GCSU Professors invest in social networking

An increase in Facebook popularity and technology use in classrooms has led to many changes in the way professors interact with their students. Members of the GCSU staff have begun making their Facebook profiles public to attendees of the university, allowing for there to be more social interaction inside and outside of the classroom.

Junior political science major Andrew Whittaker finds the Facebook relationship with his teachers to be a positive one.

“I’m friends with about two or three of my professors on Facebook,” Whittaker said. “When I am in their classes for a semester, the conversation normally references what is going on in class. Yet, I still do keep in touch with my professors even when I’m not in their class.”

GCSU President Dorothy Leland also agrees that Facebook is a useful communication tool.

“I think it’s great (that faculty have Facebook pages),” Leland said. “Any way that’s effective communication with students is a good thing. I think it’s a good thing that we have faculty trying to do that.”

However, the question must also be raised as to whether it is appropriate for students and GCSU faculty to be friends on Facebook.

“I’m sure it would be a concern to some students, but you really shouldn’t have anything inappropriate on your Facebook anyway,” said junior mass communication major Natalie Sorto. “The whole world doesn’t need to see your nonsense, regardless of who your friends are. These days, jobs are starting to look at your (Facebook) page, so limiting what you put up is definitely a good idea.”

Some professors believe, however, that using Facebook as a way to communicate with students is too hard to manage.

“I do use Facebook regularly for personal use, but I find it too hard to manage for classroom use. I have a blog which I use regularly for my chemistry classes, and I find that works very well,” said chemistry professor Julia Metzker. “I do, however, use Facebook for the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society on campus.”

Facebook is being greatly utilized by the GCSU campus in other ways other than professors. Campus Activities Board, as well as the Office of the Registrar, is using the website in order to promote easier access to information. Everything from events on campus to encouraging students to stop by their respective offices are posted on their Facebook pages. Junior accounting major John Fajuke finds these Facebook groups to be highly beneficial for students.

“I think that having groups set up on Facebook for students to join is a great idea. It keeps the students involved and allows them to communicate back and forth in an easier manner,” Fajuke said. “It also keeps students informed on important dates and events coming up, which is something else I find to be very helpful.”

Whether you are using Facebook to keep up with classes or just to see which movie CAB will be playing this month in the newly renovated Den, it seems everyone is finding a way to stay involved on campus via the popular networking site.

Posted by ConnorJohnson on Nov 11 2010. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.