The document discusses using Facebook to facilitate communication for large journalism projects outside of the classroom. It notes challenges with only meeting 3-4 hours per week and limitations of traditional communication methods. The presenter recommends setting up a private Facebook group for the class and appointing a student administrator. As the instructor, you need to actively participate in the group to keep discussions going. Students are encouraged to post questions and discoveries to extend learning outside of class time. Facebook allows continuous teaching and becomes a reporting tool as sources also use social media. Student feedback praised the ability to quickly get answers and work collaboratively through the dedicated Facebook group.

1. Communicating Outside the
Classroom:
Using Facebook for Large Projects
Teachapalooza 2013, Poynter Institute
Presented by Steve Fox, June 2013

2. The Challenges
Ran three major projects last three years. Partnered with:
Springfield (Mass.) Republican, Boston Globe, Huffington
Post
Running large projects is like running a newsroom. How
do you communicate effectively?
How do you extend the classroom? 3-4 hours a week
isn’t enough….

6. Communication Hurdles
Phone; e-mail; class blogs; Twitter – all have their benefits
but students don’t respond easily.
If you’re partnering with a news organization, you need
to stay in contact with editors.
Skype is good for periodic discussion.

7. Using Facebook
Set up a private group. Appoint one of your students
to friend those in the class and invite students and others
to the group.
Don’t Let it Sit. As with most social media, don’t set
up the group and let it sit. As the instructor, you need to
be active.
Get Student Buy-In. As questions, discoveries happen
in class, have students post to the group.

8. Why Bother?
 Students live on Facebook. You’re hitting them
where they spend much of their down time.
Extend the Classroom. Not only are students
messaging with you but they’re talking amongst
themselvs – outside the classroom!
Teaching Continues. You’re passing along links and
lessons in the group.

12. Reporting Tool
 As semester progresses, students begin seeing value of
Facebook and social media as reporting tools.
Sources create their own pages, students join those
groups and get tips and information.
Social media becomes a reporting tool as well as a way
to communicate with sources.

13. Student Buy-In
“I check my facebook at least five times for every time I
check my email. If somebody asked a question I could
answer or needed me to do something, I knew about it
the second I went online and could respond quickly.”
“I really enjoyed having the small closed group of serious
journalism students that we had in this class. It allowed
all of us to trust each other, work together, bounce
thoughts off of each other, and ultimately learn from one
another.”

16. Contact Info.
Phone: (413) 345-1790 (cell)
E-mail: stevejfox@gmail.com
Twitter: stevejfox