it is also true that Facebook is known for privacy issues. I urge you to carefully read the privacy policy stated on the "help" page of Facebook.com. I also urge you to double-check your account and privacy settings to ensure that you are able to keep your personal Facebook separate from your class page.

Ways to Use Facebook in the Classroom

1. Have discussions. maybe instead of having students post comments to a blog, you could have them answer discussion questions found on your Facebook page. 
2. Post homework. If kids are on FB anyway, why not give them a little homework reminder on their news feed.
3. Create events. Maybe you could create an event about a large, upcoming exam, or a project that's been looming for awhile. You could also do silly things that boost camaraderie between classmates -- tomorrow is "talk like Shakespeare day" in Mrs. K's room!
4. Literature teachers could have students share book reviews. Make them post it in a wall message for their classmates to see -- everyone could use book suggestions! You could also make it more of a challenge by having them post it as a status and "tag" your class in the status (then their review can only be a certain number of characters long). 
5. Use FB apps. Teaching economics? Find a game that makes kids set up their own business. Want a summary of something? Have kids log on to the bumper sticker app to find a sticker that summarizes a character or a chapter of a [text]book. Want to conduct a poll? Use the poll app to get some answers. 
6. Keep up with the world. Find groups over world events (Japan's earthquake, TOM'S "A Day Without Shoes," etc.) and ask students to learn more, discuss, and/or get involved. 
7. Teaching government? Have students friend a politician and ask him/her questions. 
8. Learn a different language: try another app or friend someone from another country. ...You could eventually arrange to Skype! (Read more about Skype in the classroom here.)
9. Have students create alternate accounts for characters in a book, people in history, etc. The students "become" that person and then interact with other characters on Facebook. 
10. Post multiamedia. Share videos of things related to that class's materials, podcasts you've made, pictures to go along with that day's assignment, etc. 
11. Have students post multimedia. Refer to number 10 in the list, but put it in the students' perspective.

The great thing about using Facebook in the classroom is that basically everyone already HAS a Facebook account. That means you don't have to wait for students to sign up with an account, and you don't have to teach them how to use the site. They probably try to post to their own Facebooks during your class, so why not make it educational? ;) 

There are, of course, other benefits to using Facebook in the classroom. Besides reminding students about homework, posting multimedia, and having discussions, it also is a way for really shy students to get involved. When I was in high school, I was the shy girl. I wouldn't really speak unless I was spoken to. But I'm good with computers and online applications. Perhaps if I'd had the chance to write something really spectacular on an online forum, maybe I'd have had a chance to speak my mind. Not to mention, our world is quickly becoming computer-based. If the kids are posting things on the classroom Facebook, that can be helping their keyboarding skills, as well as their social "netiquette" skills.

For those of you that are REALLY into this, you could do something that some schools are experimenting with: post the bulk of the assignments online, and save classroom time for discussions, questions, etc. I've heard that the classrooms who do this have SO much more time for "higher level thinking" in their classroom, and don't really have to waste time taking notes or having lectures. Of course, this type of classroom requires the teacher to post lots of material online and to teach his/her students how to learn things on his/her own... that's for another post entirely.

Continue to Facebook in the Classroom {Part 2}

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