Spring Break
Faculty and Facebook
It's not just for students anymore
Caitlin Sparzak
Issue date: 5/12/08 Section: News
With the ever growing popularity of Facebook, perhaps it's not surprising that even teachers and professors are joining in on the trend.
Until recently, only those with am valid college e-mail address ending in .edu could join Facebook.com and create an account, but now the network accepts anyone with a valid e-mail address. The change brought much debate in the Facebook community as many felt the site should continue be solely for college students.
One of the most common reasons teachers have uploaded a profile on Facebook is because it is a popularity both among students and in the news. For one professor; her Facebook account began because of the possible elimination of a program.
In her second semester at Towson University, Dr. Stacy Spaulding, of the Mass Communication department, had previously worked at Columbia Union College. While still working at Columbia Union last year, a dispute among the board of trustees almost changed the future of the school. The college's board of trustees considered making the school a medical arts college which would mean eliminating the liberal arts program. Spaulding's class became a forum for students to discuss how they wanted to show their support for the program. Because of the determination and interest of her students in the topic, she allowed them class time to get into action.
"Part of their strategy for getting student support out was posting notices to Facebook and MySpace," said Dr. Stacy Spaulding.
She added, "That maybe was about the second or third time I had heard the students say something about Facebook and so I thought, okay; I need to get a profile going so I can see what students were really doing on Facebook."
Spaulding currently uses Facebook to keep in contact with students.
"For me, the most beneficial thing is keeping track of students after they graduate because once you graduate you are off into your own world, you're doing your own thing. As a teacher, especially at my old school, I had maybe 14 people in my program each year so I got to know them really well after the four years. Facebook for me is most useful in keeping track of those students, connecting with them and seeing what they're doing," said Spaulding.
Until recently, only those with am valid college e-mail address ending in .edu could join Facebook.com and create an account, but now the network accepts anyone with a valid e-mail address. The change brought much debate in the Facebook community as many felt the site should continue be solely for college students.
One of the most common reasons teachers have uploaded a profile on Facebook is because it is a popularity both among students and in the news. For one professor; her Facebook account began because of the possible elimination of a program.
In her second semester at Towson University, Dr. Stacy Spaulding, of the Mass Communication department, had previously worked at Columbia Union College. While still working at Columbia Union last year, a dispute among the board of trustees almost changed the future of the school. The college's board of trustees considered making the school a medical arts college which would mean eliminating the liberal arts program. Spaulding's class became a forum for students to discuss how they wanted to show their support for the program. Because of the determination and interest of her students in the topic, she allowed them class time to get into action.
"Part of their strategy for getting student support out was posting notices to Facebook and MySpace," said Dr. Stacy Spaulding.
She added, "That maybe was about the second or third time I had heard the students say something about Facebook and so I thought, okay; I need to get a profile going so I can see what students were really doing on Facebook."
Spaulding currently uses Facebook to keep in contact with students.
"For me, the most beneficial thing is keeping track of students after they graduate because once you graduate you are off into your own world, you're doing your own thing. As a teacher, especially at my old school, I had maybe 14 people in my program each year so I got to know them really well after the four years. Facebook for me is most useful in keeping track of those students, connecting with them and seeing what they're doing," said Spaulding.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 17
Amazon Herbs
posted 5/21/08 @ 7:09 PM EST
The owner of Facebook is now the youngest person to make billionaire (24). The future of Facebook is similar to the internet. The future of the intenet is unknown. (Continued…)
Angela James
posted 2/20/09 @ 2:30 AM EST
Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook while he was a student at Harvard University.[4] Website membership was initially limited to Harvard students, but was expanded to other colleges in the Boston area, the Ivy League, and Stanford University. (Continued…)
Julia Davies
posted 3/02/09 @ 12:31 AM EST
I thank you for the opportunity to share a portion of my moments in time with future generations.
Caroline Pellyn
posted 3/07/09 @ 7:07 AM EST
I thought this debate was about them, as opposed to featuring them. Whoops.
Janet Capper
posted 3/07/09 @ 12:46 PM EST
Good and interesting article, thanks!
Elisabeth Alverston
posted 3/11/09 @ 5:52 AM EST
I thank you for the opportunity to share a portion of my moments in time with future generations.
Monica Ackers
posted 3/13/09 @ 2:17 PM EST
Nice review! Thanks!
Seeking Rusian Girlfreind
posted 4/02/09 @ 9:37 AM EST
i find this website very useful but can you plz add a Q&A link that shows some of the common questions his eminenece has answered.
Elisabeth Garney
posted 4/19/09 @ 3:49 AM EST
This article is amazing. I'm going to spend so much time procrastinating on here. I'm not quite sure if I should be thanking you, or cursing you
build muscle mass
posted 5/18/09 @ 6:27 PM EST
I find this website very useful but can you plz add a Q&A link that shows some of the common questions his eminenece has answered.
Cesar
build muscle mass
Post a Comment