Instructors communicating with students via Facebook or Myspace. Good? Bad? Who cares!?

I am an instructor at a small college affiliated with a larger university. I just started using Facebook and MySpace as a communication device, with helping the students succeed in mind. I have chosen to do so, because almost all my students have a presence on at least one of these sites and they log into them more often than their school email.





In your opinion should I be using these social networking sites as a way to contact students, to remind them of what needs to get done?





Are these two sites really more ‘dating sites’? Am I putting myself in a situation in which students will see me as an instructor looking for a ‘hookup’ ? If so what could I do to avoid this, If am to continue using the websites.

Instructors communicating with students via Facebook or Myspace. Good? Bad? Who cares!?
Facebook was a site created as a social utility to connect businesses and people that belonged to certain associations. Such as a college. As long as youre using the site strictly for educational purposes I think its fine. Many students might not agree with me beacuse they have alot of personal information on these sites but you can edit them to where certain people can only see certain things. I would send out like a memo to al of your students asking if they would be okay with you doing this. Unfortunatley Facebook has turned into a dating site just liek Myspace. I would ask the students if it would be acceptable and then if they agree to using this method of communication, make it clear to them that you would be able to see personal information and if they don't want you seeing it then set their profiles to limited. ( do the same if you use the site for purposes other then education ) good luck, i think its a great idea, as a student I know im constantly on my Facebook but I'm also checking my school emails as frequently.
Reply:hmm.. i think it would be better if you use yahoogroups instead of social networking sites like myspace.. that way, it's more professional.. i have a professor that does that.. he has a yahoogroup account for the subjects he teaches where he can post files, homeworks, and lessons, where students can access it.. its purely business.. no chance of getting viewed as an instructor looking for a "hookup"..
Reply:It isn't really that professional but if it works then great im sure the students dont mind since they probly use these sites alot and it is easy for them to access this info.





I would recommend whoever does this have a small website for those who dont like to visit these sites though.