the 411 on facebook: an fyi for teachers

The 411 on Facebook: The 411 on Facebook:

An FYI for TeachersAn FYI for Teachers

Presented by:Presented by:

Angela PattersonAngela Patterson

SESSION 1SESSION 1

Familiarizing yourself with Familiarizing yourself with Facebook and it’s capabilitiesFacebook and it’s capabilities

What are Social What are Social Networking Services Networking Services (SNS)?(SNS)? Websites that allow people to connect, Websites that allow people to connect,

collaborate, and form virtual communities collaborate, and form virtual communities through interactive web applications.through interactive web applications.

These sites allow people to send e-mails, These sites allow people to send e-mails, post comments, build web content and/or post comments, build web content and/or take part in live chats.take part in live chats.

According to a Pew Internet and American According to a Pew Internet and American Life Project study, 55% of teens have used Life Project study, 55% of teens have used social networking sites like My Space or social networking sites like My Space or Facebook.Facebook.

What isWhat is ? ?

According to According to www.facebook.comwww.facebook.com, ,

““Facebook is a social utility that helps people Facebook is a social utility that helps people communicate more efficiently with their friends, communicate more efficiently with their friends, family, and coworkers.”family, and coworkers.”

As of April 2009, Facebook has more than 200 million As of April 2009, Facebook has more than 200 million active users and more than 100 million of these users active users and more than 100 million of these users log on at least once each day.log on at least once each day.

OriginsOrigins

Originally named “thefacebook.”Originally named “thefacebook.”

Founded in February 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, a Founded in February 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard undergraduate.Harvard undergraduate.

Intended to replace paper “face books” with student Intended to replace paper “face books” with student photos and personal information of incoming freshman photos and personal information of incoming freshman to Harvard.to Harvard.

The main purpose was to help students at the same The main purpose was to help students at the same school get to know each other better in order to assist school get to know each other better in order to assist in adjusting to college.in adjusting to college.

Originally contained a restricted network to those Originally contained a restricted network to those affiliated with educational institutions.affiliated with educational institutions.

ExpandsExpands

By March 2004, Facebook expands from Harvard to By March 2004, Facebook expands from Harvard to Stanford, Columbia, and Yale.Stanford, Columbia, and Yale.

Moves their headquarters to Palo Alto, California.Moves their headquarters to Palo Alto, California.

By December 2004, Facebook reaches 1 million active By December 2004, Facebook reaches 1 million active users.users.

By 2006, Facebook expanded to include more colleges By 2006, Facebook expanded to include more colleges and universities, both nationally and internationally, and universities, both nationally and internationally, high schools, the military, companies, and high schools, the military, companies, and international networks.international networks.

Who Can JoinWho Can Join ? ?

Anyone with a valid e-mail address is eligible to join.Anyone with a valid e-mail address is eligible to join.

Facebook recommends that children between the ages Facebook recommends that children between the ages of 13 and 18 receive parental permission prior to of 13 and 18 receive parental permission prior to joining.joining.

Children under the age of 13 are not permitted to join.Children under the age of 13 are not permitted to join.

Why do your students use Why do your students use

? ? To be connected to and To be connected to and

interact with others whether interact with others whether friends from school or people friends from school or people from around the globe.from around the globe.

To share common interests To share common interests with others by joining groups with others by joining groups on Facebook (based on on Facebook (based on favorite movies, music, favorite movies, music, political affiliations, potential political affiliations, potential colleges, etc.).colleges, etc.).

To create their own personal To create their own personal webpages, blogs, or profiles.webpages, blogs, or profiles.

Why do your students use Why do your students use

? ? A study published in Bell A study published in Bell

Labs Technical Journal Labs Technical Journal surveyed 68 surveyed 68 undergraduate students undergraduate students to find the reasons why to find the reasons why they used social they used social networking sites such as networking sites such as Facebook. Facebook.

The table to the right The table to the right provides the results.provides the results.

