Ur goin to hav 2 b ready 4 change, r u gonna b up 4 it?

Change is inevitable. That is a very easily understood fact, but in the realm of technology educators tend to fall behind the “technology wave” and the students we are teaching actually could become the educators with regards to that technology. Facebook has become a useful tool in order to understand the gigantic changes that are occurring with technology changes and our youth. “Although resembling a fantasy world to some, (facebook) is very real. Just as we develop real-life identities through our actions, associations, and the way we think about the world, so do students construct online identities whereby they express themselves to others and establish a sense of self”(M.Chapman). As educators there must be a comprehensive understanding of the technology that students are using to create these real life identities via the internet. As an educator, knowing the students being taught is almost as important as the curriculum that is being administered.
“Online social networking is one of the most pervasive phenomena among students since the inception of the Internet. It has revolutionized the way students communicate, get to know one another, and create communities” (M.Chapman). These communities exist in and out of the classroom and if they are not understood then the teaching method an educator chooses may be ill suited for that particular class. Facebook is a tool that not just young people use, “it has an 85 percent penetration rate among U.S. university students, while its fastest-growing demographic is people over the age of 25” (Reuters). As a teacher one would be naive to think that facebook is not relevant in the classroom. The kids are visiting facebook far more than they are opening their math texts and their Othello play. Funny enough if a teacher looks to his/her left and right one of the colleagues on either side will also be frequenting facebook quite regularly. The ability for technology to surpass all of our expectations and wildest dreams is not unfathomable but rather very real. Text messaging and ‘MySpace’, WAYN, Msn msngr, and Facebook are all examples of tools that students are using and spending most of their time on. Facebook allows for teachers to have an account just has to be personalized, not a school account. “{facebook}prohibits people from using the site for commercial marketing purposes”, so a teacher could post notes, class information and anything that is relevant on the website and probably have a greater success rate in the classroom then completely avoiding it because it may not seem relevant to them. The faux-pas seems to be that teachers do not want to allow students to be too close to their personal life and vice-versa. It is a very sticky situation however it is a situation that when dealt with correctly could have great results. For example; a teacher tells the class on September 9th that there will be an exam on polynomial functions on October 17 and to be ready. If that is also posted on the website that students frequent all the time then it becomes increasingly easier for students to be prepared for class events, tests, guest speakers and also adds the ability for parents to be informed as well because parents are also on facebook quite regularly. “Facebook can be a medium for faculty and staff members and even administrators, to be in contact with students, and maybe provide a little adult guidance. Individually one faculty Facebooker might not have much influence, but a collective presence could raise the tone and dial down the antics on this increasingly public student venue” (Lemeul).
It may appear to be somewhat unrealistic that this could work due to some teachers being classically inappropriate or just indifferent or disinterested with the entire idea, but if the administration took the initiative to use this program that even Harvard has created a class for, then there could be some definite positives that far outweigh the negatives. Technology is like a tree that grows at the speed of a human during puberty, you cannot ever fully understand what’s going on unless you are a part of it and with that said it also must be said that sometimes it takes a long time for administration to jump on board with the “new” and help those “now”. Teaching is an eternal and dreadful yet rewarding job and everything that will increase one’s ability to their job should be sought out and implemented if available. Facebook is free, so what’s the wait?