Comments on: Teachers and Facebook http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050 Issues, ideas, and discussion in English Education and Technology Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:34:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Dana Huff http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050&cpage=1#comment-20719 Dana Huff Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:22:30 +0000 http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050#comment-20719 I do think every school or district should probably have guidelines regarding the use of social networks. It would definitely take out some of the ambiguity regarding what is acceptable. I do think every school or district should probably have guidelines regarding the use of social networks. It would definitely take out some of the ambiguity regarding what is acceptable.

]]> By: Mary Rodgers http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050&cpage=1#comment-20718 Mary Rodgers Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:58:16 +0000 http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050#comment-20718 After reading this, I wonder if our school has any guidelines about accepting students’ facebook. I think this is something every school should be clear about. I worry about how a parent or student may interpret posts. It is easy to take things out of context or misunderstand the authors intent in the facebook environment. After reading this, I wonder if our school has any guidelines about accepting students’ facebook. I think this is something every school should be clear about. I worry about how a parent or student may interpret posts. It is easy to take things out of context or misunderstand the authors intent in the facebook environment.

]]> By: Dana Huff http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050&cpage=1#comment-20716 Dana Huff Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:39:20 +0000 http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050#comment-20716 I think most people believe it's fine to accept friendship requests for graduates. I seem to be in the minority in terms of accepting them while they're still students. I think it depends on your school—our school is a small, community school. I think most people believe it’s fine to accept friendship requests for graduates. I seem to be in the minority in terms of accepting them while they’re still students. I think it depends on your school—our school is a small, community school.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050&cpage=1#comment-20715 Andrew Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:11:37 +0000 http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050#comment-20715 Quick question: Is it alright to add students after they graduate high school? I do not add students while they are in high school, but I have accepted them after they graduated. Would this be ok, or is it too risky? I figure that once they are no longer affiliated with ____ High School, it would be ok. Too soon? Quick question: Is it alright to add students after they graduate high school? I do not add students while they are in high school, but I have accepted them after they graduated. Would this be ok, or is it too risky? I figure that once they are no longer affiliated with ____ High School, it would be ok. Too soon?

]]> By: Ric Murry http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050&cpage=1#comment-20503 Ric Murry Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:17:01 +0000 http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050#comment-20503 Dana, I wish I would have found this earlier, I would have referred to it. I will provide something on Twitter in a moment. Thank you for commenting on my recent post of the same topic. I agree with your approach of not requesting, but accepting all. I do the same, and tell my students periodically of my policy. All the best to you. Dana,

I wish I would have found this earlier, I would have referred to it. I will provide something on Twitter in a moment.

Thank you for commenting on my recent post of the same topic. I agree with your approach of not requesting, but accepting all. I do the same, and tell my students periodically of my policy.

All the best to you.

]]> By: keith warren http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050&cpage=1#comment-20353 keith warren Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:44:53 +0000 http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050#comment-20353 Facebook must be a nightmare (or potential nightmare) for teachers. For me it's great to talk to students but sometimes I get inappropriate or awkward messages/comments that I could do without... I motivate students with what I do and my latest blog "kids don't come with batteries" you can read on www.thebigpicture.eu.com/blog Facebook must be a nightmare (or potential nightmare) for teachers. For me it’s great to talk to students but sometimes I get inappropriate or awkward messages/comments that I could do without…
I motivate students with what I do and my latest blog “kids don’t come with batteries” you can read on http://www.thebigpicture.eu.com/blog

]]> By: Can Friend http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050&cpage=1#comment-20310 Can Friend Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:54:13 +0000 http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050#comment-20310 I have some of the older students as friends on FB. However, in my state in Australia, there is advice not to be on FB at all if you are a teacher, and discussion about forbidding teachers to friend current students. Some even say not to friend ex-students. Students have used it to contact me about school work and also sporting commitments. I also ended up being confided in when two students were self-harming (attempting suicide). I was able to intervene, support, and get them to appropriate help - they are going much better now. What would have happened if they had not had an adult to confide in then? The reason cited for banning FB for teachers is that teachers can 'groom' students for sexual abuse. I honestly think if any teacher is going to 'groom' students they will do it anyway, FB or no FB. They will probably ignore bans anyway. The technology in and of itself is not bad. It can be put to bad uses, but it also has a huge potential for good uses. Banning it outright ignores the potential for good. I have some of the older students as friends on FB. However, in my state in Australia, there is advice not to be on FB at all if you are a teacher, and discussion about forbidding teachers to friend current students. Some even say not to friend ex-students.

Students have used it to contact me about school work and also sporting commitments.

I also ended up being confided in when two students were self-harming (attempting suicide). I was able to intervene, support, and get them to appropriate help – they are going much better now. What would have happened if they had not had an adult to confide in then?

The reason cited for banning FB for teachers is that teachers can ‘groom’ students for sexual abuse.

I honestly think if any teacher is going to ‘groom’ students they will do it anyway, FB or no FB. They will probably ignore bans anyway.

The technology in and of itself is not bad. It can be put to bad uses, but it also has a huge potential for good uses. Banning it outright ignores the potential for good.

]]> By: Debi http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050&cpage=1#comment-20266 Debi Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:44:24 +0000 http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050#comment-20266 Hi, Fantastic blog. I'm a fellow teacher of English and expect to check back often. (BTW, I follow the "after you graduate" rule for Facebook friends.) Hi,
Fantastic blog.
I’m a fellow teacher of English and expect to check back often.
(BTW, I follow the “after you graduate” rule for Facebook friends.)

]]> By: Angela http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050&cpage=1#comment-20265 Angela Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:05:15 +0000 http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050#comment-20265 Having a bit of RSS serendipity this morning, Dana. Have you seen this <a href="http://budtheteacher.com/blog/2009/10/05/intruding-in-public/" rel="nofollow">thoughtful post </a>by Bud Hunt yet? Like you, I've wavered quite a bit around all of this. His post really has me thinking, though. Having a bit of RSS serendipity this morning, Dana. Have you seen this thoughtful post by Bud Hunt yet? Like you, I’ve wavered quite a bit around all of this. His post really has me thinking, though.

]]> By: Dana Huff http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050&cpage=1#comment-20264 Dana Huff Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:41:19 +0000 http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1050#comment-20264 Stephanie, I don't think you can make them be your friend on Facebook. In my opinion, they should choose it or not. What you can do, if you want to use social networking as part of your class, is sign up for a classroom <a href="http://www.ning.com/" rel="nofollow">Ning</a>. You can even get ads removed if you e-mail and explain it's for education. If you want to make Facebook a tool for students, I think it's find to provide a page and allow them to become fans of it or not, but due to the more social nature of FB, I would be careful about requiring its use. I hope that helps. Stephanie, I don’t think you can make them be your friend on Facebook. In my opinion, they should choose it or not. What you can do, if you want to use social networking as part of your class, is sign up for a classroom Ning. You can even get ads removed if you e-mail and explain it’s for education. If you want to make Facebook a tool for students, I think it’s find to provide a page and allow them to become fans of it or not, but due to the more social nature of FB, I would be careful about requiring its use. I hope that helps.

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