Comments — Social Media in Higher Education

I am compiling some of the comments I received from colleagues and students after sending out an email with information on the seminar. I also posted a notice in Facebook.

Unless you are very careful, using social media invariably leads to spelling and grammar mistakes.

I’m doing a faculty presentation next week on social media in higher education. I’m looking for comments. Should professors use Facebook and other sites for their courses? Should their be a wall separating the social from the academic? Let me know. I would like many opinions to use in the seminar. Thanks.

Can you spot the mistake? My daughter called me late one night to let me know!

From Bernie Gettel:

 FB is where it’s at for college students, but I’m concerned about the research regarding it’s affect on grades. Perhaps this should be addressed in your presentation. Here is one link to the research: http://www.computerworld.c​om/s/article/9131507/Study​_Facebook_users_get_lower_​grades_in_college ENJOY!

From Justin Younkins, a student:

Dr. Linehan, as we both know most students check their facebook more than their webmail. I for one do not condone using social media for academic purposes but if it is a way to get todays youth to keep up on their studies…maybe? It could also turn on you as well, they could be on facebook in your class, not paying attention, and say they are checking up on their classwork.

 From Pam Kauffman, administrative assistant:
Hi Peter,I just helped Julie Martin set up a page for the PTA graduates. She felt it would be a good way to stay in touch with them, find out about job openings, who has a job, and anything else. There is a fine line there. Also, the PTA students friend each other and it makes a good way to keep in the know with classes, cancelations and so on. Hope that helps.

From Annyce Stone, instructor:

Peter,
I hope you don’t mind my old-fashioned email reply! 

I ask students this very question in my online classes.  It ends up split pretty much down the middle with students thinking it would be a great way to enhance class communications and those saying that they want FB to be private and personal.  In addition, those indicating that it might be good for a class also indicate that they don’t think it should be a place for assignments — only for general communications, basic questions, and course reminders.

As a result, I have resisted creating a class FB page out of concern for those who want FB to remain their private, social arena.  The texts that I tend to review and read for my classes (Business English) actually encourage drawing the line between the two worlds.  Business texts do mention professional networking sites such as LinkedIn as an option to FB for those who want networking — but in a strictly professional sense.

I hope this helps,
Annyce Stone
Online Adjunct, PSUMA

From Pam Reifinger:

I will not be attending this session but I feel it’s a great opportunity for students to know their professor especially in a web class.  However, I rather not have them access my private Facebook account.  I’m willing to create a professional one for my web students to access me.

Hope this helps!
Pam