Categories of Categories of ResponsesResponses

% % RespondentsRespondents

To keep in touch with To keep in touch with friendsfriends 4141

It’s fun; entertainingIt’s fun; entertaining 1717

To post or look at photosTo post or look at photos 1212

I use it when I’m boredI use it when I’m bored 1212

I use it only in response to I use it only in response to someone contacting me someone contacting me on the siteon the site 1010

Everyone is doing itEveryone is doing it 1010

I use it when I don’t have I use it when I don’t have any contact infoany contact info 77

Because you can send a Because you can send a message to multiple message to multiple peoplepeople 33

OtherOther 1919

What are the benefits What are the benefits for your students?for your students? Through the eyes of a Through the eyes of a

student, Facebook affords student, Facebook affords him or her with the him or her with the opportunity to:opportunity to:

Become authors through their Become authors through their creative and expressive works creative and expressive works on their personal pages.on their personal pages.

Promote political causes.Promote political causes.

Explore self-expression and Explore self-expression and popular culture.popular culture.

Explore their interests.Explore their interests.

Through the eyes of a Through the eyes of a teacher, Facebook affords teacher, Facebook affords students with the ability students with the ability to:to:

Explore their identity to assist Explore their identity to assist in its development and in its development and formation.formation.

Develop communication skills.Develop communication skills.

Develop self-esteem.Develop self-esteem.

Develop skills for the future Develop skills for the future (college and/or workforce).(college and/or workforce).

Receive emotional support.Receive emotional support.

The Cons of The Cons of

Uncertainty of on-line predatorsUncertainty of on-line predators

Potential for on-line stalkingPotential for on-line stalking

Cyber bullying/HarassmentCyber bullying/Harassment

Negative effect on potential future employmentNegative effect on potential future employment

Pre-conceived opinions about others prior to knowing themPre-conceived opinions about others prior to knowing them

Problems transitioning to real face-to-face interactionsProblems transitioning to real face-to-face interactions

Potential to neglect school assignmentsPotential to neglect school assignments

Potential to disclose too much personal informationPotential to disclose too much personal information

Ideas for Classroom Ideas for Classroom UseUseStudents can:Students can: Write poetry or stories and post to their Facebook Write poetry or stories and post to their Facebook

pages for others to comment and/or critiquepages for others to comment and/or critique

Create and post videos to their Facebook pages to Create and post videos to their Facebook pages to highlight important issues or report on a topichighlight important issues or report on a topic

Collaborate on a project and provide feedback to Collaborate on a project and provide feedback to one another through postings on Facebookone another through postings on Facebook

Practice digital citizenship through etiquette on Practice digital citizenship through etiquette on FacebookFacebook

Time to Get Started…Time to Get Started…

View the following tutorial about Facebook:View the following tutorial about Facebook: Registering for FacebookRegistering for Facebook Site Tour of FacebookSite Tour of Facebook Your ProfileYour Profile Go to Go to www.facebook.comwww.facebook.com and register. and register.

For more tutorials on Facebook, go to: For more tutorials on Facebook, go to: http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/1261_facebook-http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/1261_facebook-use.htmuse.htm

It’s your turn…It’s your turn…

Time for you to create Time for you to create your own Facebook your own Facebook

Brainstorming Brainstorming assignment for the assignment for the next session, “How can next session, “How can I use Facebook in my I use Facebook in my classroom?”classroom?”

SESSION 2SESSION 2

Safety & Trends for SNS’s &Safety & Trends for SNS’s &

Think-Pair-Share Lesson Think-Pair-Share Lesson PlanningPlanning

Safety &Safety &

The following are just a few headlines that were in the The following are just a few headlines that were in the news regarding Facebook and safety:news regarding Facebook and safety:

““New Scrutiny for Facebook Over Predators” – The New New Scrutiny for Facebook Over Predators” – The New York Times, July 30, 2007York Times, July 30, 2007

““NY Blasts Facebook Over Predators” – PC World, NY Blasts Facebook Over Predators” – PC World, September 24, 2007September 24, 2007

““Facebook Subpoenaed After Sexual Predator Facebook Subpoenaed After Sexual Predator Concerns Ignored” – Fox News.com, September 25, Concerns Ignored” – Fox News.com, September 25, 20072007

