Pretty much everyone these days has a Facebook account. I think there are a lot of positive things that come from using Facebook- such as staying connected with friends and even using it for educational purposes. However, before we talk about how Facebook can be used as an educational tool, I feel that it is important to note that there are a lot of negatives and controversies that are associated with it as well. One of the biggest problems with Facebook deals with privacy concerns. Some people share inappropriate information, while others just share way too much personal information. This creates two very important problems: first, it can reveal something you wouldn’t want your current/future employer or teacher/school administrator to find out, and second (and most importantly!) it can put your personal safety at risk. Thus, it’s very important to always check your privacy settings to make sure that only those you want to see your profile can. Also, if you have a young child or teen at home using Facebook, it’s important to monitor their use, because I’m sure we’ve all heard the horror stories of predators using social networking to prey on the young.
With that being said, Facebook can be integrated into the classroom and library in fun and unique ways! Here are just a few ideas:
Create a private group for reading discussions: Librarians could post a book for students to read and then guide them in a discussion of the book through the private group page. This is a great idea to use during the summer- or even during the school year. This could really help increase student engagement and excitement about reading.
Create a “teacher account” for use with students and parents: Teachers and librarians could create a Facebook account just to be used to communicate with students and parents. This would be a great place to post homework assignments, as well as answer any questions students may have about their assignments.
Post lesson information: Ok, so this idea may be a little different and more time consuming- but a good idea nonetheless. Say, for example, a teacher had created a few Powerpoint slides to present to her class. These could be posted to the teacher’s “teacher account” on Facebook for students to review at home.
Post links to educational sites: Since Facebook is all about sharing information, it would be a great place to post links to helpful educational sites or even sample quizzes. Again, this could be posted to the teacher’s “teacher account.”
For all you current teachers and librarians out there- please feel free to post ways you have incorporated Facebook!
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