Class+2_Team+2

Facebook: Friend Request Accepted

=**Introduction** = ==== When most people think about Facebook, they instantly think about teens from around the world logging into a popular social media website. However, many schools around the United States have recently begun introducing Facebook into the classroom as a way to better connect with their students. Could introducing Facebook into the average classroom be a positive integration tool, or should educators have students leave Facebook at home? ====

=**What is Facebook?** = ==== Facebook is the name of a social-networking service and web site, launched in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and as of February 2012 has more than 845 million active users. The website entitled //EnhancED- new media tools and resources for enhancing education// states that Facebook is “ a platform for communicating with "friends" by sharing information about yourself and what you are doing or thinking, and for connecting with groups, institutions, consumer products, and public individuals via their more formal "pages" on the site.” Active users of Facebook do much more than simply connect with friends. The social networking site allows users to upload photos and videos, comment on items your friends have on their page, privatize or publicize whatever you want others to see, and play games like Farmville and Cityville to compete with friends. In using Facebook in the classroom, students will be able to communicate with their classmates and teachers in a more effective manner. They are able to catch up on any missed work by viewing the class website. Families and others can also be granted access to the website to observe the progress being made in the class. ====

=**History of Facebook** = **January 2004** Mark Zuckerberg begins writing online codes for website ** February 2004 **Zuckerberg launches thefacebook.com, restricted to Harvard students ** March 2004 **thefacebook.com expands to other universities ** Mid 2004 **entrepreneur Sean Parker becomes company’s president ** June 2004 **thefacebook.com receives first investment from PayPal co-founder Peter Theil ** Early 2005 **thefacebook.com drops “the” from name ** September 2005 **Facebook launches high-school version which required invitation to join* ** September 200 ** ** 6 ** everyone of age 13 up with valid email address can now join Facebook ** March 2010 **more people visit Facebook.com than Google.com ** April 2010 **approximately 41.6% of US population has a Facebook account ** June 2011 **Facebook.com most visited site in the world ** December 2011 **Facebook.com most accessed website in the US ** February 2012 **Facebook.com files for initial public offering
 * *This is when Facebook began being integrated into the classroom. Students, their peers, their parents and their teachers could now communicate through a social network **

=**Advantages of Facebook** = ==== There are numerous ways that Facebook can be beneficial in a school setting. The biggest issue, though, is to get over the idea of using Facebook as an educational tool. Many people think that there is no benefit for Facebook and it is just a waste of time from an educational standpoint. Yet if you sit down and actually think about what Facebook provides, you might be surprised to find that it can actually expand a classroom beyond just the physical space. In the online article // 100 Ways You Should Be Using Facebook in Your Classroom //, “Teachers can utilize Facebook for class projects, for enhancing communication, and for engaging students in a manner that might not be entirely possible in traditional classroom settings” (Anonymous, 2009). Facebook can take learning to another level and the learning doesn’t stop once the school day is over. Students and teachers can collaborate together to discuss topics outside of class. Also, parents can remain in the loop of what is happening during the school day and what their children are learning. Some examples of how to incorporate Facebook into the classroom are: ====
 * ==== Class projects such as following news stories, keeping up with politicians, and sharing book reviews ====
 * ==== Enhancing communication by posting homework, sharing interesting websites, making announcements, and allowing for another way for students and parents to communicate with a teacher outside of class ====

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 * Examples of Ways to use Facebook in the Classroom **

=Disadvantages/Issues = ====Although integrating Facebook into the classroom is a great idea, there are many disadvantages and issues with incorporating a social network. If Facebook gets mixed with home life, students may start dealing with issues of cyber bullying. A student could create a fake account and begin to harass other students. Scams are another concerning issue. Another disadvantage with Facebook is scams. According to the article, //The Impact of Facebook on Our Students// it states, “There are 1000’s of scams targeting teens in their social network, especially Facebook” (Fodeman and Monroe, 2009). Students are naïve and are easily taken advantage of on the Internet. They are bombarded with website links that are viruses and scams. Students click on sites that they are cool but really are just fake. One other disadvantage of Facebook is that if the school is to allow access to the site it would take a lot of Internet bandwidth to run. Lastly, Facebook can be a waste of time if used inappropriately. If not monitored, students can become obsessed with the website and Facebook is no longer an effective tool to enhance learning. Students may become very distracted and will not pay attention to their studies.====

=**Future Direction of Using Facebook in the Classroom** = ====Have you ever wondered what direction social networking is headed in today’s academic world? According to the Nation School Boards Association (2007), almost 60% of students who use social networking talk about education topics online; and, surprisingly, more than 50% talk specifically about schoolwork (Solomon 85). Since students are already making the effort to expand their academic learning across social networking sites, it is very likely that they will continue to do so throughout their academic career. Facebook allows teachers, students, and parents an opportunity to learn about technology while using it as a resourceful tool in the classroom. With Facebook’s numerous applications and abilities, students will be able to perform tasks electronically. Creating online groups, sending messages, posting homework assignments, and teaching responsibility are just a few of the opportunities that Facebook will give our students. Teachers can create a Facebook page for their classroom that includes scheduled events, class notes, and news sources. Teachers will also be able to communicate with parents by sharing private messages and letting them know exactly what their son or daughter is learning throughout the school year. Using Facebook in the classroom, whether for academic social interactions or scheduled assignments, will only help our student’s future--not hurt it.====

=**Conclusion & Final Thoughts** = ====It is no surprise that Facebook has made a crucial impact in today’s society. From a future educator’s perspective, why not integrate such a powerful tool into the classroom? Since most students are already familiar and comfortable with the social networking device, it only seems fit to use as a collaborative learning tool. Though it has its advantages and disadvantages (as many new technology programs do), we need to remember that it is part of our children’s natural environment to be socially interactive. Using Facebook among teachers, students, and parents is just one way to open the doors to a new way of learning. Connecting to young learners and today’s generation of technologically advanced people will only increase their desire to be successful and stay focused. By integrating Facebook into our classrooms, we can all remain connected and on the same page regarding our student’s success.====

=**References** = Coleman, O. (2010, October 9). Today's Lesson: Facebook. Friend or enemy in the Classroom. In //A Principal's Reflections//. Retrieved February 8, 2012, from []

  "Facebook." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, 10 Feb. 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. < [] >.

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Fodeman, D., & Monroe, M. (2009, February 10). The Impact of Facebook on Our Students. In //National Association of Independent Schools//. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from http://www.nais.org/resources/article.cfm?ItemNumber=151505

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Preston, M. (2011, February 3). Facebook in the Classroom. In //EnhancED- new media tools and resources for enhancing education//. Retrieved February 8, 2012, from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Richmond, S., & Heaven, W. (Photographer). (2011). Will Facebook Conquer the World. [Photograph].

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2010). //Web 2.0: How-To for Educators// (pp. 79-100). Washington, DC: International Society for Technology in Education.

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">100 Ways You Should Be Using Facebook in Your Classroom. (2009, October 20). In //OnlineCollege.org//. Retrieved February 7, 2012, from http://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/10/20/100-ways-you-should-be-using-facebook-in-your-classroom/

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