How can ‘facebook’ be used as a teaching and learning tool?

 

As we approach a new technological area, educators must be aware of the implications technology will have on both teaching and learning. One can say, gone are the days of textbooks and pen. While the interest has previously been used as a tool to ‘obtain’ and ‘gather’ information, further innovations have lead to a extraordinary break through of WEB 2.0. Web 2.0 has allowed people to ‘network’ and place themselves in the heart and construction of the web.

Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet. Owing to the numerous abilities of this revolutionary web 2.0 educators can use this in their teaching and learning environment.

Facebook is made of many networks. Teachers can very well establish their own classroom network, and join the entire class together. The educator is also able to monitor all student progress and determine the capabilities of students.  Through this tool everyone can stay in touch contribute to the learning environment and social feature. Students can share both ideas and photos in a virtue world whereby everyone is granted the opportunity to contribute. For example, if the network is set up for a History class currently studying “The Vietnam War”, students can post images from their excursions or even multi-media videos they have found through searching the web. Student can set up a “wall” of their own choosing, and this can be used as the learning wall for example, where everyone adds comments, images, and multimedia or post- it-notes of a topic of their own choosing.  

For instance if the teacher set up a ‘fun wall’ on the Responses to the Vietnam War, the following could be posted up: Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30zjpTEtE3Q [this looks at the Anti-War Movement of 60’s and 70’s] 

Photo: 

From such images and videos, students can also add comments and critique the multimedia. If students are not sure about a comment or constructive criticism they wish to give, they are able to ‘send a message’ in private whilst at the same time giving some form of contribution. As we approach a new reality, teachers must understand this new reality and ensure it is successfully incorporated in their teaching and learning environment.