Facebook Project

For Dr. Kist's class, we are currently working on a Facebook project, on which we are required to contribute to an online discussion with local high school students about different texts, one novel and one poetry. Through my participation, I have noticed that this is a unique learning opportunity for students to talk about the themes and the plot of a text.

As students who are reading Wintergirls have continued their reading, they have begun to question the characters actions and what they will do next. This is a great way for students to think and respond critically to the text. I have also noticed that students are thoughtfully reacting to the main character's battle with anorexia. As this is a touchy subject students to discuss, this medium allows them to think entirely about what they are saying before they post it. This allows for sensitive, well developed remarks to be posted in the discussion instead of hurtful, intrusive backlash.

While this is an effective medium for students to discuss a literary text, another redeeming quality of using Facebook is that it teaches students how to be careful and responsible about what they are saying online. I think that in each high school, students need to be taught how to safely and appropriately use social networking sights, and this project presents the perfect opportunity for such a lesson!