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Facebook as an useful classroom tool

By: Silvia Andrea Tarazona Ariza.

Nowadays there are different sorts of applications, websites, blogs, softwares and

devices specially designed for learning and teaching. In this paper I will mainly focus on the

use of Facebook as a classroom tool. Although Facebook is used mostly to socialize with

friends, it is starting to be a recognized instrument for online learning. Golder, Wilkinson, and

Huberman, (2007). Claimed that the majority of college students have a Facebook account,

and they are spending a considerable amount of time logged in. Additionally, it is known that

students use Facebook not only to socialize with peers but also for educational purposes.

Social media is becoming more and more recognized by people in several professional

fields, education is not the exception. However, it seems to be a discussion among people who

agree and the ones who disregard Facebook as a good learning and teaching strategy for the

classroom. I personally believe and incorporate Facebook as a tool to encourage learning

because I teach English to people aged 14 to 18 and they are into technology a little bit more

than I am, and also since it is important to me that my students start to develop research skills,

as in approximately 3 years they are going to be college students and it is a requirement for 

them in their academic future to know how to investigate and obtain certain information online.

To decide if the use of Facebook is positive or negative, it is necessary to view it in

perspective and to analyze separately the pros and the cons. First, I would highlight as a pro

the fact that Facebook is the most popular social network today, meaning that a lot of people

know about it, feel comfortable with it, and therefore, they have a Facebook account. Another 

positive aspect of Facebook is that it is free and it is legally allowed for everybody over 13

years old. Thirdly, there is content available for almost every topic, famous people, arts,

languages, politics, etc. I would also add that Facebook is really easy to use as it is possible to

upload video with no troubles, add apps, comment, like, share websites, chat, video call, use

inbox, create groups and it contains features that other social platform lack.

Moreover, Facebook is an effective vehicle for learning because it is a real-life system

that engages students as they are interested in virtual settings. Facebook correctly addressed

for education could be really meaningful for students as it provides them with factual situations

in which they can participate actively applying their knowledge. Finally, Osborne (2012)

pointed out that Facebook can potentially appeal to different learning styles, since a learner 

naturally prefers kinetic, audio or visual learning; the varied types of media and information

found on sites such as Facebook can attrack to a wide range of learner styles.  

Contradicting the benefits of Facebook as an useful classroom tool, Laderer (2012)

stated that depending on the students´ ages and maturity Facebook can become a distraction,

since sometimes students immerse themselves in the net forgetting about what is happening in

the class, upsetting the learning process. Pittman (2011) said that Facebook is taken more

seriously for learning purposes in college more than in high school environment, since there is

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a higher risk for cyber bullying; it was informed by the research department of Indiana State

University that at least 25% of high school students from Indiana´s public schools reported to

have been harassed via Facebook by bullies, to avoid this it is important to insist on respectful

and civil behavior, set rules and consequences. If limits are not clarified, Facebook can

become a mean for inappropriate content sharing and posting.

Last and most argued reason for disregarding Facebook as good tool for learning is

that many people consider that Facebook discourages face- to- face communication because it

is thought that although internet is helping students to miss real-life social skills, finding

themselves in troubles when having a relationship, presenting an interview or interacting with

people.

To conclude, it can be mentioned that Facebook is effective for the classroom when

certain restrictions are taken into account, with the aim of avoiding risks of mistreatment and

misunderstanding of the topics. Facebook use in the classroom should be planned for specific

activities under teacher´s supervision and in young student’s cases under parent’s consent.

Facebook is helpful when it comes to encourage students to use alternative materials for 

learning, as learning English should not be limited to a textbook and a tape.