diversity college ~where learning and enthusiasm meet. facebook.com revolution: the impact of...

Diversity College ~Where learning and enthusiasm meet.

Facebook.com Revolution:Facebook.com Revolution:The Impact of Facebook.com and Other Online CommunitiesThe Impact of Facebook.com and Other Online Communities

Courtney BazanCourtney BazanVictoria FarrisVictoria Farris

Julie SilversteinJulie SilversteinAmber UlmerAmber Ulmer



Welcome Welcome

Class of Class of 2010!!2010!!


Make Some Noise If…Make Some Noise If…

• You have read a newspaper this week.You have read a newspaper this week.

• You read a book for fun this week.You read a book for fun this week.

• You know what Facebook.com is.You know what Facebook.com is.

• You have been on Facebook.com this You have been on Facebook.com this week.week.


Diversity College Mission StatementDiversity College Mission Statement

“Diversity College is the principal research and graduate institution of the state of Illinois. In the spirit of its land-grant heritage, the college is committed to the creation and dissemination of knowledge to improve the lives of its students and Illinois citizens in their full social, economic, and cultural diversity. Diversity College offers a competitive and intellectually challenging experience for its students in degree programs from the baccalaureate level through the doctorate. Undergraduate education, with a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences that guides the intellectual and ethical development of the university's students, continues to be central to its teaching mission. Specifically, we prepare women and men for a better life by developing intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and decision-making, commitments to health and wellness, communication skills, technology skills, aesthetic appreciation, respect for human diversity, environmental stewardship, responsible citizenship in the global community, and an appreciation for the intellectual heritage of humankind.”

(UMF.edu, Umaine.edu)


Facebook.com OverviewFacebook.com Overview• BackgroundBackground

– Founded in February 2004 by Harvard sophomore, Mark Zuckerberg.– In November of 2004 there were more than 1 million registered users.– December 2005 network has expanded to 2,000+ higher education

institutions totaling 11 million users worldwide.

• Why was Facebook.com created?Why was Facebook.com created?– To foster a social network throughout the residential community in

response to students’ need for out-of-class interaction.

(Wikipedia.org)


Let’s Hear Your Thoughts…Let’s Hear Your Thoughts…

Why do Why do YOUYOU have a have a

Facebook.com profile??Facebook.com profile??

(Audience Participation)


Why do DC students make Facebook.com profiles?Why do DC students make Facebook.com profiles?

““I don’t know why I like Facebook, but it’s I don’t know why I like Facebook, but it’s cool. I’ve met a lot of people from my cool. I’ve met a lot of people from my classes… and it helps me procrastinate!”classes… and it helps me procrastinate!”– James Lawrence, Sophomore

““For me, Facebook helps me keep in touch For me, Facebook helps me keep in touch with my High School friends, I miss them so with my High School friends, I miss them so much!”much!”

–Komal Marow, Senior


““It’s a great way to hear about upcoming It’s a great way to hear about upcoming events on campus! My RA is always posting events on campus! My RA is always posting programs and letting us know what’s going programs and letting us know what’s going on around campus.”on around campus.”– Mark Spangle, Junior

Why do DC students make Facebook.com Why do DC students make Facebook.com profiles?profiles?

““I like sharing pictures and seeing my friends’ I like sharing pictures and seeing my friends’ pictures.”pictures.”

–Janella Wright, First-Year Student


Things you can do with Facebook.comThings you can do with Facebook.com

Share Interests

Find Classmates

Meet New PeopleKeep In Touch With Friends

Learn About Clubs

Advertise Programs and Events

Find A Study Buddy

Share MemoriesLearn More About DC


Did You Know??Did You Know??

• Did you know that by entering your class Did you know that by entering your class schedule, you can find classmates for homework schedule, you can find classmates for homework help or studying? Just click on the class, and help or studying? Just click on the class, and Facebook.com will show you all the other Facebook.com will show you all the other students who have listed the same class!students who have listed the same class!

• Did you know that by listing your club or Did you know that by listing your club or organization as a group on Facebook.com, you organization as a group on Facebook.com, you can send messages about upcoming events?can send messages about upcoming events?


Things To Be Aware Of…Things To Be Aware Of…

• Personal Safety:Personal Safety:– Remember that all information on Facebook.com is public.

Anyone can view or access your profile.– You may not want everyone to see your screen name, e-mail

address or cell phone number. Use caution when posting.• Personal Reputation:Personal Reputation:

– Your profile is a direct reflection of you!– Would you want your Grandmother to see the information in your profile?


