I think we've all heard more than enough about Facebook by now, in countless different lights at that. Is it the latest passtime for lazy teenagers? A technological advancement that could revolutionize our education system? The cancer that's killing the internet? Facebook can be an awful lot of things, admittedly, and every individual and every group seems to share a different opinion on it. What I can say for certain, though, is that Facebook is an example of TECHNOLOGY - and throughout human history, technology has never been good or bad. It's all about how it's used.
Now, personally, I'm not a Facebook user. Why? Because I have better things to do with my life. But that's a different story. The issue right now is that a social networking site, something that is often viewed by schools as the worst thing since cell phones (which is probably the worst thing since passing notes in class or hanging out in the washrooms), has now been used for educational purposes. Can a person call their friends in class and chat idly? Yes, albeit they would probably get caught - but the point of the matter is that they could do it, and that it would be a hindrance to the teacher and the rest of the class. On the other hand, could a student call home and ask permission to go on a trip, or call the school when they're out to find out if it's a civvies day? Again, while neither situation is probable, the fact of the matter is that it CAN happen, and that it would help the student and the school a lot more than it would hurt them. So, are cell phones evil? The answer to that should be the answer to this whole Facebook issue.
As I said earlier, I'm not a Facebook user, so my opinion should be an awful lot less biased than many of my colleagues. However, that doesn't mean that my opinion is any different: it's just that, to me, this is an issue of common sense above all else. This student has demonstrated that technology can be used for educational purposes, and that it can help people study. For some reason beyond my comprehension, some people think that this can be a bad thing. Are cars bad because you can run people over with them, even though you can also get to school faster with them? Technology is all the same in the end: it depends on how it's used. A study group in Facebook is no different from a study group on the phone, or a study group in real life. What the schools need to worry about is regulating students from accessing Facebook during school and idly passing time - not restricting a private study group that hasn't done anything wrong other than the fact that it involves the internet.
In the end, I'd say that Facebook has potential to be used for educational purposes; it's a good method of communication, and it's something that students are familiar with. That said, I have to admit that if I were into these things, I would rather keep Facebook as education-free as possible. But that's a different debate, isn't it?
Now, personally, I'm not a Facebook user. Why? Because I have better things to do with my life. But that's a different story. The issue right now is that a social networking site, something that is often viewed by schools as the worst thing since cell phones (which is probably the worst thing since passing notes in class or hanging out in the washrooms), has now been used for educational purposes. Can a person call their friends in class and chat idly? Yes, albeit they would probably get caught - but the point of the matter is that they could do it, and that it would be a hindrance to the teacher and the rest of the class. On the other hand, could a student call home and ask permission to go on a trip, or call the school when they're out to find out if it's a civvies day? Again, while neither situation is probable, the fact of the matter is that it CAN happen, and that it would help the student and the school a lot more than it would hurt them. So, are cell phones evil? The answer to that should be the answer to this whole Facebook issue.
As I said earlier, I'm not a Facebook user, so my opinion should be an awful lot less biased than many of my colleagues. However, that doesn't mean that my opinion is any different: it's just that, to me, this is an issue of common sense above all else. This student has demonstrated that technology can be used for educational purposes, and that it can help people study. For some reason beyond my comprehension, some people think that this can be a bad thing. Are cars bad because you can run people over with them, even though you can also get to school faster with them? Technology is all the same in the end: it depends on how it's used. A study group in Facebook is no different from a study group on the phone, or a study group in real life. What the schools need to worry about is regulating students from accessing Facebook during school and idly passing time - not restricting a private study group that hasn't done anything wrong other than the fact that it involves the internet.
In the end, I'd say that Facebook has potential to be used for educational purposes; it's a good method of communication, and it's something that students are familiar with. That said, I have to admit that if I were into these things, I would rather keep Facebook as education-free as possible. But that's a different debate, isn't it?
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