Using Facebook in the modern classroom is essential when incorporating Web 2.0 in the classroom. Facebook itself claims to be “an online directory that connects people through social networks at schools.” This in itself shows that Facebook can and should be used at school.

It allows for groups to be formed, which as a teacher, would be the way to conduct a classroom forum whilst using Facebook. Some of the positive aspects about Facebook (as a teacher) are the following:

• It is EASY TO MONITER – unlike MySpace or a similar networking website, when one signs in as the administator to the Group – you can see exactly what specific people have written / posted / drawn on their page, but also on the group page
• It is EASY TO USE – kids today know about all the newtworking sites and probably already have their own page. Facebook is easy to use, both from the students perspective, but, most importantly, from the teacher’s perspective because it is easy to grasp and when setting up a profile or a group, it allows a step-by-step process which helps enormously
• The STUDENTS LOVE IT – remember back to when you were a student. Sitting in front of you was a textbook, probably larger than a modern computer and you were forced to read (throughout the year) every page, and answer every question. Now, students can sit in front of a computer and join a discussion about Romeo and Juliet or the Cuban Missile Crisis. They can follow links to specific pages, answer questions which have been placed on the group site by the teacher and even upload videos, music or images. MUCH more exciting than a textbook.
• It CATERS TO ALL LEARNING TYPES – the internet is the gateway for all learning. By capitalising on this gateway, the teacher can also find links that contain the same information, in a variety of ways, so to cater for the different learning styles. For example, those who learn best musically, there could be a link to listen to a scene of Romeo and Juliet; for those that learn best spatially, there could be video of the same scene from Romeo and Juliet; for those that learn liguistically, there could be a link to the written version of the scene; for those who learn by talking with others, there could be a forum you direct them to. The internet is full of open possibilities.
• Students can ACCESS IT ANYWHERE – by using a internet page, the students are pretty much guarenteed to have the internet set up at home (and if not they can go to their local library and use it there). This makes setting and checking homework that much easier. It also allows those students who didn’t finish the lesson or those who are sick and missed the lesson, able to catch up easier and speedier.

However, along with all the possibilities, there are some drawbacks to using Facebook in the classroom

• It can BE DISTRACTING – students will be students, and the first lesson will not be anything about what it is intended to be. They will be so interested becoming friends wih everyone and adding applications such as FunWall, that they will not get any work done. So long as they have a clear goal of what needs to be acheived by the end of the lesson, this crisis can be averted.
• It can be HARD TO KEEP STUDENTS ON TRACK – as mentioned in the previous point, without a set-in-stone, clear, concise directions, the student will easily stray off course and not complete their work. By setting minimum word lengths on responses as well as a list of tasks that are clearly labled ‘Tasks EXPECTED to be completed’, it should keep the students on track, which means that the teacher will have to have a decent lesson plan and have the work prepared before entering the classroom.

I think that internet sites such as Facebook have enormous potential when it comes to online learning; and teaching using Web 2.0. I think that Facebook, for the present, is the website to use when setting up a classroom on the internet. It is collaborative, creative, incorporates a multitude of media and is highly structed – which are CRITICAL when using Web 2.0 in the classroom.

To view my Facebook profile, follow this link:

http://ndedu.facebook.com/profile.php?id=722778032

Using an online website can be challenging. In order for it to be successful and a classroom where learning is the first priority, the following things need to be kept in mind:

It must be CREATIVE – The students need to be creative in order to be able to have fun while learning. If they are not interested and are not having fun, then they have no motivation or interest in pursuing their work.

 It must be COLLABORATIVE- Online collaboration is the way of the future – being a key point in Web 2.0. Students who can collaborate are able to correct each other anonymously, have their say without feeling embarrassed and can work from home, continuing their learning as they are able access online collaboration (such as a Wiki) from anywhere.

It must use a MULTITUDE OF MEDIA - Again, to keep the interest of the class at a peak, it is essential that a multitude of media is used while collaborating and creating on a online classroom. It is also imperative to use a multitude of media so that the different learning styles are catered to.

It must be HIGHLY STRUCTURED – In order for an online classroom to work successfully, it must have a highly structed learning pattern. Students should know exactly what they need to do and exactly what is expected of them (in doing so, they should know the consequences if they misuse the computers). This is a key element which should be embedded in the teacher’s lesson plan.

It must allow students to MULTI-TASK – Multi-tasking is an important and useful skill for all students. The way on which this could be acheived could be by telling them they need to have copious amounts of windows open when working. But in doing so, the teacher must make sure they are on task.

Students should be able to TRUST AND HAVE CONFIDENCE WHEN POSTING – Students who are contributing to a Wiki are able to do so anonymously, if they wish. This is an aspect of the classroom that needs to be dealt with before going on the computers. If it should get out of hand, you can always refer to the classroom rules.