Teachers are always looking for new and better ways to engage their students in the material they’re learning. And with so many kids interested in technology and social networking, the teacher who can master these mediums can utilize them as tools and integrate them into the classroom setting. While Facebook has tons of useful applications, it can be a lot to digest for someone who is new to social networking. So take some time to learn your way around the site and heed a few hints (and warnings) before you bring it to class.
1. Create a private group. The safest way to introduce Facebook into your classroom is with a private group. This way you can make sure that people outside the class don’t have access to the students or anything they may be posting. Plus, creating a group will give the students a sense of unity and belonging.
2. Keep it professional. If you have a personal Facebook page, do not encourage students to contact you there and do not accept them as friends. This kind of fraternization outside of class could land you in hot water with the school board (depending on their policy) or with parents who deem it inappropriate. So stay professional and address the class as a whole.
3. Get permission. Some parents may not be comfortable allowing their children on Facebook, even if it is associated with school. So send home a permission slip for parents to sign that explains your intent and the expectations of the class page. This way they won’t be surprised to find their children online after class.
4. Consider all comments carefully. You should be prepared for the fact that some students may not understand the etiquette involved in a class group or they may post negative comments about you, the class, or the school. But before you arbitrarily remove anything you deem inappropriate, consider it for merit. If it is blatantly hostile or flaunts school rules, then you should probably remove it and discuss polite conduct with the class. If, on the other hand, the student is simply exercising their freedom of speech, maybe you should use their comments to start a class discussion on the topic to see if others share their feelings.
5. Create a class blog. Allow students to contribute thoughts and feelings on subjects discussed in class so that others can comment. Think about using it as an ongoing assignment or extra credit project to help students hone their writing and critical thinking skills.
6. Check out SlideShare. This is a neat app that allows you to create slide shows with your pics, so use it to post photos of your field trip for kids to show their parents or make programs to better illustrate certain lessons to the class.
7. Post updates. The wall is a great way to post updates on classroom projects, upcoming field trips, or useful information and resources for students. You can even use it to post assignments. Just make sure they know to check it.
8. Find a sister school. If your school already has a sister school in another part of the country (or even overseas), you’re already a step ahead. If not, see if you can connect with another teacher to get your kids communicating with students around the world. Consider coordinating a lesson that both classes will participate in so that all of the children can get another perspective on an issue, and perhaps create friendships that span the globe.
9. Take polls. Would you like to get feedback on how certain lessons were received by the class? Set up a poll for instant information on how to improve your teaching (or just to make a particular subject more interactive).
10. Stay connected. Since students can more or less post around the clock, you’ll have to remain diligent about monitoring the activity to ensure that nothing goes amiss. Facebook can be a great tool for the classroom, but only if everyone understands that it is an extension of academic teaching and not an excuse for students to act out or engage in harmful gossip.
Kyle Simpson writes for a medical billing website where you can find information on a career in medical billing industry.