This presentation explains the benefits of using facebook in distance education.

1. Facebook at OTEN

2. Overview Why Facebook Matters? Why use Facebook? How do I manage it? How do I promote it? Pages or Groups? What are others using? Risks What’s in it for me?

6. Why use it? Benefits Students are comfortable with Facebook Informal Promotes collaboration Cuts down on Help Desk calls

7. If I don’t use it? If you don’t students will anyway. You need to be in the space to be able to respond. Rats in the kitchen Business Admin – In the nick of time

8. Why use it? Our students are on social media. We should be too Get our message to our students where they already are?

9. Why use it? You are in “their” space – responses are clearly visible to all Students interact with each other Forming community

10. Are your Students still using Email?

11. How do I manage it? Monitor Monitor wall posts and comments (delete inappropriate comments) Respond Respond to comments that need response from teacher leave other comments for other students to answer you do not want to overwhelm them, let them have their space, you will find that most questions are answered by other students just monitor and respond when necessary. Ask Questions Whenever posting a URL or video or link etc, prefix with a question

12. Where do I promote it? Everywhere!! Best Places to promote directly after enrolment(student enrolment email) OLS Email Signature Connect Sessions Website Cross Promote (Blog, Wiki, Twitter)

13. Pages or Groups What is the difference? Source: The Big Four: Social Media Sites Schools Can’t Ignore MAIS-TEC, April 2009Lorrie Jackson Director of Communications and Marketing Lausanne Collegiate School (Memphis, TN)

14. What Are Other Organisations Using?

15. Recommendations Official Section Facebook Page, to start Possible: Other Facebook Group Pages (Cert II, Diploma etc) as needed, if you are worried about privacy. Cohort/Course Group Main Section Facebook Page Cohort/Course Group Cohort/Course Group

16. How much time is this going to take? EXAMPLE: Community Services Page Manage a very active Page Time spent per week on average = 2.5 hrs Check Page once or twice a day Result: Dramatic Cut in Help Desk Calls

17. Other OTEN Examples