Thursday, April 18, 2013

Thing #18

Facebook!

 
 
Social networking through Facebook is something that I have done for a while, and truly enjoy.  I was in my undergrad when Facebook first came out and was only available to students with college email addresses.  Facebook has changed a lot since its inception and I think it is important for teachers to know just how much social networking is a part of the lives of students today.  Social networking has the ability to be a great resource for reaching students and supporting their learning, but it can also have negative influences via bullying or inappropriate student-teacher communication. 
 
I like Facebook for its social aspect, but I would be hesitant to use it for my class.  Although you can create a class Facebook page, it is also linked to the social aspects of Facebook and I want to keep clear lines between my personal life and my professional life.  Students just don't need to know everything about me.  I know I can put security settings to keep students from being able to find my profile, but I just don't want to take the risk.  I would much rather create a classroom blog or wiki that is specifically designed for educational purposes.  I did not sign up for a Twitter account because I absolutely do not want one.  I understand that it can be used in a positive way for the classroom, but I just don't have any use for it and would rather not create another social media account.

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