ASU on Facebook explained
setting up your Facebook account
sign up for ASU on Facebook
learn more about Facebook
scenario
With her busy schedule, Sheila finds it hard to connect to others in her Social Work program. She’s determined to graduate, but feels she could use some support in getting there. When Sheila read about ASU on Facebook (facebook.asu.edu), she installed it on her page and started looking at profiles of students from her courses. She noticed that the email addresses of her instructors were there too, and she had theoption of e-inviting them to join. Sheila thinks it’s a great idea for teachers to be available via Facebook...much easier than office hours. She also enjoys reviewing the posted status field for each student in the class. With the exam coming up Monday, she’s changing her status to “distressed” and is happy to see that a number of other students feel the same way. Despite never talking to them after class, their pics and funny messages make her feel as if she knows them a little better and could use the application as a lifeline if she gets stuck one day. She wishes her instructors were as accessible. Not one has replied yet to the e-vite and it’s been at least 4 hours since she sent the notice. Maybe she’ll teach them how to join next week?
what?
ASU on Facebook is third party software by Inigral (www.inigral.com) that ASU has purchased and configured to connect student and course information to Facebook accounts. If a Facebook user chooses to install the ASU on Facebook application, it prompts them once for their ASURite ID and password and then displays their courses, participating fellow students, and the instructor for each course. It allows Facebook participants in the course to talk with each other and to participating instructors, while maintaining the option to keep their personal Facebook profile pages private. It also permits them to set up study groups, ask questions, set their status/mood for the moment, and comment on the course experience. For more information on Facebook, see the “7 things you should know about...Facebook” profile by EDUCAUSE (2008).
who?
Students and faculty at ASU who use Facebook can voluntarily install the application. All other ASU affiliates can install it as well, but the container is designed to recognize and support course relationships at this time. ASU states that alumni, prospective students and group organizations will soon follow.
how?
The application works by connecting Facebook with the Student Information System data. When a student accepts the ASU on Facebook application and proves their authenticity via the ASU sign-in screen, the application automatically links together their ASU account and their Facebook account. Students can then see other ASU on Facebook application users and share thoughts about their class through a course wall and status update. The application creates an integrated ASU Facebook profile that is kept separate from users’ personal Facebook profiles.
significance?
The digital generation spends a great deal of the day in Facebook. By connecting ASU students to their courses, peers and instructors via a Facebook application, they may spend more time connecting to their academic peers and instructors regarding the course, content and ideas.
downsides?
There are few downsides for students, as the application is voluntary, and can be deleted from Facebook at any time. The greatest concerns at ASU regarding use of the application are that:
- Faculty will be taken unaware by a flurry of student ‘invitations’ to join the Facebook site for the course, where instructor invite is shown for one student profile.
- The informal nature of Facebook will cause some disconnect from scholarship when posting ideas and questions on the Facebook course wall (“Yo dude, ’sup with the low grade?”).
- A subcurrent of conversation will arise around a course, often with faculty uninvolved and unaware of the activity.
- This creates another electronic site for instructors to learn, check, incorporate into pedagogy and support.
where?
Currently in a relatively experimental but fully active stage, ASU is committed to further exploration and use. Plans include linking up alumni, prospective students and student organizations. Riding the wave of popularity of social media, ASU hopes that access to peers, instructors, and ASU affiliates via Facebook will create greater connection and sense of belonging in the student population, as well as dynamic connection to our chosen communities via one of Web 2.0’s most popular applications. Studies have shown that students that connect with other students are more likely to do better in their coursework (Heiberger and Harper, 2008) and ASU is hoping to leverage the digital generation’s favorite social media to enhance that sense of connection with ASU.
implications?
ASU on Facebook is an informal approach to discussion and connection in a course. Since many students already use Facebook, this initiative provides a familiar approach for students seeking connection outside the classroom. Will faculty embrace the initiative, accept course invitations to join their students at ASU on Facebook, and embrace informal course communications? Time will tell.
