Benefits of a Facebook Application for REACH

Why ?

• College students spend up to hours per day on Facebook communicating with one another.

• REACH will gain a tremendous amount of exposure by having a Facebook presence.– Will be able to advertise its services and

conveniently distribute its content through an already well-established social network.

• Four Software Engineering students proposed the concept of a Facebook application supporting student collaboration in coursework.

• This application could also be used to make REACH material more accessible to the student body.

Current Facebook Application Features

Chat Provides a meeting place for students to meet with classmates and coordinate study sessions.

Document ViewerDocument Uploader/Viewer allows professors, tutors, and students to post classroom notes and other documents, and easily view them in a PDF-like display.

Current Facebook Application Features

Current Facebook Application FeaturesBulletin Board

Provides an outlet for REACH tutors to answer questions posted on the forum and advertise the REACH tutoring services

Features that come with Facebook

• Can be restricted to university students based on @louisville.edu email and Facebook network ID

• Easily invite other students through built-in facebook interface

Facebook is Personal

• Students are more likely to collaborate with each other on Facebook (more personal, can view others’ profiles before contacting them)– Will make REACH tutors more approachable– Users are automatically linked with Facebook

accounts and network; there will be no need to provide further information

– Facebook events are more effective and less obnoxious than e-mails