Class Discussions Using Facebook

Presentation By: Katie Rosko

OverviewOnline student discussions have become

prevalent in many university courses, but since many professors host discussions on sites

students do not frequently visit, many students do not actively participate. Facebook

discussion pages provide a familiar forum where students visit frequently, allowing

effective online discussion among students and field experts to take place.

GoalProfessors in the College of Education will learn how to create a Facebook page that

has discussion capabilities.

ObjectivesAt the conclusion of this presentation you will be able to complete the following on your own with limited assistance from an online source: 1. Access Facebook’s website2. Create a personal Facebook account3. Login to your personal account4. Create an official Facebook page for your intended

class5. Facilitate discussion using the created page6. Invite class members and field experts to link to your

page

Stimulating RecallLike with the first discussions of any class,

online discussions will probably begin slowly. By utilizing Facebook discussion,

however, students should visit the discussion boards more frequently, allowing these discussions to flow more freely and

naturally. These online discussions between students should become more like sitting in

an actual class meeting.

Accessing Facebook:• Open the Internet browser of your choice• Then proceed to http://www.facebook.com

Creating an Account• If you do not already have a personal

account, enter in all information under “Sign Up”

• Select “Sign Up”

• Proceed through the security checkpoint

Creating an Account• The following steps on Facebook are optional;

complete any you wish to gain friends and share personal information

• To complete sign-up, go to your email, find the message from Facebook, and click “Complete Sign-up”

• You will now havea Facebook account!

Logging into Facebook• Since we are creating a page, log in by visiting

http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php • Type in your email and password

• To log in normally, follow the same process but on Facebook’s homepage http://www.facebook.com

Creating a Facebook Page• While signed in but still on

http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php, create an “Official Page”

(4) Create page

(1) Select

(2) Name page

(3) Review terms

Creating a Facebook Page• Upload a profile picture (the image that will

represent your group) Step One: Step Two:

• Step Three: Double Click on the image you want

Creating a Facebook Page• Putting basic information on your page

• Provide any information you desire

Creating a Facebook Page• To return to your page after logging out or

going back to your personal profile, go to “Account” menu, then “Manage Pages”, and finally “Go To Page” (1)

(2)

(3)

Facilitating Discussions• First add the “Discussions” Tab

The “Discussions” tab may already be at the top of your screen; if this is the case, ignore these steps

(1)

(2)

Facilitating Discussions• Starting a new discussion under the

“Discussions” tab

• Fill in the topic and post

Facilitating Discussions• Contributing members can then either

reply to your post or create a new topic

Inviting Students to Link to Your Page

• Method One: Send an email to your students with the name of your group (so they can search for it) or with the URL for your group

• This will allow them to “Like” your page, giving them access to notifications about group updates and easy access to discussions

Inviting Students to Link to Your Page

• Method Two: Publicize your page on your course website

(1) Click “Get Started”

(2) Click “Add Like Box”

Inviting Students to Link to Your Page

(4) Copy and paste your page’s URL here

(3) Click

Inviting Students to Link to Your Page

(5) Then change any other fields as desired; they will change the appearance of the “Like Box”

Inviting Students to Link to Your Page

• Note: Since “iframe” code doesn’t require JavaScript to open, I suggest using that code

(6) Click

(7) Copy code

(8) Paste code to website

(9) Give students link to website

Inviting Students to Link to Your Page

• Method Three: If, however, you are already Facebook friends with your studentsor field experts you want included in discussion, justsuggest your page to them

(1)

(2)

SummaryDuring this presentation we have explored the benefits of using Facebook discussion

pages for a course, how to create a Facebook account, how to make a

Facebook page for your class, how to facilitate class discussions using this page,

and how to invite students and field experts to link to your page.

AssessmentNow try to create a Facebook page for

discussions for EDUC 490 or another class in the College of Education.

Expanding Your KnowledgeThe possibilities of a Facebook page for your class

do not end with discussions. You can advertise your program or class, post links to relevant or

useful articles, or provide a forum for networking of past students, present students, and field

experts.

Expanding Your KnowledgeIf you have mastered creating a page for

discussions, explore Facebook’s Help Center to find out more possibilities for

your page.

(1)(2)

Sources for images• Facebook logos from www.facebook.com• Blue wave texture from

www.stockvault.net