Facebook Nation: Are you a Citizen?

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Whether we like it or not, Facebook is a part of our educational landscape. Students (and many adults) are obsessed with it. Facebooking ends up being an activity that many people do throughout the day. With smart phones becoming more widespread, it has infiltrated the classroom - even when it is blocked by the school network.

So what should we do? Ban it? Or embrace it? Or maybe something in between?

1. What is a "connected" classroom?
2. For us, it involves as many tools as needed to bring the relevant curriculum and learning processes to the students both in and out the classroom.
3. Specific tools include: a class website, Facebook page, Twitter account, and more.
4. Examples
   • Dave Burgess
   • Hoffman's Sociology Page
   • AP World History @ West Hilll
   • West Hills HS Wolfpack
5. How do we increase engagement with Facebook?
   • Build it as part of the class.
   • Make major announcements in class and online.
   • If possible project during class time
   • Ask questions and expect responses
   • Celebrate the events of your class with photographs, quotes, links, etc.
6. How does it all work?
   • Setup a new email if the club/organization/class could be transferred to another teacher.
   • How to create a Facebook fan page (screencast)
7. Questions?
8. Do you want more Facebook ideas?
   • 20+ Ideas on how to use a Facebook Page (Feel free to add your own)
   • Cybrary Man's Facebook Web Sites
   • 53 Things To Post On Your School's Fan Page.
9. Create "fake" Facebook walls for fun.
   • The Wall Machine allows users to generate a series of fake Facebook updates
   • My Fake Wall is a tool for creating a fake Facebook wall for a fictitious or historical character.