My Facebook Experiment

I’ve been interested in using technology in the classroom for a long time. When I started planning for my SPCH 1321 Organizational and Professional Communication class, I wanted to incorporate many of the new ways of communicating. Since Facebook is so popular (500 million active users, according to Facebook’s statistic sheet), I wanted to see if this particular social network tool would work for classes, too.


All but one student either already had a Facebook account or had no problem in signing up for one. One student was concerned about privacy issues and is using EPCC’s SmartStart instead. On average, I post two to three times a week, usually reminding the students of upcoming events. I find that around six students are actively commenting, but other students chime in with questions or comments on occasion. The social networking aspect is kicking in a bit, since one student asked for help in a chemistry class the other day.  Students also use the "Message" element of Facebook to communicate with me.  They do have my EPCC e-mail on their syllabi, but I think it's easier for them to use my Facebook information instead.

The class’s current assignment, a PowerPoint research project, has to be uploaded to Facebook as a video. Most students had to learn some more-advanced computer skills, but it is something they can use in their futures. Once the videos are all uploaded, the students will select one or two videos to review and then provide comments.

I feel that students need to be aware of the power of social networking, and know that their futures will most likely include the use of Facebook or other networking tools. Other platforms, such as Blackboard, may have similar results, but since students were already on Facebook, I felt that it was an easier platform to use for this experiment.

Have you used social media for your classes? Feel free to comment below.