According to recent estimates, over 80% of of all US college students access Facebook every day. Because it is completely Web-based, it can be accessed on just about any standard desktop computer or mobile device with an Internet connection and browser. Since it is free to use, flexible, and widely used by students, it is only natural that faculty may be curious as to how this popular tool can be applied properly towards education. Like a discussion board, Facebook can be used to share information with others through creating posts. Similar to a Website, wiki, or blog, a Facebook group page can be used to curate course-relevant content and share information with others. To learn more about using Facebook, check out these tutorials and resources.
Creating a Facebook Account
Creating Your Facebook Profile
Finding Friends on Facebook
Sharing on Facebook
Understanding Your News Feed
How Can We Use Facebook in Education?
To help faculty learn more about using Facebook as a teaching and professional development tool, we’ve gathered a few resources to which you can use as a reference. Feel free to review these Websites to get familiar with how Facebook can be used in teaching and learning as well as how to get started with your own Facebook account.
- The Official Facebook for Educators Guide – Commissioned by Facebook, this site is an excellent resource for learning how to use Facebook as a component or supplement to your online courses.
- The Innovative Educator: Using Facebook in Education – Here, you will find links to practical real-life examples of instructors using Facebook in their courses as well as a presentation that reviews the use of social media to support learning.
- 100 Ways You Should Be Using Facebook in the Classroom – Do you have a Facebook account but are not sure where to start using it towards teaching? Visit this site to get practical ideas for class projects, communication strategies, and more.
- Creating a Facebook Page (PDF) and Resources for Sharing Your Facebook Page
