How to Use Facebook with Students to Promote a Deeper Intellectual Relationship

What students lack in school is 

an intellectual relationship or conversation 

with the teacher. 

William Glasser 

One of my students just posted this observation on Facebook:

"Life's a Garden...Dig It!"   

I wrote to him:

i like the idea of "Life's a Garden...Dig It!"     can you expand on that thought?   That's what an essay could be... it's an excellent title for an essay.   You could find three stories (three examples) to show how digging leads to flowers and other treasures...

Facebook can be used as a way of interacting with students.   Students appear to let their guard down when they are on Facebook, and yet a casual comment on Facebook can mark the kid for a year or more.   Some of the observations that studnets make on FB can be turned into essay topics.

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The students wrote back on Facebook:    What you mean Find three stories, or come up an write three stories?

I replied:

A typical essay has a statement and two or three examples to support the statement.   You made the comment that Life is a garden.   You could point out three ways that support your observation.    Take the time to persuade people to accept this idea that life is a place where we grow things (or whatever you believe).   Instead of just dropping a bumper sticker on facebook, take the time to develop this idea.   it could turn into an essay.   This is how to grow a strong brain.   

Then I reinforced the point:

Dr. Daniel Amen points out how to stimulate blood flow to the brain.  You can make a short journey into facebook and post a sentence (small blood flow).   You can also spend ten or fifteen minutes writing an outline and then developing each idea that supports the main idea of life and gardens.  (That effort builds the brain).

My hope is that I can use Facebook as a way to connect with a student outside the classroom to reinforce what happens in the classroom.

Many articles have been written about using discussion groups to support what happens in class.   There are privacy issues and suggestions that a professor should not see what a student posts.   However, it is only when the professor and student are "friends" that many of the comments appear on my wall.  That's how I often find out what my students are thinking.   If they post a link remarking about the value of a movie or song, then I have gotten a small glimpse at what is going on in their lives.

Comments?

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Resources about the dangers of Facebook and contact between teachers and students


http://www.ednfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/Facebookguideforeducators.pdf

Facebook and teachers: Still a potentially dangerous ... - Blogs
blogs.ajc.com/.../facebook-and-teachers...



The Atlanta Journal‑Constitution
Aug 23, 2010 - While ex Barrow County teacher Ashley Payne still awaits her day in court over the Facebook page photos of her trip to Europe that landed her ...
Teacher's Photo Goes Viral In Brilliant Lesson on the Dangers
thestir.cafemom.com/technology/.../teachers_photo_goes_viral...



CafeMom
Nov 27, 2013 - Parents and teachers can tell you that the best way to get an ... "liked" by almost 7,000 people on Facebook and shared more than 400 times.
Teacher learns a lesson after social media experiment - Today
► 2:11► 2:11
www.today.com/video/.../5370712...



The Today Show
Dec 1, 2013
Video on TODAY.com: When a Tennessee teacher put a photo ... a fifth grade teacher wants to teach her ...
Facebook Firing: Teacher Loses Job After Commenting ...
abcnews.go.com › Technology



ABC News
Aug 19, 2010 - Massachusetts eacher asked to resign after calling students "germ bags" on Facebook.
Teacher goes viral with lesson about dangers of posting ...

www.cbc.ca/.../teacher-goes-viral-with-lesson-about-dan...



CBC.ca
by Lauren O'Neil - in 71 Google+ circles
Nov 27, 2013 - Teacher goes viral with lesson about dangers of posting online ..... Cumulatively, it has more than 800,000 Facebook likes. The result of her ...

For further reading:

100 Ways to Use Facebook in the Classroom ...

www.onlinecollege.org/.../100-ways-you-should-be-using-facebook-in-y...

May 21, 2012 - A lesson in social media etiquette: Use Facebook in the classroom as an opportunity to teach students how to be safe, polite, and effective ...

How To: Create a Classroom Facebook Page | Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.171939742861067.56325...

Here is a quick slideshow to show you how to get started using Facebook Pages. You can learn more about using Facebook in your classroom by visiting www.

Teaching Digital Kids | Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/safety/groups/teachers/

Please keep in mind that different schools and districts have varying policies about the useof social media in the classroom. Be sure to understand your school's ...

New How-To Guide for Using Facebook in the Classroom ...

blogs.edweek.org/.../a_how-to_guide_for_teachers_using_facebook_in_...

Aug 16, 2013 - For example, teachers can use Facebook Groups to communicate with ... allows and how educators can tailor them for their own classrooms.

Facebook HOW TO USE FACEBOOK IN YOUR CLASSROOM

https://blendedlearninginesl.wikispaces.com/Facebook+++HOW+TO+US...

50 reasons to use facebook in your classroom source: http://www.onlinecollege.org/2011/07/18/50-reasons-to-invite-facebook-into-your-classroom/ ...

Facebook (Classroom And Instructional Uses) | Emerging ...

www.emergingedtech.com/category/facebook/

tips and techniques for incorporating facebook in the classroom and educational setting. ... 5 Fun Ways to Use Facebook in Your Lesson Plans and Teaching.

50 Reasons to Invite Facebook Into Your Classroom ... - KQED

blogs.kqed.org/.../50-reasons-to-invite-facebook-into-yo...

KQED

by Tina Barseghian - in 776 Google+ circles

Aug 5, 2011 - Students can use Facebook productively: Most students use Facebook to procrastinate or catch up with friends, but using it in the classroom