Chapter 5: FACEBOOK
WHAT IS FACEBOOK?
Facebook is a social networking website that makes it easy for you to connect
and share with your family and friends online. Originally designed for college
students, Facebook was created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg while he was
enrolled at Harvard University. By 2006, anyone over the age of 13 with a
valid email address could join Facebook. Today, Facebook is the world's
largest social network, with more than 1 billion users worldwide.
There are a number of distinctive features that make Facebook ready to educational
searches. For example, Facebook is equipped with:
1. Bulletin boards,
2. Instant messaging,
3. Email
4. Ability to post videos and pictures.
5. Post information and collaborate within the system.
ADVANTAGES OF FACEBOOK
Social networks, such as Facebook, can provide the following:
1. Numerous other pedagogical advantages to both teachers and students.
2. Connects students with other students, indirectly creating a learning community
3. Provides instructors opportunities and structures by which students can help and
support one another by building their courses a top the community already established
by the students themselves.
4. Internet based learning modules actively engage students in a manner unique from the
traditional class lecture.
5. Increases both teacher-student and student-student interaction in the form of webbased communication.
6. Helps instructors connect with their students about assignments, upcoming events,
useful links, and samples of work outside of the classroom.
7. Students can use Facebook to contact classmates about questions regarding class
assignments or examinations.
WAYS OF USING FACEBOOK IN EDUCATION
1. Follow news feeds. Have students follow news feeds relevant to the course
material in order to keep current information flowing through the class.
2. Share book reviews. Students can post their book reviews for the instructor
to grade and other students to read.
3. Practice a foreign language. Students learning a foreign language can
connect with native speakers through groups or fan opportunities.
4. Create groups. You can create groups for entire classes or for study groups
with smaller subsets of students that allow for easy sharing of information
and communication, without students even having to friend each other.
5. Schedule events. From beginning of semester mixers to after-finals
celebrations, easily schedule events for the entire class using Facebook.
6. Send messages. From unexpected absences to rescheduling exams, it's
easy to send messages through Facebook.
7. Share multimedia. With the ability to post videos, photos, and more, you
can share multimedia content easily with the entire class.
8. Post class notes. Post notes after each class period for students to have
access for review or in case they were absent.