Using Facebook in the Classroom

New How-To Guide for Using Facebook in the Classroom By Clara Pak on August 16, 2013 5:50 PM Commissioned by Facebook, an education think tank in the United Kingdom recently created a "Facebook Guide for Educators." As of May 2013, 1.1 billion people worldwide are using Facebook, making the social network "rich with potential for learning," states the guide by The Education Foundation. The 20-page manual outlines the functions Facebook allows and how educators can tailor them for their own classrooms. For example, teachers can use Facebook Groups to communicate with parents. They can share information about an upcoming school trip or staff contact details. Students can also use group pages to collaborate on projects, post research, ...


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"Facebook in classroom, bad idea?

Social networking sites are extremely popular among students, but there appear to be two competing trends for social media in school classrooms and on university campuses.
Some teachers and lecturers are embracing Facebook and Twitter as new ways of communicating with students, and some universities and school boards are banning access to social networking tools entirely, citing security concerns... http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/facebook-in-classroom-bad-idea-1.803105

I personally think that teachers who take the time and trouble to investigate and research the use of Facebook in class, and who do their due diligence to set parameters for acceptable behavior and  safety, can offer their students and themselves a very satisfying experience with it. On the other hand, there are other, more recently arrived Social Media resources that may serve the needs of teachers and students better...