Department Facebook page?
Slightly more than a month ago, inspired by the idea of engaging students semi-anonymously via Facebook, I decided to try setting up an (unofficial) Facebook page, with the hope of turning it official should it take off. In my mind, the main advantages of using Facebook were that…
- Many students are already on Facebook, and check it rather regularly.
- Publicised events would (by default) show up on (subscribed) students’ news feeds.
- Teachers who participate in maintaining the page should be able to remain anonymous (I think).
A month on, student participation rate has been extremely minimal – although to date it’s managed to gather a whopping 200 followers, the only interaction I’ve had from them is approximately 5 people ‘liking’ certain posts I’d made. Given that I’d hoped for more interaction and discussion, it’s kind of disappointing that the page has been relegated into a mere noticeboard for department-relevant events and competitions (and a weekly read, though I’ve no clue if anyone’s really following those). On the other hand, at least it’s not a total white elephant!
Any thoughts on what I could do to improve the page’s utility? Should I just be satisfied with the current status? Ashley had suggested some (of his students’) ideas in a previous post, but those seem to be more about specific projects than long-term Facebook-based interaction.
Posted on April 4, 2010, in Education, Technology. Bookmark the permalink. 3 Comments.
Hmm, I think that any long term educational use of something like Facebook should be based on one or more social needs. What are your students’ and/or department’s social needs?
For example, I am aware of some teachers in a school here that use Facebook to keep each other informed on the latest “best deals” or places to eat. If they find something educationally useful to the group, they might post it there as well!
The need might be emergent or it might evolve. For example, my need to use Twitter began as a need to experiment and then the need changed to the need to share my ideas, share edtech resources, learn from other educators and “meet” with other like-minded folks.
It can take a bit of time, so hang in there!
a humble suggestion =) i think maybe the tone? perhaps be less formal – to a certain extent of course. and it really depends on your purpose for using facebook….is it to get to know the students better? or is it to facilitate their academic learning?
um…for myself, i’d use facebook really more for the former. for the latter, a private blog or something? so i wldnt mind say, commenting on THEIR personal issues? or ‘like’ing their personal statuses as well.
but your preference, dear. maybe thats toeing the line for you! you’re more experienced anyway, =p
Ah, but as you’ve no doubt discovered by now, there are opposing opinions and goals at work here! It’s difficult to have a department page without a certain level of formality, if it is meant to represent the views/ideas of your department.
I’ve actually already got a number of students (those who bothered adding me) as Facebook friends, and use a private blog for information dissemination purposes, but was actually trying to see if Facebook works as a channel of information dissemination & academic learning – doesn’t seem to be the case, so far!
I suspect they simply don’t want to do anything work-like while on Facebook… (well, I know I won’t!)