If this statistic holds true for adults, how many online teenagers are Facebook users? Reality? Our kids are social media hungry. It is a very common form of communication not just for our kids, but for our society.
Seizing the moment has always been a very effective weapon in a teacher's arsenal. Students are usually already engaged when a "teachable" situation presents itself, resulting in higher performance by the students and engagement throughout the lesson or unit.
This is one reason why it makes sense to use social media in classrooms. It's meeting students where they are. There are some challenges that exist with the inclusion of social media in education, however, which could actually warrant a blog post of their own. Therefore, in the meantime, substitute social media sites are available.
Fakebook is a site that allows students to create profiles for various book characters and famous people in history. The student actually is building a webpage, but it is laid out to mimic Facebook with status updates, profile pictures, friends, comments, and likes.
Here's how it works - Let's say that I read The Hobbit. As I'm reading it, I will be creating a Fakebook page for Bilbo Baggins. First, I'm going to add profile details like About Me, Hometown, Favorite Quotes, Relationship Status, etc. All of the things you see on a Facebook page. Then, as I read, I'll add friends. This is where Fakebook differs from Facebook.
On Fakebook, all of the friends and interactions I have are actually being carried out by me. When I add Gandalf as a friend, there's not another student out there using Gandalf's character; it's me. For each friend that is added, Fakebook is automatically searching the Internet for pictures that friend is tagged in. Therefore, when I add Gandalf as a friend of Bilbo's, the picture shows Gandalf from (what else?) The Lord of the Rings Movie. Same thing when I add Elrond. If I would like, I can upload my own picture for the friend I just created.
Now, as I finish reading for the day, I'll write a status update that sums up what happened. In the beginning of The Hobbit, I'll probably write something like, "Heading out on an adventure with a band of dwarves. What have I gotten myself into?" I could even change the date so that it matches the time. After posting, I'll have a few of my friends comment on my status. I might have Gandalf comment, "Be safe, Bilbo. I'll see you soon." Remember, it's really the owner of the page who is doing all of this.
This pattern can continue throughout my reading, and I can also add pictures as I'm reading. Wouldn't it be great to upload the map from The Hobbit to represent a check-in? After each edit, I save my changes so the next time I log in, I can pick up right where I left off.
The great thing about this site is that it allows students to use an environment they're familiar with for learning. It truly shows comprehension and understanding of relationships, events, and interactions since the students are commenting on their own status. There's no guessing what student might have logged in and commented inappropriately because each student owns their own page and everything that goes on it. They can even embed a finished version onto their website or the class website to showcase for parents and administrators.
Although the above example was used with characters from a book, the same thing could show the interaction between key people in history. For example, maybe students could represent what the Facebook page of presidential candidates might look like in a particular election.
As you're using this, kids will want to show off their work, so remember to build in time for showcasing through Gallery Walks or Stay and Stray activities. By using sites like this, students are engaging in Creativity, a key aspect of 21st Century Learning. Let the creative juices flow and see what the kids come up with!
