By Mollie Dickson

 

Ignore. Ignore. Ignore. As students continue to request my friendship on Facebook, I have no choice but to click “ignore”. No hesitation. This is the expectation. And for many reasons, it makes perfect sense, especially for what Facebook “has been”—a college networking site—the prime place to meet-up, catch-up, hook-up, and break-up. I can attest to this solely social indulgence that became the reality with the birth of Facebook, for I happen to be a part of the first class of Facebook users, as I was a freshman in college the year it launched for hundreds of universities around the United States. But the truth is, Facebook is rapidly evolving. Not only is it spreading across generations, from grade-schoolers to grandparents, it is now breaching the business world. There can be no denying, Facebook is revolutionizing the way we communicate, stay informed, and spend our spare time. It’s a one-stop shop, and like it or not, people are hooked.

 

While the question of teachers communicating with their students through Facebook, even two years ago, was written off without a second thought (by myself included), the fact is, it’s an entirely different question today. So now I do hesitate. Jaime asks me last night to connect through this network, and part of me hates to dismiss the request. I am not disregarding the cautionary voice that is booming in the back of my mind about confidentiality in public education, but I also refuse to ignore the huge benefits—the potential breakthrough—for teacher and student interaction. For I see Facebook as a supportive, engaging tool that could spark a wave, launching 21^st century learning to a whole new level. Now before you scoff and brush this off, please let me share with you my vision:

 

Ms. Dickson: my professional “teacher” profile (entirely separate from my personal account). Here I will display information about my education/career background, interests/hobbies, favorite quotes, book recommendations, and other pieces of myself that will allow students to know me better; I will post videos, pictures, and resources to inspire and intrigue young writers; there will be links to poetry contests, online writing galleries, and blogs; I can promote upcoming events and workshops, create a variety of interest groups that engage kids in ongoing discussions, even invite students for an afternoon writing circle or book club at a local coffee shop over the summer; students can pose questions, inquire about homework, seek advice on a paper, tell me about a great idea for our next project, and publish their writing to receive instant feedback from their peers. As a bonus, Facebook offers teachers a chance to stay connected with students as they move on to high school and beyond… who knows, maybe I’ll even receive a college graduation announcement or wedding invitation from a former student. It’s a possibility that I can’t let slip away without pushing the question: why not Facebook?

 

Now, for all those playing devil’s advocate, I will entertain the question: why use Facebook when “all of the above” can potentially be achieved through email, websites, blogs, and other approved technology? Two words: privacy and accessibility. Facebook offers enhanced settings that allow for the confidential sharing of information, pictures, and student work, unlike our school’s public websites. But most importantly, Facebook meets students where they’re at. Ninety percent of my 7^th and 8^th graders utilize this network on a daily basis—there’s already that level of comfort and ease that’s crucial for successful communication. And once this foundation is established, Facebook becomes a gateway for introducing adolescents to other valuable realms of networking and resources (blogs, wikis, podcasts) and acts as a catalyst for educating beyond the classroom walls and hours. It’s undeniable: Facebook possesses the power to enhance the quality, authenticity, motivational drive, and purposeful investment of students’ learning. So why not give it a shot? Let’s embrace Facebook as the professional, educational tool it’s proving itself to be, and use it to our advantage. Because I’m done ignoring my students’ requests. It’s time to accept.