Re: [LM_NET] Facebook--my two cents

[Harry Coffill <HCoffill@EGRPS.ORG>]

"Anything that is in the world when you're born is normal and ordinary and is just 
a natural part of the way the world works. 

Anything that's invented between when you're fifteen and thirty-five is new and 
exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it. 

Anything invented after you're thirty-five is against the natural order of things."

-Douglas Adams

I've included the Douglas Adams quote I usually run with as my signature here at 
the beginning today.

I've had GREAT LUCK using FB with my students.

As a HS drama director, I recently created a FB group for my cast/crew. This did 
not require me to "friend" them. I was able to alter rehearsal schedules, share 
t-shirt designs, provide rehearsal notes. I had 99% buy-in. (One student was 
computer-free.) When we had our first tech rehearsal, 100% of props and costumes 
showed up. (You probably don't know how revolutionary that is unless you do drama.) 
Kids even took it upon themselves to set up times to run scenes on their own. At 
the end of the show, I disbanded the group.

I DO have former students that are on my "friend" list. Most of them have been 
graduates for more than five years. I put them on "limited profile" and consider 
all of my FB communications public. Consider it the digital equivalent of the 
after-school "drop-in." You really can't understand how nice it is to find that my 
students are doing well and being successful.

So--am I taking risks? Probably. But I think remaining transparent and public in  
my communications helps assuage my fears here. Remember--every communication I make 
can be seen by every other person I communicate with. Which is riskier? An after 
hours communication with no witnesses at my desk? Or an on-line communication with 
a dozen witnesses?

Also-I've been asked to be in charge of my 20th college reunion. Any guesses what 
I'm going to suggest using as an organizational tool?

Using/not using FB is a matter of personal choice. Like any technology tool, It can 
be used professionally or unprofessionally.

Thanks,

Harry


Harry F. Coffill
hcoffill@egrps.org
Media Center Specialist
East Grand Rapids Middle School
Drama Department
East Grand Rapids High School 

"Anything that is in the world when you're born is normal and ordinary and is just 
a natural part of the way the world works. Anything that's invented between when 
you're fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can 
probably get a career in it. Anything invented after you're thirty-five is against 
the natural order of things."-Douglas Adams

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