You Can't Beat Facebook, So Join It 

Why is it that when people hear the words social networking they immediately jump to the conclusion that it’s bad? I believe that it’s really about fear of the unknown and a lack of knowledge and experience in using these types of tools as learning resources. We can choose to ban or ignore social networking sites or we can begin to embrace them as something that can assist with effective collaborative learning opportunities. Students are using these tools regardless of what we think or do.

Cheryl Capozzoli
Instructional Technology Specialist
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Changing the Map

Social skills are developed in part when children play face to face. The neural circuitry in their brains is constantly mapping connections as they develop understanding of how to share, be a good friend, or interact to get what they want. Small and Vorgan’s study (2008) suggests that the more time we spend online, the weaker social skills become. One caveat is the brain’s ability to remap itself given new information. Children can develop both technology and social skills, as long as a balance of both is maintained. Multimedia opportunities are a part of today’s culture, and the brain is simply developing differently with the integration of these opportunities.

Maria Muzzo
Technology Integration Specialist
Seattle, Washington

In the Virtual World

I think Facebook is as good as face-to-face, and face-to-face is as good as Facebook. In coming years our virtual selves are going to be what a majority of our colleagues are going to know as us. So we should get experience with social interactions done virtually. As broadband becomes built out (cross our fingers), we will move into virtual worlds to do our jobs.

Skip Zalneraitis
English and Social Studies Teacher
Brattleboro, Vermont 

Unspoken Rules

There is an assumption that the message is all there is. Face-to-face allows for much more interaction. Words convey meaning, but inflection, gestures, and other nonverbal expression can give clues to the meaning that is intended but not said.

Lyne Roberts
School District Director of Technology
Battle Creek, Michigan

Socially Synchronous

Life is fundamentally about people and relationships. Relationships contain a core ingredient of real-time interaction as one of many important components. Social networking applications such as Facebook function in asynchronous communication patterns, and I do not believe fully functional relationships can exist with this interactive pattern only.

Mark Carbone
Chief Information Officer
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada 

Letter

Facebook as Educational Tool

If you look at Facebook and the Internet as tools to communicate, you can use Facebook to help students who view it and let them know you are available if they need you. In our library, all of the librarians have Facebook accounts for their specialties, as well as Twitter, Meebo messenger, and other social networking site accounts. This isn’t to “hang out” with students; it’s to make themselves available.

I see Facebook as an opportunity to help students. If you don’t want to see all the bad things they do, either don’t look or use it as a way to remind them to watch what they put on there. Nothing can get inappropriate material removed faster than a teacher commenting on it. 

Another reason a teacher or a parent should "friend" kids on Facebook is to monitor them. If you see that a student’s words seem to take on a depressive or violent feeling, you can often help them before they commit suicide or decide to shoot up the school. The teacher could also make a Facebook page a reference spot by posting helpful sites and information there.

Facebook doesn't need to have negative connotations. The site is what you make of it.

Debi Jarrell
Serials Library Assistant
Delaware State University