““Thousands of My Space Sex Offender Refugees Found Thousands of My Space Sex Offender Refugees Found on Facebook” – Tech Crunch, February 3, 2009on Facebook” – Tech Crunch, February 3, 2009

Safety &Safety &

The following are Facebook’s policies regarding safety and The following are Facebook’s policies regarding safety and privacy:privacy:

According to According to www.facebook.comwww.facebook.com, “Facebook aspires to be an , “Facebook aspires to be an environment where people can interact safely with their environment where people can interact safely with their friends and the people around them. We have implemented friends and the people around them. We have implemented many safety and privacy controls on Facebook as part of our many safety and privacy controls on Facebook as part of our goal to enable people to share their information with only the goal to enable people to share their information with only the people they want to see it.”people they want to see it.”

In regards to Facebook’s safety and privacy controls, In regards to Facebook’s safety and privacy controls, “Facebook cannot guarantee that its site is entirely free of “Facebook cannot guarantee that its site is entirely free of illegal, offensive, pornographic or otherwise inappropriate illegal, offensive, pornographic or otherwise inappropriate material, or that its members will not encounter inappropriate material, or that its members will not encounter inappropriate or illegal conduct from other members. Consequently, you may or illegal conduct from other members. Consequently, you may encounter such content and conduct.” encounter such content and conduct.”

How Do We Help How Do We Help Protect Our Students?Protect Our Students? The key is through The key is through EDUCATION!EDUCATION!

Not only should we educate the Not only should we educate the students, but also their parents as well.students, but also their parents as well.

There are several ways in which our There are several ways in which our students can continue to use SNS’s students can continue to use SNS’s such as Facebook and be safe on-line.such as Facebook and be safe on-line.

Safety Tips forSafety Tips for

#1 – PRIVACY#1 – PRIVACYStudents can change their privacy settings in Facebook to Students can change their privacy settings in Facebook to restrict access to unwanted “friends” or unknown individuals.restrict access to unwanted “friends” or unknown individuals.

Here’s how…Here’s how… After logging in to Facebook, on the menu bar, you will locate After logging in to Facebook, on the menu bar, you will locate

“Settings.” “Settings.” A drop down menu will appear, where you will select “Privacy A drop down menu will appear, where you will select “Privacy

Settings.”Settings.”


In “Privacy Settings,” you In “Privacy Settings,” you can control who can…can control who can…

View your profileView your profile Search for and contact youSearch for and contact you View your Wall and News View your Wall and News

FeedsFeeds View information on your View information on your

applicationsapplications

You can also block specific You can also block specific individuals individuals


Your Profile Privacy SettingsYour Profile Privacy Settings

There are several categories for There are several categories for your basic profile settings.your basic profile settings.

Many categories have drop Many categories have drop down menus to limit the people down menus to limit the people who can view that item.who can view that item.

To play it safe, choose Only To play it safe, choose Only Friends so that the people that Friends so that the people that you have chosen to be your you have chosen to be your “friends” on Facebook are the “friends” on Facebook are the only people who can see your only people who can see your Facebook.Facebook.

Be sure to Save Changes when Be sure to Save Changes when you are finished.you are finished.


#2 – Play It Safe#2 – Play It SafeStudents can follow these protocols to ensure their safety once their Students can follow these protocols to ensure their safety once their privacy settings have been set:privacy settings have been set:

Never share your password with anyone.Never share your password with anyone.

Never post personal information such as your address, phone number, Never post personal information such as your address, phone number, birthday, class schedule, or other identifiable information.birthday, class schedule, or other identifiable information.

Never arrange to meet someone that you have met on-line. Never arrange to meet someone that you have met on-line.

Never add someone to your “friends” list if you do not know who they Never add someone to your “friends” list if you do not know who they are in person.are in person.

Never call someone you have met on-line.Never call someone you have met on-line.

Report users or content that violate Facebook’s Terms of Use.Report users or content that violate Facebook’s Terms of Use.

Block and report anyone that sends you unwanted or inappropriate Block and report anyone that sends you unwanted or inappropriate communications.communications.