Non-Student Use of Facebook.comNon-Student Use of Facebook.com

• Faculty and Staff have the ability to have accounts on Facebook.com.Faculty and Staff have the ability to have accounts on Facebook.com.• The Faculty and Staff at Diversity College will not be searching for The Faculty and Staff at Diversity College will not be searching for

student code violations, but if they come across information or are student code violations, but if they come across information or are made aware of anything that shows evidence of a code violation, the made aware of anything that shows evidence of a code violation, the situation will be addressed.situation will be addressed.

• Again, you are responsible for the information you post, or allow to be Again, you are responsible for the information you post, or allow to be posted on Facebook.com.posted on Facebook.com.


Getting Involved Through Facebook.comGetting Involved Through Facebook.com

• Check out your Residence Hall community on Facebook.com to Check out your Residence Hall community on Facebook.com to learn about upcoming programs and information. learn about upcoming programs and information.

• Under the search tab, enter the following name for your building:Under the search tab, enter the following name for your building:– Stella Hall -- Granger House– Banks Tower -- Johnson Tower

• Add the building name to your friends list, and keep checking back Add the building name to your friends list, and keep checking back for updates and messages from your Hall Director!!for updates and messages from your Hall Director!!

• You can also find Student Government Association on You can also find Student Government Association on Facebook.com at: Diversity SGAFacebook.com at: Diversity SGA

• For all you Commuter Students, check out “Diversity Commuter” For all you Commuter Students, check out “Diversity Commuter” on Facebook.com for upcoming events!on Facebook.com for upcoming events!


Making the Most of Facebook.comMaking the Most of Facebook.com

• To maximize your experience at Diversity College use To maximize your experience at Diversity College use Facebook.com to connect with classmates, friends, and your Facebook.com to connect with classmates, friends, and your virtual campus community. virtual campus community.

• Facebook.com can be a great resource for academic, social, Facebook.com can be a great resource for academic, social, cultural, and involvement opportunities.cultural, and involvement opportunities.

• Remember to be aware that your Facebook.com profile is a Remember to be aware that your Facebook.com profile is a representation of you.representation of you.

• Represent yourself well, have fun but be appropriate! Represent yourself well, have fun but be appropriate!


Welcome Class of Welcome Class of 2010!!2010!!

Have a safe and enjoyable experience Have a safe and enjoyable experience here at Diversity College! here at Diversity College!

See you in the Fall! See you in the Fall!


Why This is Important for OrientationWhy This is Important for Orientation

• What you have just seen is the recommended presentation about Facebook.com that can be offered to incoming students during New Student Orientation.

• Since it’s implementation, Facebook.com has become an extremely popular virtual community. Since this affects so many of our students, we believe it is important that students know the positive uses for Facebook.com as well as the dangers and concerns involved with it.


Why This is Important for OrientationWhy This is Important for Orientation

• According to statistics, 85% of students use Facebook.com– Out of 20,000 students at DC, this would mean that 17,800

actively use Facebook.com• With an entering class of 6,000 students, these statistics

tell us that 5,100 of them will soon join Facebook.com, if they haven’t done so already

• Orientation gives us a captive audience to be able to begin educating students about the realities of Facebook.com

(Arrington, 2005)


Overview of Facebook.comOverview of Facebook.com

If you are unfamiliar with Facebook.com, it is a virtual community that was created by a student at Harvard College in 2004. The website stemmed from the students’ need for interaction outside of class. It was created as a way to foster a social network throughout the residential community at Harvard. The program quickly became so popular that it spread to other colleges and universities. Due to the instant success and demand of Facebook.com, the creator left Harvard and now manages the website full-time in California.

(wikipedia.org)


Overview of Facebook.comOverview of Facebook.com• How it works:

– Anyone with an e-mail address ending in “.edu” can go to www.Facebook.com and register for a free account. This includes faculty, staff, students and alumni from participating institutions.

– Currently there are over 2000 institutions represented from all 50 states and 20 countries on Facebook.com. There are 88 institutions from Illinois alone! This number increases regularly.

– Once you are registered for an account you are given a profile. You can then choose to add information, pictures and other various information to this profile, if you’d like.

(Facebook.com, Wikipedia.org)



Some examples of information you can include in a Facebook.com profile:– Where you live -- Sexual orientation– Cell phone number -- General interests– AIM screen name -- Classes you are enrolled

in– Relationship status -- Clubs and Jobs– Political views -- Favorite books– Favorite music -- And lots more!

(Facebook.com)


Overview of Facebook.comOverview of Facebook.comConnecting with Others:Connecting with Others:

– One of the most unique features about Facebook.com is that anytime you add something to your profile it becomes a link to other profiles of students at your university that have the same word in their profile. Therefore, it is easy to find people who live in the same building as you, attend the same classes, or even share some of the same interests.

