Comments on: 5 things Facebook can teach us about elearning

By: Heather Y. (UU)

Heather Y. (UU) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:37:21 +0000

I think Facebook is more popular than elearning because so many people have it. If we were honest, most of us use facebook to see what other people are doing. It is a social tool. Elearning just needs to be explained more and to a larger audience. If more people knew about it and how to use it, it would probably become more popular.

By: SanTrell Ellis (UU)

SanTrell Ellis (UU) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:38:30 +0000

The top 5 that Facebook could teach eLearning was very interesting but also true. Facebook doesn’t always change things but when it does we get use to it and learn fast from it. If eLearning has something even close to Facebook it would be great for individuals. Once you join facebook it’s hard to get off, people don’t realize how addictive it is until they realized how long they have been on there. If eLearning is easy to understanding and more interesting then it should be just fine.

By: Dennis Reggans

Dennis Reggans — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:48:56 +0000

I believe that everything that is said on this is completely true. I’ve found that once you’re on Facebook it’s almost hard not to not be on it for a long period. I admit I spend more time on there than I should and belive that nearly everyone on it does as well. But the main point is if someone can spend nearly 6 hours on it they can just as easily use use elearning as a tool. The last point that is made is that it’s not for everyone really speaks to a lot of people. Just because everyone else in the world is using it doesn’t mean that you have to use it. If elearning is not for you, you don’t have to use it if it’s not your cup of tea. And another point is there is always room for improvement. If at first you can’t figure something out, you can always take the time to get to know it better and learn to improve your performance on the matter.

Dennis Reggans (UU)

By: Dennis Reggans

Dennis Reggans — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:25:07 +0000

By: Rebecca (UU)

Rebecca (UU) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:01:48 +0000

The only use of Facebook that I have had for a class is for student led groups. It helps only because students my age tend to check the site often. Since we are all so familiar with Facebook, it wasn’t hard to distinguish what was for the class. Even with all of this, if students do not want to get involved in a project, it doesn’t matter how you try to reach them if they aren’t interested. The positives to Facebook is that it is used in a casual manner, and it isn’t something that most are already familiar with. Facebook does prove that people are capable of understand technology (and using it for elearning), if only they are interested and willing to take the time.

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:57:21 +0000

I don’t use facebook and I haven’t had a class that used it as part of the course. But I am wondering why a teacher would want to use facebook as the means of interacting–socialially or intellectually. It seems that facebook is where people discuss their personal lives, posting daily reports of their status and uploading photos and such. With blog capabilities such as this site, it seems to me that blogging like this would be better. So rather than trying to extend their social exchange space to accommodate learning in a course, why not just use blogs in the courses and leave facebook alone?
I would love to hear from some of you that have used facebook in your courses. How did you mix the two and did you feel like you were stretching the capabilities and/or purpose of being on facebook?

By: Terica

Terica — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:51:22 +0000

Joey,
This article was well written. The alignment of facebook with elearning was quite insightful. Your ending statement was profound. You are absolutely correct, just because one can do it does not mean one is willing. You cited a figure on how if one can spend 6 hours performing various functions on Facebook then they should be able to spend time with elearning. The average individual is on Facebook for recreational purposes, thus the time spent on the site will not seem as time consuming. Elearning is more academic related, so an avid Facebook user may totally dismiss the idea of elearning. You have those who enjoy the “entertaining” side of Facebook, yet they have no desire to engage in any form of elearning.

By: Dot

Dot — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:03:49 +0000

Joey: I really am one of those occasional users of facebook who only uses it as a social connection to friends who I would like to re-connect. I am more of what my 14 year old would consider “old school” when it comes to revealing my personal comings and goings. Reading your comments however, gives me a new perspective on facebook and all its possibilities. Maybe I will become a little more “new school” in the future.

By: Dot

Dot — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:02:26 +0000

Joey: I really am one of those occasional users of facebook who only uses it as a social connection to friends who I would like to re-connect. I am a more of what my 14 year old would consider “old school” when it comes to revealing my personal comings and goings. Reading your comments however, gives me a new perspective on facebook and all its possibilities. Maybe I will become a little more “new school” in the future.

By: Kristy

Kristy — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:02:49 +0000

This may stray a bit from Joey’s post, but Stacy brings up a point that I’ve often wondered about. Do students feel as if teachers are crossing some unspoken boundaries by incorporating Facebook into their classes? Do they feel as if they are forced to allow teachers and fellow classmates into their private, social world housed within Facebook? Or has living online become such the norm that the two worlds easily merge?