Facebook for learning and Facebook for learning and collaboration: engage your collaboration: engage your

students or colleaguesstudents or colleagues

Tony BrettTony BrettHead of IT Support Staff ServicesHead of IT Support Staff Services

OUCSOUCSWednesday 11 February 2009Wednesday 11 February 2009

AgendaAgenda►Quick Facebook IntroductionQuick Facebook Introduction►Privacy and Ownership ConcernsPrivacy and Ownership Concerns►Disciplinary ActionDisciplinary Action►CommunicatingCommunicating►CollaboratingCollaborating►TeachingTeaching►PracticalPractical

Facebook is a social network Facebook is a social network tooltool

► Framework for informationFramework for information► Complex control of who can see whatComplex control of who can see what► Users have a “profile” with a picture* and Users have a “profile” with a picture* and

other personal details as they wish, other personal details as they wish, including limiting what certain people can including limiting what certain people can seesee

► Based on “Networks”Based on “Networks”► Facebook creates a newsfeed based on Facebook creates a newsfeed based on

what your “friends” are doingwhat your “friends” are doing► Available to anyone 13 and overAvailable to anyone 13 and over

* Picture is important for recognition, especially with common names

Happy 5Happy 5thth Birthday! Birthday!

► Started in Harvard University Feb 2004Started in Harvard University Feb 2004► Later added academic addresses (.edu, .ac.uk Later added academic addresses (.edu, .ac.uk

etc) making “networks” for “colleges”etc) making “networks” for “colleges” Oxford network has just over 33,000 people in it, out a Oxford network has just over 33,000 people in it, out a

possible c. 45,000possible c. 45,000

► Regional and Employer networks also existRegional and Employer networks also exist ““Regional” anyone can join, but can’t change too oftenRegional” anyone can join, but can’t change too often ““Employer” requires email address in the right domainEmployer” requires email address in the right domain

► Opened to anyone with email in Sep 2006Opened to anyone with email in Sep 2006

Facebook has many features!Facebook has many features!► The WallThe Wall► Messages INBOX (and threads) & ChatMessages INBOX (and threads) & Chat► FriendsFriends► PokesPokes► GroupsGroups► Fan Pages & AdvertsFan Pages & Adverts► EventsEvents► Photos & Videos (with tagging)Photos & Videos (with tagging)► Posted items & NotesPosted items & Notes► Shared itemsShared items► ApplicationsApplications

There are other Social Networking There are other Social Networking SitesSites

►Bebo – lots of school childrenBebo – lots of school children►MySpace – musicians etc.MySpace – musicians etc.

Sometimes called “poor man’s facebook”Sometimes called “poor man’s facebook”►FriendfinderFriendfinder►Twitter - MicrobloggingTwitter - Microblogging►And other minor sitesAnd other minor sites►Even sites where you can make your Even sites where you can make your

own social networksown social networks

FriendsFriends► The key to networksThe key to networks► Can invite by email or searchingCan invite by email or searching

Can search on your email address bookCan search on your email address book Privacy worry?Privacy worry?

► Mutual consentMutual consent► Friend lists can be used to control access Friend lists can be used to control access

and send messagesand send messages► Can be good for keeping up with folks after Can be good for keeping up with folks after

conferences or other business meetings etc. conferences or other business meetings etc. ► I recommend you only make friends I recommend you only make friends

with people you actually know (and with people you actually know (and have preferably met!)have preferably met!)

TaggingTagging

► Marking a photo, video or other item as Marking a photo, video or other item as containing a personcontaining a person

► Can only tag your own friendsCan only tag your own friends► Others can tag your photos but need your Others can tag your photos but need your

permissionpermission► You can untag yourself if you don’t like a You can untag yourself if you don’t like a

photo or video you are tagged inphoto or video you are tagged in Then nobody can re-tag youThen nobody can re-tag you

► Facebook won’t remove items unless they Facebook won’t remove items unless they violate the AUPviolate the AUP

What about my privacy?What about my privacy?► People worry about revealing their People worry about revealing their

personal lives to the worldpersonal lives to the world► Tutors and Students may want to keep Tutors and Students may want to keep

things from each other!things from each other! Limiting views to friend groups can helpLimiting views to friend groups can help

► Identity Theft RiskIdentity Theft Risk Don’t show DOB and Home Address!Don’t show DOB and Home Address!