– Facebook.com has the ability to join and create “groups” based on common interests. Each group has it’s own “home page,” which allows members of that group to post messages to a message board for everyone to see. It is also easy to the profiles of all the members of a specific “group” so that students can contact each other individually if they want.

(Facebook.com)


Sample Facebook Profile of Sample Facebook Profile of Facebook.comFacebook.com

Evan Tyler’s Profile My Profile

My Friends

My Photos

My Groups

My Events

My Messages

My Account

My Privacy

View More Photos of Me

Edit My Profile

Edit My Pictures

Edit My Privacy

Connection

This is you.

Friends at Diversity College

Information Account Info Name:

Member Since:

Last Updade:

Basic Info Geography:

School:

Status:

Sex:

Concentration:

Birthday:

Home State:

High School:

Contact Info

School Email:

Contact Email:

Personal Info

Relationship Status:

Political Views:

Clubs & Jobs:

Evan Tyler

June 7, 2005

February 13, 2006

Chicago, IL

Diversity College ‘09

Student

Male

Fine Arts

03.14.87

Maine

Banks Regional High School

[email protected]

[email protected]

Single

Very Liberal

Diversity College SGA, Johnson Tower

Diversity College Announcement

Diversity College

Ducks!

Come check out the International Center Open

House. Thursday from 7pm to

10pm in Star Hall Room 412.



There are many different aspects of Facebook.com, both positive and negative. It was started with the intent of creating a virtual community that could enhance students’ experiences by developing out of class relationships. Keeping that in mind, we will begin by touching on some of those positive aspects.


Positive Aspects of Facebook.comPositive Aspects of Facebook.com

Facebook.com was created with the intention of enhancing a sense of community for students at Harvard; this is something that has continued on a larger scale. Facebook.com can help students interact and get to know one another; it can help students find opportunities for involvement and leadership, someone to study with, or other students in their residence hall. Such community building is known to be very supportive for students in their development. According to Astin’s theory of student involvement, a student’s peer group is the most influential group on that student’s development. Student Affairs practitioners should embrace the opportunity to create strong peer groups in order to support the development of students in college.

(Stage & Dennells, 2000)


Positive Aspects of Facebook.comPositive Aspects of Facebook.com

Why is Connecting with Others Important for Students?Why is Connecting with Others Important for Students?– Facebook.com Could be helpful for first year students who are going through

the transition to college. According to Scholossberg, networks of friends are considered an important social support that will help students transition smoothly.

– According to developmental theorist Erikson, early adulthood is an important time for individuals to develop intimate relationships. Facebook.com can be used as a mechanism to meet people with common interests that are in close proximity, which might lead to more intimate relationships with each other

• “I met my boyfriend in a group that I joined called ‘Independent Movie Fans.’ I was surprised to see how many other people at my school like independent movies! I thought Jack was cute from his profile so I messaged him to say hi. We’ve been dating for 4 months now!” --Jill Butner, Sophomore

(Evans, Forney, & Guido-DiBrito, 1998, Santrock, 2002)


Why Do Students Build Profiles?Why Do Students Build Profiles?

Identity Development:Identity Development:– When a student sets up a Facebook.com account they create a

personalized “profile” with any of the information previously shown. Students have the option of uploading a picture to the website to be seen as their “face” by anyone and uploading as many pictures as they want to online “albums” that people who have access to their whole profile can view. It is optional to fill in any of these components of a Facebook.com profile; the only required fields are name, school e-mail address and status at the institution.

– By personalizing this information, students are portraying their unique personalities to anyone who has a Facebook.com account. This has become a very popular way for students to express themselves.


Why Do Students Build Profiles?Why Do Students Build Profiles?

Why is Identity Development Important?Why is Identity Development Important?– According to Chickering’s theory of identity development,

establishing identity is an important aspect of student development. Identity would include comfort with one’s body and appearance, comfort with gender and sexual orientation, as well as establishing a sense of one’s social and cultural belongingness By creating these Facebook.com profiles, students are able to develop pride in various aspects of their identity that they choose to portray to their online friends.

(Evans, et al., 1998)


Why Do Students Build Profiles?Why Do Students Build Profiles?Why is Identity Development Important?Why is Identity Development Important?

– Pride in identity can be especially important to members of a minority social group, such as students who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual (GLB). Facebook.com profiles enable people to express interest in members of the same sex. This has been comforting to some members of the GLB community who are in the process of coming out. According to Cass’s model of homosexual identity formation, when students are going through stages four and five of the coming out process, they tend to put a positive connotation on homosexual identity. During these stages, students often have more contact with other GLB people and enjoy being publicly and vocally “out”. This Facebook.com feature helps these students find other members of the GLB community at their school as well as declaring their own sexual orientation in their profile.

