Can Facebook Play a Role in Education?

Facebook is such a common form of communication in today's society. It is a way for people to keep in touch with friends and family, share pictures regarding their own lives, and join events or discussion groups. It is highly popular and is a part of daily life in our society. If this is the case, do you think it could play a role in education? Although there is negative media attention surrounding the harmful privacy and safety issues of social networking sites like Facebook, if used appropriately, I think it could be an effective tool to motivate students to learn.

I do believe there is potential for Facebook to play a role in education. Facebook can enable students to create a network of friends and share media or interests in an easy-to-use website environment. Teachers could encourage group work and discussions about curriculum-based content through Facebook with various students from other classes, schools, states, or even countries. Students could even exchange information about culture with students from other parts of the world to increase their knowledge on a personal level. The opportunities to connect with people and learn new things are endless, which could positively affect educational tasks. Using social networking sites like Facebook will also increase students’ level of engagement because it is something they are comfortable with and familiar using. As a result, I do think Facebook has the potential to play a role in education, but it must be used for the right reasons. Teachers must choose appropriate lessons that could integrate this tool and monitor its proper use. It may take some time before parents and educators regard this site as an educational tool, but I definitely think there is potential.