► Facebook staff can check profiles (for Facebook staff can check profiles (for policy violations)policy violations)

► Things are “cached” on the web so even if Things are “cached” on the web so even if you put something up then remove it, it you put something up then remove it, it may still be held elsewhere for years!may still be held elsewhere for years!

Controlling Privacy is quite Controlling Privacy is quite logicallogical

►Privacy screen on FacebookPrivacy screen on Facebook►Settings for:Settings for:

AccountAccount►Name, Contact Email, PasswordName, Contact Email, Password

PrivacyPrivacy►Profile, Search, News Feed & Wall, ApplicationsProfile, Search, News Feed & Wall, Applications►How another user will see your profileHow another user will see your profile

ApplicationsApplications

►Can Control each photo album Can Control each photo album separatelyseparately

Ownership ConcernsOwnership Concerns► Facebook T&Cs say that they can use everything Facebook T&Cs say that they can use everything

you put there, for free!you put there, for free! You hereby grant Facebook an irrevocable, perpetual, You hereby grant Facebook an irrevocable, perpetual,

non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to (a) use, copy, publish, (with the right to sublicense) to (a) use, copy, publish, stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display, stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display, transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate, transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate, excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute (through multiple tiers), any User Content (through multiple tiers), any User Content

► Copyright Policy is strictCopyright Policy is strict We respect the IP rights of others and we prohibit users We respect the IP rights of others and we prohibit users

from Posting User Content that violates another party's from Posting User Content that violates another party's IP rights. When we receive a proper claim of IP IP rights. When we receive a proper claim of IP infringement, we promptly remove or disable access to infringement, we promptly remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing User Content. the allegedly infringing User Content.

Facebook will be entitled to the unrestricted use of any Facebook will be entitled to the unrestricted use of any such Submission for any purpose, commercial or such Submission for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, without acknowledgment or compensation to otherwise, without acknowledgment or compensation to you. you.

Disciplinary Action & Disciplinary Action & Prospective EmployersProspective Employers

► Don’t name your employer and then Don’t name your employer and then defame them or say anything to bring defame them or say anything to bring them or their business into disreputethem or their business into disrepute

► Don’t put stuff up you don’t want others to Don’t put stuff up you don’t want others to see. Think about future employers etc.see. Think about future employers etc.

► Oxford Students have been disciplined Oxford Students have been disciplined with evidence from Facebook after post-with evidence from Facebook after post-exam “trashing”exam “trashing”

► In April 2007, students at a Toronto school In April 2007, students at a Toronto school were banned from an end-of-the-year trip were banned from an end-of-the-year trip after disparaging remarks about a teacher after disparaging remarks about a teacher were found on Facebookwere found on Facebook

So why use Facebook for So why use Facebook for Teaching?Teaching?

►Personal and professional networking Personal and professional networking only differ in the content, not the toolonly differ in the content, not the tool

►Students today grew up with this stuffStudents today grew up with this stuff►There is a divide between the way There is a divide between the way

they learn and the way we teachthey learn and the way we teach►We are the digital immigrants!We are the digital immigrants!►Teaching students the way they prefer Teaching students the way they prefer

to learn may improve engagement and to learn may improve engagement and attainmentattainment

Digital Natives vs. Digital Digital Natives vs. Digital ImmigrantsImmigrants

Source: http://www.apple.com/au/education/digitalkids/disconnect/landscape.html

TeachingTeaching► Have your students in groups?Have your students in groups?► Have them as Facebook “friends” perhaps in Have them as Facebook “friends” perhaps in

a friend group that you can restricta friend group that you can restrict Some students may be outraged that their lecturer ‘be-friended’ Some students may be outraged that their lecturer ‘be-friended’

them but others may think it’s pretty cool to be able to see a ‘real them but others may think it’s pretty cool to be able to see a ‘real life’ side of the person who’s teaching themlife’ side of the person who’s teaching them

► Post and share URLsPost and share URLs Weblearn materialWeblearn material Reading listsReading lists Other online materialOther online material

► Don’t put your own material on facebookDon’t put your own material on facebook just link to itjust link to it

► Photos & Videos (but watch copyright!)Photos & Videos (but watch copyright!)► Organise group work with facebook events.Organise group work with facebook events.

