This document provides guidance on implementing virtual Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) groups using Facebook. It discusses starting PAL groups for different levels and disciplines. Facebook profiles, pages, and groups are compared. Groups are recommended as they allow private, closed, or open membership and enable equal discussion. Tips are provided on moderation policies, inviting members, advertising the groups, and examples of helpful discussion types. Feedback from students emphasizes the benefits of community, quick access to answers, and reducing isolation. Guidance is given for group activities, including setting objectives, moderation, inviting members, advertising, and measures for evaluating success.

1. A Guide to Implementing
Virtual PAL using Facebook
Groups
Shazia Ahmed
Sarah Honeychurch
Lorna Love

2. How it all got started
• Retention within ‘Information and Mathematical
Sciences’ and ‘Science and Engineering’
• Peer Assisted Learning
• Barriers
• Online discussion space

3. How it all got started
• Facebook groups or Moodle forums?
• Benefits of “virtual” PAL over traditional PAL
- time buffer
- visible conversations
- level playing field
- urgency of misunderstandings
- clear articulation forced
- holiday and resit periods

4. Where we are now
• Level 1 Groups
Science & Engineering Entrants (675), Maths &
Stats (268), Psychology (378), Engineering
(245), Computing Science (114), and more…
• Level 2 Groups
Maths (295), Computing Science (183),
Engineering(177), Physics (140)
• Level 3 Groups
Maths (142), Computing Science (192)

5. Getting started with Facebook
• Profile, page or group?
• Privacy settings
• Moderation
• Who to invite
• How to invite

6. Facebook Profile
• About you!
• Add as much or as little information as you like
• Must have Profile before Group or Page can be created
• Privacy Settings

7. Facebook Pages
• Best for ‘broadcasters’ – sets expectation of traditional
creator / audience relationship
• Facilitates communication from you to members (and
members to you)

8. Facebook Pages
• No control over membership – anyone can see you,
anyone can like you!
• Users get no notifications (but posts do appear in their
news feed)
• Suitable for: Services, Colleges, Schools

9. Facebook Groups
• Can be public or private
– Open
– Closed
– Private
• Suitable for community groups
• Good for conversations and discussions
• Equal communication between all members of group
• Users get notifications (unless settings changed)

10. Facebook Groups
Open
SecretClosed

11. Summary
Profile Page Group
• Individual
• Only allowed 1 per
person
•Control of who sees what
(privacy settings)
• Account details can’t be
shared
• Control over who is/not
your friend
• Public – visible to all
whether logged in or not
• Official profile/ presence
• Admin can be shared with
others (details not public)
• Fans “like” a page
• Some control of who can
post
• “Broadcasts” information
• Can be public or private:
• Open
• Closed
• Private
• Community groups
• Admin can be shared with
others (group members
can see who admin are)
• Members join a group
(with/out admin approval)
• Discussion

12. Administration
• Moderation policy
– Who will moderate?
– Policy
– Sanctions
• Who to invite?
– Current students
– Senior students
– Alumni
– Academic staff
– Support staff
• How to Advertise?
– Email
– Moodle
– Class noticeboards

13. Guidelines and Policy
Rule #1:
Don’t annoy.

14. Guidelines and Policy
Rule #2:

15. Stay on target
Guidelines and Policy
Promote your services
Expand your audience’s knowledge
Respond to your audience
Rule #3:

16. Examples of conversations from
Facebook Groups

17. Time-Critical Conversations

18. Time-Critical Conversations

19. Academic ‘Chat’

21. Interactions between students

23. Messages of Support

24. Organising meetings/study groups

25. Current Affairs

26. Conversations with staff

27. Conversations with each other

28. Conversations with senior students

30. Feedback
Keep going with these Facebook groups and try as hard as possible to get EVERYONE in the group
as early as possible in first year. In my experience as a student who travels in, it helps feel a part
of the University. Without the Facebook groups I would feel a lot more isolated and probably at
lot less engaged.
I like facebook groups because they are "faster" than emails or any other way and i can discuss
live with other students. So helpful
I feel that the facebook pages are well-managed/curated by the university staff - there to help
when we need it yet able to stand back when we're having a mild moan and I'm glad that we
have them
I can ask a question and one of the group, lecturer or student, will answer me instantaneously.
On the whole I feel the most useful thing about the Facebook page is that it makes it easier to
talk to people who you don't really know, and who you would find it difficult asking the same
questions of in person.
It builds a sense of community and you learn peoples faces and their names
Its like being in a tutorial sometimes.

31. Group Activity
• Purpose of group/page
• Moderation
• Invitation
• Advertising
• What month to start
• What types of post and when

32. Questions
• What month did you start and why?
• Did you have difficulty agreeing?
• How much time do you think
moderation/admin will take?
• What measures of success would you use?
• Are you going to implement a group/page on
your course and why (not)?

33. Join our Group
• Sarah Honeychurch
https://twitter.com/nomadwarmachine
• Shazia Ahmed
https://twitter.com/ShaziaAhmed
• Social Media and Learning Communities
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1254471876
5832/