POETRY

FACEBOOK AS AN ACADEMIC TOOL

what is facebook? 
         
     facebook is a social networking websit where user can post comments, share
photographs and post links to news or other interesting content on the web, chat
 live, and watch short-form vedio. you can ever  order food on facebook it that's
what you want to do. shared contentcan be made publicly accessible, or it can be 
shared onl y among a select group of friend and family, or with a single person.

Facebook is a social networking site that allows users to communicate and interact with each other. The latest design and revision of Facebook is in the format of a timeline and allows users to maintain a profile page and create content, such as status updates, video links, pictures, fan like pages and event pages. These posts are then displayed asynchronouslyto their “friends.” The site also allows for synchronouschat between users. Facebook being one of the most popular social networking sites and having millions of users, acts as a platform for allowing individuals to establish connections with friends and family, near and far, with teachers, colleagues, and peers. Being a very dynamic tool with vast potential, it encourages large-scale participation. Because of its easy accessibility and being a medium where there are no major pre-requisites, this tool has incredible potential in education. According to Freishtat and Sandlin (2010), social networking tools allows for self-directed learning outside of the formal classroom setting (503). In addition, it’s popularity with the youth, allows for instant engagement and motivation. -Revised by Rupi Banga (2014)

Among all websites, only Google receives more traffic than Facebook[1]. A majority of American teens with internet access currently use social networking sites (Mack, 2007). As well, social networking has displaced email as the primary source of electronic communication (Harris, 2008). Facebook was not designed as an educational tool. At its novice stage, it was meant to be a medium used to reconnect and stay connected with old friends and families. Due to its social affordances, educators were not convinced about the potential it could have in the classroom. With the on-going change instruction, especially to accommodate 21st century learning skills, Facebook has become an educationtal tool where students are given the chance to collaborate, discuss, build communities and sharpen their ICT skills. Moreover, teachers have the ability to use Facebook, because of its familiarity with students, for differentiated instruction to cater to the individual needs to students. Pollara & Zhu (2011) question social networking and state, if students are already investing time and energy in social networking, building relationships and their own communities of shared interests and fostering 21st century skills in the process, there is a unique opportunity to form educational communities of knowledge. So, if students are already using social networking sites, should educators try to secure that captive audience in a space they feel comfortable using? This happens to be a question that all educators do stumble upon but once the qualities are reviewed, the opportunities for educational purposes are endless. (Revised by Rupi Banga 2014)