CommunicatingCommunicating► GroupsGroups

DiscussionsDiscussions PhotosPhotos VideosVideos Posted items (Weblearn URLs?)Posted items (Weblearn URLs?) Group events and invitationsGroup events and invitations Groups for tutorial groups?Groups for tutorial groups? Don’t have to be a friend to be in a group with Don’t have to be a friend to be in a group with

someonesomeone► Personal messages & threadsPersonal messages & threads► Fan pages can be used for wider Fan pages can be used for wider

advertising via updatesadvertising via updates Maybe for a department or collegeMaybe for a department or college Useful recruitment or alumni tool?Useful recruitment or alumni tool? See Oxford University fan pageSee Oxford University fan page

CollaboratingCollaborating

► Cross-Institution GroupsCross-Institution Groups► Subject-specific groupsSubject-specific groups

Try searchesTry searches

► Groups or Events for specific Groups or Events for specific conferences/meetingsconferences/meetings UCISA is experimenting with thisUCISA is experimenting with this

► Easy way to post and share videos and photosEasy way to post and share videos and photos► Universal across HE worldwide (almost!)Universal across HE worldwide (almost!)► Don’t forget ownership & privacy issues!Don’t forget ownership & privacy issues!► Use “events” to set up meetingsUse “events” to set up meetings

AdvertisingAdvertising

►Fan pages exist forFan pages exist for BusinessesBusinesses Brands or ProductsBrands or Products Artists, Bands, Public FiguresArtists, Bands, Public Figures

►Easy to create and manageEasy to create and manage►Can use to send updates and promote Can use to send updates and promote

discussiondiscussion►Fans can contribute as they wishFans can contribute as they wish►Organisation retains controlOrganisation retains control

ExercisesExercises► Make a profile if you don’t already have one – Make a profile if you don’t already have one –

www.facebook.comwww.facebook.com Adjust your privacy settings – hide all or some of DOBAdjust your privacy settings – hide all or some of DOB Join the Oxford networkJoin the Oxford network

► Make friends with your neighbourMake friends with your neighbour► Try tagging a note or some photosTry tagging a note or some photos► Post a URL of something of interest and share it with a Post a URL of something of interest and share it with a

neighbourneighbour► Restrict some things your neighbour can seeRestrict some things your neighbour can see► Search for groups that cover your subjectSearch for groups that cover your subject► Make a group and invite your neighbour to it – or join Make a group and invite your neighbour to it – or join

an existing onean existing one► Post something relevant to the groupPost something relevant to the group► Have a look at the Oxford network page and fan pageHave a look at the Oxford network page and fan page► Search for some people you knowSearch for some people you know

Unusual names are easier!Unusual names are easier!

ReferencesReferences► http://www.cit.cornell.edu/policy/memos/facebook.htmlhttp://www.cit.cornell.edu/policy/memos/facebook.html

Useful notes from Cornell (April 2006)Useful notes from Cornell (April 2006)► http://connect.educause.edu/Library/EDUCAUSE+Review/http://connect.educause.edu/Library/EDUCAUSE+Review/

Facebook20/46324?time=1234302688Facebook20/46324?time=1234302688 Thoughts on Facebook 2.0Thoughts on Facebook 2.0

► http://www.educause.edu/apps/er/erm06/erm0660.asphttp://www.educause.edu/apps/er/erm06/erm0660.asp Notes from Educause December 2006 (long)Notes from Educause December 2006 (long)

► http://www.educause.edu/LIVE0621http://www.educause.edu/LIVE0621 Live presentation: Facing Facebook and other social networking technologiesLive presentation: Facing Facebook and other social networking technologies

► http://blogs.edgehill.ac.uk/webservices/2007/10/30/fear-of-facebook/http://blogs.edgehill.ac.uk/webservices/2007/10/30/fear-of-facebook/ Comments from a UK UniversityComments from a UK University

► http://student.independent.co.uk/university_life/article3068385.ecehttp://student.independent.co.uk/university_life/article3068385.ece Networking sites: Professors keep out! (October 07)Networking sites: Professors keep out! (October 07)

► http://www.apple.com/au/education/digitalkids/disconnect/landscape.htmlhttp://www.apple.com/au/education/digitalkids/disconnect/landscape.html The “digital disconnect”The “digital disconnect”

► http://blogs.gartner.com/allen_weiner/2009/01/20/social-media-turns-a-http://blogs.gartner.com/allen_weiner/2009/01/20/social-media-turns-a-page/page/ Social Media Turns a pageSocial Media Turns a page