If Not If Not … Then, … Then, What’s Next?What’s Next? Technology changes Technology changes

rapidly. rapidly. New ways for New ways for

students to students to communicate are communicate are being developed being developed every day.every day.

There are already There are already many different many different services students can services students can use other than use other than Facebook.Facebook.

Other SNS Other SNS TechnologiesTechnologiesName of Name of SiteSite Web AddressWeb Address Description of SNSDescription of SNS

My SpaceMy Space http://www.myspace.com/http://www.myspace.com/ Connect with others, blog, Connect with others, blog, rank music, etc.rank music, etc.

BeboBebo http://www.bebo.com/http://www.bebo.com/

Connect with others, explore Connect with others, explore music and videos, central hub music and videos, central hub for all other SNS’s, etc.for all other SNS’s, etc.

FlickrFlickr http://www.flickr.com/http://www.flickr.com/

Share photos, comments on Share photos, comments on other photos, photography other photos, photography related networking, etc.related networking, etc.

NingNing http://www.ning.com/http://www.ning.com/ Discover and create your own Discover and create your own SNS based on your interests.SNS based on your interests.

TaggedTagged http://www.tagged.com/http://www.tagged.com/

Connect with others, create Connect with others, create profiles, chat, photos, games, profiles, chat, photos, games, etc.etc.

FlixsterFlixster http://www.flixster.com/http://www.flixster.com/

Rate and share movie Rate and share movie reviews, share movie reviews, share movie interests with others, play interests with others, play games, watch free movies, games, watch free movies, etc.etc.

Implications for New Implications for New TechnologyTechnology

It is important for not only teachers, but also It is important for not only teachers, but also parents to stay abreast with the new trends in parents to stay abreast with the new trends in technology in order to keep students safe on-line.technology in order to keep students safe on-line.

Teachers need to monitor students as they use Teachers need to monitor students as they use the school’s technology while completing the school’s technology while completing assignments for class.assignments for class.

Parents need to always know what their children Parents need to always know what their children are doing on-line. Always check on your child are doing on-line. Always check on your child when he or she is on-line. when he or she is on-line. Don’t be afraid to Don’t be afraid to ask questions!ask questions!

Think-Pair-ShareThink-Pair-Share

It’s time to apply It’s time to apply what you’ve learned what you’ve learned about Facebook for about Facebook for your students.your students.

Based on your Based on your brainstorming from brainstorming from Session 1, pair up Session 1, pair up with a colleague that with a colleague that teaches a similar teaches a similar subject matter and subject matter and share your ideas.share your ideas.

Your TaskYour Task

Create a lesson plan involving Create a lesson plan involving Facebook based on your think-Facebook based on your think-pair-share collaboration.pair-share collaboration.

Send your lesson plan via e-mail Send your lesson plan via e-mail to the presenter to distribute to to the presenter to distribute to the other workshop participants.the other workshop participants.

ConclusionConclusion

Our students are social beings by nature and Our students are social beings by nature and communication is a priority.communication is a priority.

Facebook and other social networking services meet Facebook and other social networking services meet the needs of our students.the needs of our students.

It is important for us as educators to make our It is important for us as educators to make our students aware of the issues surrounding SNS’s and students aware of the issues surrounding SNS’s and teach them digital citizenship.teach them digital citizenship.

After all, our classrooms may be the only place where After all, our classrooms may be the only place where students can learn how to be smart and safe on-line.students can learn how to be smart and safe on-line.

ResourcesResources

Images:Images: Microsoft Clip ArtMicrosoft Clip Art

Images modified from FacebookImages modified from Facebook

AJC1. “Facebook logo.” [Photograph]. Retrieved April 27, 2009, from Flickr.com. AJC1. “Facebook logo.” [Photograph]. Retrieved April 27, 2009, from Flickr.com. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajc1/503165914/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajc1/503165914/

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Pew Internet & American Life Project. Pew Internet & American Life Project. Social networking websites and Social networking websites and teens: An overviewteens: An overview [Data file]. Retrieved from [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2007/PIP_SNS_Data_Mehttp://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2007/PIP_SNS_Data_Memo_Jan_2007.pdf.pdf. mo_Jan_2007.pdf.pdf.

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