I find that also. Facebook becoming more of an addiction and a road block to learning. It's more of a socializing network. Unless this is what they are going to do at work, then it becomes theft of time at work.
Darlene,
yes, it's definitely a personal choice regarding the connections via social media with our students. But, you will probably learn & see more than you had bargained for, so beware.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I agree. I do not accept students on my personal facebook account, but the school has a face book account which I can be-friend the students on. This seems to be ok, although I have to admit, there is more on there than I want to know.
Mazen,
definitely understandable. I do believe there is value, but to your point it must be carefully managed & appropriateness taught.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I seems that social networks have become another form of authority for the younger students. It is not just the professor, the textbook (less often read) nor the parents; but social media.
Unfortunately, it can also be detrimental and a horrendous time waster if not controlled. Basically, I have yet to understand and/or appreciate the value!
Scott,
I agree with you & this is where I believe we have a great opportunity to educate our students on the appropriate & professional use of these tools, rather than just shying away from them altogether.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Ted,
I think this is a great example of the effective use of social networking for educational purposes. I personally would discourage the use "in class" but for these types of activities it can be very helpful.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I am going to approach this question a little bit differently. While social networking can be very beneficial I believe that there are a number of problems associated with it that can negatively influence students. I know I am not the only one out there that believes this, but students today lack face-to-face interaction and communication and interpersonal skills. Social media and smart phones have taken away the need to communicate with an “actual†person. Often times I think that students fall into the convenience of digital communication and neglect the fact that the real world requires personal communication. I agree that this need in many cases is diminishing; however it is still very important. From a professional development standpoint social media and networking can be detrimental. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard or seen people post something on a social media profile, whether it be a photo or text, that really places them in a bad spot. I am continuously telling my student to be very cautious about what they post and to NOT post anything that they would want their grandmother or preacher to see. As a hiring manager for a number of years, I no longer request a reference page….I simply search for prospective employee on the internet, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. I feel that these sources provide a true “inside†look of who the person is. Regardless of what anyone think, these are not 100% secure and with the literally hundreds of “friends†that people have on these social media accounts, you can find something on everyone. The last 5 interviews I had, I seen what the person looks like, seen their friends and family, hobbies, where they have worked and education before they have filled out an application, submitted a resume and or were interviewed. Social Networking is a very “real†game that can be very beneficial and or detrimental depending on how it is used.
Cohorts have set up class Facebook pages to discuss assignments, explain concepts, strategize for tests, share information resources, share job leads & so forth. And they often maintain their personal Facebook, Twitter, IM as well.
They get ten minutes of every class hour to break & get their sites, but site checking is not a classroom activity.
LinkedIn is an effective tool to start networking with professionals in their chosen profession before completing college.
Social networking appears to be the norm for the Gen Y group. It is hard to get them back to the lecture materials and group participation when they have access to the texting, socializing on their laptops and phones. I have had students so hooked on the games that they will hide their phones and not really be hearing the instructions and learning. When I call on them for answers they say I don't know. When it comes to testing, they expected to get the knowledge from what you gave them to study powerpoints and handouts instead of what was shared in the class. I have often thought that if I could interrupt their phone with a message they may remember that for the test better than the spoken words!!
I agree, social networking canbe seen as a disadvantage at times. Getting the answeres from others instead of doing the work yourself is an example.
I think it greatly influences how they not only find additional information but how they can work in groups & share thoughts & ideas with each other through texting, facebook, Skype, etc immediately & without having to set up an actual "study session" at the library around everyone's hectic schedules. It allows them connect with a larger group of people as well.
NATHAN,
it's definitely something that should be individually considered & carefully monitored & evaluated.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
These tools are very useful as they provide an immediate connection to getting help through there contacts. However there is a thin line in "friending" students on Facebook as my establishment views it as crossing into Fraternization.
I have not been using Facebook for my classes. You bring up a great point that I had not considered. If I do use this technology I will be mindful of the possibility of cheating.
My experience has shown that it makes knowledge more readily accesible to this generation. However, I feel it also makes them lazy learners because it is so easily accesible.
Katrina,
and these type of situations are a great eye opener to our students & a great teaching opportunity to show them the value of actually learning the material & process.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I agree with this statement. People will always find ways to do what they want to do. I try to take away any easy opportunity to do so, but at the same time, that decision to cheat will really only effect them later on. In my class, we have a lab portion in which there really is no way to cheat the system. You either pass or fail. If they can't understand the didactic portion and need to cheat, they ultimately won't be able to understand the concepts for the lab and will not be able to progress.
Maria Luisa,
sadly those students who are prone to do wrong & cheat will find a way. While technology has definitely made cheating easier, the reality is that students have always found a way to cheat.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
