Facebook as a teaching tool

I never really thought of facebook as a teaching tool, but locating rhetoric in a "student's space" in a dominant web based world seems essential. It has often been my experience as a student that whenever teachers and professors connected material to my "real world" I learned the most. Educational enviroments of all levels would benefit from acknowledging that facebook with 400 million users as of this February (Zuckerberg,Founder) is not only part of a student's space but the world's.

It's interesting that some younger users of facebook check their facebook much more than they do their e-mail, my younger sister says she loves to know to know what is going on with her friends who post updates throughout the day. Perhaps it is this curiosity and desire to keep connected that teachers can capitalize on by having an online class forum outside of the academic nature.

In addition, as Childs points out comments or questions left on the group wall gives everyone an opportunity to answer creating an additional opportunity for communication. Communication that goes beyond the physical limitations of a classroom or school, in space and time. The accessibility of the teacher is perhaps the greatest benefit that that a forum like facebook can provide for both students and teachers alike. You are not entering your email account separate from the classroom. With facebook you are merely tapping on someone's picture in a setting organized for the class itself where you feel your message is expected, and perhaps not alone.

Bertha