neutralname
A person without qualities, except for being a
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« Reply #15 on: December 10, 2007, 12:34:58 PM » |
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Facebook is more regulated than Myspace. In order to be a member of a school network, users have to use their school email to register, so it can't be anonymous or fake.
Also, MySpace allows for much more complete control of what your homepage looks like -- including playing music when you land on it. On Facebook, everyone's homepage looks basically similar, with variations.
I'd also say there's a cultural difference. Facebook seems less sexually frank and less full of profanity. It's more pleasant and polite. That might be changing as Facebook goes for increased profits, but it certainly has been a difference up to now.
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"My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music." Vladimir Nabokov
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treehugger1
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« Reply #16 on: December 10, 2007, 03:46:25 PM » |
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I never accept any such invitations from students until and unless they have graduated. Until then I am not their "friend." Exactly. Mr. Treehugger has no problem with this, however. So YMMV. Being a Facebook friend doesn't make you a student's friend. It does acknowledge a relationship of sorts, but not a friendship. Once you get clear on that, I have yet to see what's the problem in becoming a Facebook friend with a student. Maybe someone could articulate the feeling a bit more to clarify.
Right. But even if you aren't actually "friends," you still wind up privileging one (or several) students in the class over others, unless, there is no difference between using Facebook and using email. And if this is true, why not just stick with the latter? |
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Not a member of the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement. May we live long and not die out.
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neutralname
A person without qualities, except for being a
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Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,597
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« Reply #17 on: December 10, 2007, 04:00:05 PM » |
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Privileging? I don't grade students any easier if they are FB friends; I don't give them any extra help; I don't favor them in any way really. I just communicate with them in a particular way. I don't see any privileging going on.
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"My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music." Vladimir Nabokov
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treehugger1
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« Reply #18 on: December 10, 2007, 04:42:11 PM » |
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Privileging? I don't grade students any easier if they are FB friends; I don't give them any extra help; I don't favor them in any way really. I just communicate with them in a particular way. I don't see any privileging going on.
Why not just use email? What do you gain with FB? |
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Not a member of the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement. May we live long and not die out.
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neutralname
A person without qualities, except for being a
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,597
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« Reply #19 on: December 10, 2007, 04:50:17 PM » |
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I think FB is more casual than email. It would be strange for a student to email me saying "hi" but it's perfectly pleasant for them to say "hi" on FB, as it would be for them to say hi when seeing me in the cafeteria.
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"My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music." Vladimir Nabokov
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fannie
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« Reply #20 on: December 10, 2007, 07:13:55 PM » |
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I use facebook for PR and for keeping in contact with alumni.
I accept the 'friend' offer of anyone who asks for it, regardless of whether or not I know them. (I decided I wouldn't make any decisions that way).
I will 'offer' for a student that graduates to alumn...and that's because it's a fantastic way to keep in contact with alumns and...
I WANT THEIR MONEY!!!
I figure facebook is like my office door. Same standards of conduct.
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mended_drum
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« Reply #21 on: December 10, 2007, 07:21:15 PM » |
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Privileging? I don't grade students any easier if they are FB friends; I don't give them any extra help; I don't favor them in any way really. I just communicate with them in a particular way. I don't see any privileging going on.
Why not just use email? What do you gain with FB? Some of my commuting students have difficulty with the campus webmail, which can be a little erratic, but they can send messages more easily through facebook. It's just one more way to communicate with them. |
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iomhaigh
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« Reply #22 on: December 10, 2007, 07:23:58 PM » |
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Privileging? I don't grade students any easier if they are FB friends; I don't give them any extra help; I don't favor them in any way really. I just communicate with them in a particular way. I don't see any privileging going on.
Why not just use email? What do you gain with FB? Some of my commuting students have difficulty with the campus webmail, which can be a little erratic, but they can send messages more easily through facebook. It's just one more way to communicate with them. Yup. Really, it is like a digital office, with no more privilege than coming to my office, which few of them do except the ones who facebook friend me. |
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« Last Edit: December 10, 2007, 07:25:27 PM by iomhaigh »
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I am the very model of a modern major general.
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marlborough
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« Reply #23 on: December 10, 2007, 07:28:46 PM » |
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I am a very private person, and I resisted facebook until last summer, when I was joking with students about the books I was reading. They suggested that I have a facebook page and use the bookshelf feature to keep a running tally they could check.
I don't have anything personal or unprofessional up there (some silly history quotes, my official campus picture). I have about 40 "friends" from past, present and associated students--it is a good way to keep track of graduates (some of whom are now out teaching social studies)--and they frequently want to talk about books, or their lesson plans and how they relate to the history classes they took from me, or something they saw on the History channel. This is a casual way to keep connected without being too personal or requiring e-mail contact to be initiated.
I have not yet had a situation where the content page of a student who wanted to be "friended" troubled me--the connections I get are to the geekier bunch who would want to be connected to an old professor in the first place.
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patchouli
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« Reply #24 on: December 11, 2007, 03:56:13 AM » |
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I didn't expect so many varied responses about Facebook, and I am clearly out of the loop on this one. Since I registered, I have been getting invitations, and to my surprise (technology has crept up on me) I have a profile with photos of "friends." Ignorance is sometimes bliss, since the photos up are all of wonderful students.
I think I will accept student friends, based on what you all have said here, if it is just an acknowledgement. I may regret this later if this becomes unwieldy, but as for now it seems a nice way to stay in touch with students.
I had been a bit concerned with appearing biased, but I don't think there is a problem with the friends acknowledgement, at least so far, as it has been pretty neutral and mostly social "hellos." I haven't heard any horror stories yet, so this seems a good route to go for now.
Thanks all.
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Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things. --Diderot
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dundee
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« Reply #25 on: December 11, 2007, 04:37:27 PM » |
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I use Facebook daily, mostly to keep in contact with family overseas and friends around the world. I post a lot of photos and videos of my daughter, get-togethers with friends, vacations and special events (like birthdays and weddings), which is one reason why I don't accept friend requests from current students and students who may take a class with me again in the future. I don't mind former students knowing about my personal life, but I don't want current students to know so much about me and my family and friends.
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"Dublin, Dundee, Humberside ..."
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