Is There Room for Facebook in The Classroom Setting?

Examining the world we live in today social media is all around us. Whether or not we implement it into our classrooms, students will still be exposed to it, so why not turn this into a positive thing. Society is so consumed with what educators use to teach students, instead of evaluating the benefits they will get from it. When using Facebook or any type of social media in the classroom we automatically think of all the negatives, without fully grasping how effective these tools can have on students education. If used and monitored properly I believe Facebook as well as any social media can have great effect on students education.

Bernie Poole states strong points as to why Internet in classrooms can be damaging not only to the child, but their education and overall life. However when reading this article something that over looked his arguments was the solutions he provides. To every problem isn't there always a solution, or some way of addressing the issue at hand. According to Poole solution he quotes Pleshette by stating "punishing a student by restricting digital access is like taking away the textbook in a math, social studies, or English lit class" (2011). This addresses families and teachers who believe that students shouldn't be expose to social media in classrooms. By preventing students access to technology we are restricting them from the real world around them. 

Some of the pros to consider when using Facebook are the interactions students can get from communicating with other peers in different parts of the world. Facebook can be used to open doors for students to experience how technology can be used as a resource in the classroom. If students can be educated in the classroom, why can't they be educated with the use of social media? In the article "5 Best Practices For Educators on Facebook " the author highlights how a teacher turned Facebook into a positive for his students by exposing them to ocean field research (2011). 

Facebook can also be used as an assistance for teachers to create learning beyond the classroom setting. It allow students to understand learning can happen everywhere, and through anything when used accordingly. You can even use Facebook as a way of showing what to expect when using the Internet, and show how to avoid situations they might encounter when using it. 

Although Facebook have some positives, it can also have a negative effect on students. Poole highlights key issues students may face such as young children being exposed to inappropriate material, are given inaccurate or bias information, online predators, and cyberbullying (2011). All these issues Poole state can't be avoided and this is what causes fear of social media in classroom settings. I think it's important to know as parents and future educators what information is being disclosed to students when using the Internet. 

As a future educator I will use Facebook for classroom trips,sharing links, and to relay information that may not have came up in class. On classroom trips students will be given a series of questions, and they will have to take a picture of the answer, and upload it to Facebook as if they are on a scavenger hunt. This allows fun and learning to continue to happen outside the class. Also if given a  lesson and I forget to mention something in class I will form a group using Facebook, to share notes and links with the class. Overall I think Facebook can be very effective in the classroom if teachers have knowledge of how to use it to foster learning. 

References 

Fog-Phillips L., Fog B., Baird D. Facebook for Educators (2011). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/FBforEducators?sk=app_182667455607

Facebook in Education (2009). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/education

Poole B. (2011, September 12). Education World: Integrating the Internet: Risks and Solutions Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/poole/poole018.shtml

Kessler S. (2011, December 5). 5 Best Practices for Educators on Facebook Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2011/12/05/educators-on-facebook/

Stewart S. (2011) Just to let you know Facebook does not have the ability to cure cancer, solve global warming or make you a better teacher Retrieved from 

http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.co.nz/2011/04/just-to-let-you-knowfacebook-does-not.html