Assessment criterion 1.5

Assessment criterion 1.5 I have decided to have a look at how other people are using Facebook in an educational setting and have come across some interesting ideas. Probably the most interesting one is that some people are using the social nature of Facebook to foster a sense of belonging to the class in their students, and to build bonds between the students and between the students and their teacher. They try to do this by creating a teacher profile and by asking their students to friend them using a limited profile (i.e. without showing their status updates, videos, photos etc.). The teacher can then make class lists, enabling them to message everyone on the list, or if somebody is absent they can message just that student to see if they are OK. They can also post assignments and message students if an assignment hasn’t been received when it should have been. The teacher can also upload examples of exemplary work to act as a model or to motivate students to achieve the desired standard. Students can upload photos or videos of themselves, working on specific projects, for example. Photo sharing is, apparently, a good way of making people feel part of a group. I haven’t tried using Facebook with a class, but in my last col lege we did have a Facebook page for the college and it was a good way of encouraging more students to take part in the social programme. We used to post photos that we had taken on past events, with everybody smiling and having a great time, of course, and I think they did help students feel part of something, especially as they could comment on them and share their memories. I think it could work with a class, but I think it depends largely on the group of students you have. Obviously, if you are teaching Media, for example, I think the students are predisposed to using technology on a daily basis, whereas those studying History, let’s say, might not be. That is a bit simplified, but you get the point. Even on an individual basis, some students are much fonder of using technology than others, so it may not appeal to everyone. I also think that if as a teacher you are going to use it, you have to be 100 per cent committed to it, or else your students won’t buy into it. With regards to potential issues, well, of course, it would have to be carefully monitored. Students would have to adhere to a strict code of conduct and the teacher would have to check that nothing that constitutes bullying is published. Also, the teacher would have to check that links to unacceptable websites are not published. Also, before commencing on this type of project, the teacher would have to check that everybody has access to reliable Internet access. It should not just be assumed that everybody does. I think the language a teacher uses in the classroom around technology is also important. It shouldn’t just be assumed either that everybody has a smart phone or an iPad or a whatever. Some people don’t. They are not cheap and not within the financial reach of everybody. It should also not be assumed that everybody wants one! If a teacher says in a class, ‘You can access this on your smart phone’ or ‘Check this out on your smart phone, if you have one’ they are immediately dividing the class into haves and have nots and those who don’t have one are going to feel lacking in some way. So, if the use of Facebook is being introduced into a class, I think it has to be done with sensitivity.