Facebook is a global social networking website that is operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc.  The website has over 200 million users and is considered to be a quick and easy way for folks to keep in touch with friends and family.  Most college students here at the University of Vermont have a Facebook account and Professor E. Lauck Parke wanted to capitalize on its popularity.

"I knew essentially nothing about facebook when I was preparing to return to the classroom, it was my college aged daughters who pressed me to explore its possible use as a classroom management tool," said Professor E.Lauck Parke.

Professor Parke is using the networking site in BSAD 120 – Principles of Management and Organizational Behavior this year.  On the first day of class, he encouraged his students to “friend” him.

Mike Cieslak and a small group of students did just that.  To their surprise, Professor used the website to inform his “friends” that there would be a pop quiz.  Quickly, everyone asked to be Parke’s friend.

“He’s on it a lot,” said Chad Hutchins, a junior Finance major in the School of Business Administration.

Now the group uses the site as a virtual study group that is monitored by their teacher.

 “If you have any questions, he’ll get back to you really fast,” Cieslak said.

The students admit using the site does pose some problems.

“There isn’t much action, it’s mostly a huge brainstorm of ideas,” Cieslak said of the discussion boards. 

Other students feel it is an invasion of privacy, but Professor Parke has stated he does not look at their personal posts and pictures.  His main goal is making sure his students understand what was taught in class through the many different discussion boards and exam watches he posts.

“He wants to be able to communicate with us at all times,” Cieslak said.

Release Date: 11-06-2009
Author: Beth Parent
Email:elparent@bsad.uvm.edu
Phone:(802) 656-3177