Facebook, Classroom Management, and Teaching
Tagged with: classroom management • Facebook • teaching • webCT
Well I have started a new experiment with my class. I am using Facebook as a way to manage assignments, network with students, and learn a little more about who my students are. It’s all a project I decided to take on after talking to my coworker Pete. WebCT has a classroom management system that when used effectively can make teaching life a lot easier. So what is it about Facebook that would interest Pete or myself?
Well for one, it’s a little controversial right now with the pictures and content being posted. I will say that Facebook is a lot more calm than other social networking sites, and they also have a strict policy against nudity. But more so, Facebook is a site that millions of college students already use day in and day out. So why not take advantage of this.
First off, if you are going to get students to use another social system, like WebCT, you better be damn sure it is well implemented. Otherwise there is no incentive to add it to the list. Students don’t want to manage 2 or more social systems. So rather than fight this, the idea is to find a way to integrate it into the class.
More ahead
First let me explain some of what Facebook has to offer, then I will explain how I am using it in my class. I will not discuss criticisms of using Facebook or do a versus comparison of Facebook and WebCT for this post. Instead, my plan is to construct a separate post and provide an update and link the two posts together. This way I can give both posts the adequate time, room, and thought that they both deserve.
Facebook started out as a social networking site for college students. As a way to keep in touch with friends, especially ones on the other side of the country or world. Probably the best feature of Facebook was that graduated high school friends that moved away could still stay in touch with each other. It has now grown to a more customizable interface so users have some room to set their profile to their liking.
Facebook also gives instructors a way to connect with their students. It’s hard for teachers sometimes to engage their students due to generational gaps, but also differences in interests and personalities. And these issues can be hard to overcome in just one semester. Instructors need to start getting on Facebook and posting relevant information on it. And they need to start using the social aspects of Facebook. This will give them an opportunity to connect with students.
Connecting with students is probably one of the more important aspects of teaching. Your students need to trust you and understand that they can speak to you about anything. The theory behind using Facebook as part of the class is that it allows your students to make that connection with you. And sure enough, what my coworker and I are finding is that students are not only receptive to the idea, but more open in class. Willing to ask questions and chat with the teacher.
There are two ways to use Facebook in the classroom. One is to have everyone add you (the teacher) as a friend, then download the “Files” module and the “Questions” module. All assignments and other items get posted to the “Files” module and you can use the “Questions” module to send out questions to your students.
The other method is to do the above, but also create a group for the class. Within the group you can post homework notices and other class notices, as well as have an interface for students to discuss class issues. I also like having the class group because I can see all the students have joined, and I can manage the class a little easier. If I want to send Timmy a message I can do that very easily without having to scroll through my list of friends to find him. Other students can do the same.
The only thing I’m waiting to see is how much students use the Bulletin Board or other functions of the group. My guess is they won’t use it much at all. But if any students use it and get use out of it, then it will be worthwhile and I will continue to use it next semester.
Well I plan to post more on this issue as the semester continues on. For now, I got some lessons to plan!
Welcome to my blog! Topics tend to focus on Science and Technology, but I throw in personal stuff too. I hope you enjoy!
December 18th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
I was thinking about doing the same exact thing next semester. My university uses Blackboard which is horrible - especially when it comes to social networking thing. Then again students are used to it since it gets used by almost every professor. I usually use it for posting lecture notes and assignments because I know they will check it.
I was thinking about using Facebook as a supplemental resource to help students connect and interact with each other. I’m not really that interested in using it as content delivery system.
How did this pan out for you? Did the students like the idea? Did they use the group message boards? Or were they too freaked out by the possibility of a professor seeing pictures of their drunken exploits to even join it?
Was it worth it? Will you do it next semester, or is it back to webCT for you?
December 18th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
I highly recommend Facebook because students are already using it. For them it’s comfortable, simple, and easy to use. Plus in my area, Technology, students sometimes enjoy working at a faster pace, and when assignments are posted up on Facebook, it’s easy for them to get that content.
Something I found, which doesn’t really surprise me too much, is that building mediated relationships is easier on Facebook as well. This goes along the issue of bridging the communication gap that still exists between the teacher and student. Facebook helps, because you don’t seem so much like a teacher, but more of a friend they are used to communicating with at that level.
The other issue here is that no matter what you use for a classroom system, it has to be an all or none thing. Either you use one system for social networking and classroom management, or none. For instance, if you think you are still going to use Blackboard as well, then just pick one. Students won’t enjoy going to multiple systems for class content.
If you are looking into a system to get students to communicate and interact online, but you don’t necessarily care about managing the class with the same system, you may want to look into having them learn blogging. I’m not trying to steer you away from Facebook, but rather presenting mulitple options.
Next semester I will definitely be using Facebook! I am teaching a PHP and MySQL class. I will be managing the class on Facebook, but they will learn how to use blogging and social networking effectively in the classroom. For instance I want to teach students that putting positive “Public” content on the Internet is much better, than putting negative or no information on the Internet. Or putting “Private” content on the Internet. In other words, they need to have positive information visible by future employers up on the Internet.
Anyways, sorry for the ramble. But as they say, “If minds had anuses, blogging would be what your mind would do when it had to take a dump.”
December 24th, 2007 at 12:15 am
Hi and thanks for the information on Facebook you have posted. I have been using a sharepoint site to load up my assignments and for discussion but it is clear the students have moved on from this type of interface. I was interested in the comment that you need on application because students won’t visit 2 sites: I wouldn’t either.
I am team teaching beginning of 2008 and we are thinking of using facebook as our class organising tool. The privacy it affords to a group is really important and so far just experimenting I have found that it is really informal. I will create a group and upload all information as I have done in the past with the sharepoint site.
We thought we might begin as teachers by introducing our own facebook pages and then ask for other s to share their pages and then have the group explore each others pages in order to get to know each other.
Does any one have any strategies and ideas for me as a first time user? Hope to hear from you soon.
December 27th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Sorry for the late reply!
What I found works pretty good is to have all the students add me, the teacher, as a friend at the very beginning. Make it a 20 point assignment (change value depending on total class points) and make it mandatory. I found that students never really used the group, but I plan to use one next semester. I think it’s because students want to feel cool by being part of a group, but they don’t actually want to do the extra work required.
What you need to do though is create a system for them to use the means of communication. For example, you can’t just create a group and expect people to use it. What I am going to do next semester is have my students blog on a regular basis. I won’t being doing all that much with Facebook except posting announcements and assignments. Which is great with Facebook because it saves printing time.
Two applets you need with Facebook are My Questions and My Files. At the beginning make sure you create an assignment for them to download from your My Files and have the assignment add the My Questions applet and respond to your question you post. If you would like more specifics here let me know.
Good luck and please spread the Facebook word!
January 18th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Hi there! Found this blog post via a Google search, thought I’d throw a link you way to an application I am building for Facebook to address this very issue. It’s called Tassl and is meant to be a way for students to collaborate on all things academic within Facebook. It currently has up-to-date course information for 50 universities which makes it easy for students to quickly set up their schedule and start connecting to each other, posting assignments, exams, and discussions!
It’s at tassl.com!
January 18th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Greg: this is sooo freaken sweet!
Do you have a forum or wiki for development of your project? If so, let me know because I might be interested in helping with development, or giving some ideas.
January 18th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Yup — there’s a blog at tassl.blogspot.com. I also have a technical blog at codingthriller.blogspot.com that touches a bit on some of the back-end. Just drop a comment on the tassl blog with any ideas you have, thanks!