Facebook for Student Facebook for Student SuccessSuccess

Susan HawkinsSusan Hawkins

hawkinss@faytechcc.eduhawkinss@faytechcc.edu

What is FacebookWhat is Facebook

• An online social networking serviceAn online social networking service• Allows users to contact friends, co-Allows users to contact friends, co-

workers, or anyone with an account / workers, or anyone with an account / pagepage

• An Internet based communication An Internet based communication tooltool

• A tool our students are actually usingA tool our students are actually using

How Many Facebook Users are How Many Facebook Users are There?There?

• Over 300 million active usersOver 300 million active users• The fastest growing demographic is The fastest growing demographic is

those 35 years and olderthose 35 years and older• More than 8 billion minutes are spent More than 8 billion minutes are spent

on Facebook each day.on Facebook each day.

Example Facebook PageExample Facebook Page

How is Facebook used?How is Facebook used?

• Communication (virtual and real-Communication (virtual and real-time)time)

• ApplicationsApplications• NetworkingNetworking

CommunicationsCommunications

Chat Box

Facebook as an Facebook as an Educational ToolEducational Tool

Facebook as an Educational ToolFacebook as an Educational Tool

• GroupsGroups• ApplicationsApplications• FriendsFriends

Groups as an Educational ToolGroups as an Educational Tool

Groups (Hawkins FTCC Group Groups (Hawkins FTCC Group Members)Members)

Creates one common page for all membersCreates one common page for all membersAllows contact with students without Allows contact with students without

exposing personal informationexposing personal informationAllows messages to be displayed to all Allows messages to be displayed to all

members at the same timemembers at the same timeCreates an interactive environment for both Creates an interactive environment for both

online and face to face studentsonline and face to face students Is housed in a forum that students are Is housed in a forum that students are

familiar with and frequentingfamiliar with and frequenting

GroupsGroups

Communication Communication

Announcements appear on each Announcements appear on each group group member / student’s home pagemember / student’s home page

Students can use the chat function; Students can use the chat function; great for immediate answers to great for immediate answers to

assignment questionsassignment questions

Group PageGroup Page

Chat Boxes

GroupsGroups

• LinksLinksCan post links to outside resources such as Can post links to outside resources such as Webinars and book supplementsWebinars and book supplements

• Discussion BoardDiscussion Board Conversations can be initiated concerning Conversations can be initiated concerning

a a variety of current topics students can variety of current topics students can participate regardless of their class. participate regardless of their class.

Link and Discussion PageLink and Discussion PageLink PageLink Page Events PageEvents Page

Applications as an Educational ToolApplications as an Educational Tool

ApplicationsApplications These provide opportunities for students to These provide opportunities for students to

use skills which enhance their use skills which enhance their understanding of classroom theories.understanding of classroom theories.

These also provide an engaging environment These also provide an engaging environment for students, which can mask the learning for students, which can mask the learning processprocess

Educational?Educational?

• They encourage thinkingThey encourage thinking• Cause students to put into practice Cause students to put into practice

what they have learnedwhat they have learned• Helps them create strategiesHelps them create strategies• Helps in scheduling and time Helps in scheduling and time

managementmanagement

As a Class ProjectAs a Class Project

FarmvilleFarmvilleStudents had to create a farm of their ownStudents had to create a farm of their ownThey had to “work” on the farm for the They had to “work” on the farm for the

semestersemesterA grade is given to students based on the A grade is given to students based on the

experience point level they achieve.experience point level they achieve.The more effort the student contributes the The more effort the student contributes the

higher the gradehigher the grade

FARMVILLEFARMVILLE

How does Farmville WorkHow does Farmville Work

• Students have to plant crops with Students have to plant crops with different maturity rates and different different maturity rates and different payoutspayouts

• They have to determine which maturity They have to determine which maturity times they can work with and which one times they can work with and which one of these has the greatest payoff.of these has the greatest payoff.

• They also have to consider the initial They also have to consider the initial costs associated with planting each costs associated with planting each crop.crop.

Combining TheseCombining These

• Requiring this type of “game” in the Requiring this type of “game” in the classroom encourages student to gain classroom encourages student to gain computer skills without being intimidatedcomputer skills without being intimidated

• It also encourages logging in to Facebook It also encourages logging in to Facebook which allows better communicationwhich allows better communication

• Allows the student to belong to a virtual Allows the student to belong to a virtual community, which actually aids in community, which actually aids in student retention.student retention.

Web Tutorials for FacebookWeb Tutorials for Facebook

• How to Start a Facebook Page:How to Start a Facebook Page:http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Facebook-http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Facebook-

ProfileProfile

• How to Start a Facebook Group:How to Start a Facebook Group:http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a- New-New- Facebook-Facebook-

GroupGroup

• Online PowerPoint Presentation Location:Online PowerPoint Presentation Location:https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Ahttps://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AWNzKqqlJGsTZGZwOTRkZ2RfMzE0OXc2dnJ0ZWNzKqqlJGsTZGZwOTRkZ2RfMzE0OXc2dnJ0Z mI&hl=enmI&hl=en