• “Being out on the Facebook is a statement, just like coming out face-to-face. It has the same value.” - Princeton University student Robert Kennelley

(Evans, et al., 1998, Advocate, 2005)


Facebook.com as a ConcernFacebook.com as a Concern

Facebook.com was created and intended for social interaction, meeting new people, and exploring one’s interests. However, with the many positive aspects of Facebook.com there are also negative aspects and safety concerns. We will now be addressing these issues.


How & Why Facebook.com is a ConcernHow & Why Facebook.com is a Concern

Too Much Information: Too Much Information: – Many students are posting personal information such as cell phone

numbers, addresses and Instant Messenger screen names on Facebook.

Why this is a safety concern:Why this is a safety concern:– MySpace.com, a similar Web site where individuals often post personal

information, was found to be the provider of information for two men who sexually assaulted two young women; they were able to track the individuals based on the Web site.

– Incidents of cyber-stalking (individuals using websites in order to find information on particular people) have been reported on college campuses.

(Williams, 2006, Read, 2006)


How & Why Facebook.com is a ConcernHow & Why Facebook.com is a Concern

Many students have not been taught about Internet privacy: Many students have not been taught about Internet privacy: – Henry Rhone, vice provost at Virginia Commonwealth University,

comments: “Ten years ago, college was the first introduction to computers for a lot of students, but now they have computers in their rooms from the time they’re in grade school. Many of them have used Instant Messenger and MySpace for years, and they’ve never had any problems with them, so they just assume that when they’re online, they’re safe.”

(Read, 2006, p. A38)


Why Tutorial is NecessaryWhy Tutorial is Necessary

Technology is constantly growing and changing; Facebook.com is one strong example of how technology impacts a college community. With the frequent influx of information comes a responsibility for students, faculty, and staff to educate ourselves and others on various aspects of technology.


Why Tutorial is NecessaryWhy Tutorial is Necessary• Diversity College’s Mission Statement states “we prepare women and

men for a better life by developing intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and decision-making, commitments to health and wellness, communication skills, technology skills, aesthetic appreciation, respect for human diversity, environmental stewardship, responsible citizenship in the global community, and an appreciation for the intellectual heritage of humankind.” As a way of supporting our mission, a tutorial has been created to educate students on Facebook.com.

• Each student is required to take this tutorial prior to logging onto Diversity’s network. Questions are to be answered throughout the tutorial; each student is required to get a B or better before gaining access to the network. By answering questions, this will ensure us that the students are reading and understanding the material.


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are needed to see this picture.


RecommendationsRecommendations

• The committee who worked on reviewing the assigned case came from many different offices, including Residence Life, Information Technology Services, Campus Police and Orientation Services. Based on our discussions, the committee has made the following future recommendations.

• Our first recommendation is to create a year-long task force to complete the suggestions that will follow.

• The task force would be responsible for reviewing the technology policy that was recommended in the tutorial and considering the implementation for such policies.

• Another important issue to consider is the idea of educating faculty and staff about Facebook.com and it’s uses and challenges. By doing this, faculty and staff could utilize this resource as another way to reach out to students.


RecommendationsRecommendations• Assessment & Evaluation:

– This is important in order to ensure that the process is effective and that students are more aware of all the issues around Facebook.com

– Additionally, the research on Facebook.com is limited due to the fact that it is relatively new. This highlights the need for such assessment as we move forward.

– The committee recommends that a survey of students be conducted to determine how much personal information students are including on their Facebook.com profiles.

– This survey would be longitudinal and would be offered at several stages of the academic year, beginning prior to the start of school. Therefore we will be able to determine what the impact of the tutorial/orientation session has been on the students.



• Assessment & Evaluation:Assessment & Evaluation:– We recommend holding focus groups with students

throughout the academic year in order to determine what students believe are continuing issues regarding Facebook.com.

– Additionally, it would be helpful to survey students to learn more about how they are using Facebook.com in order to anticipate future developments.



The creation of a policy regarding technology use for faculty, staff, and other institutional employees, including student staff.– This policy should address the use of Facebook.com

and other online sources in hiring practices.


What did we learn?What did we learn?

• In doing this case study, we have learned about many of the recent issues regarding social-networking sites such as Facebook.com.

• Institutions are addressing these issues in a variety of ways; it has helped us to recognize the importance of evaluating our own values and ethics when considering the use of such websites.

• It was also interesting to learn the many positive uses for Facebook.com that can enhance student’s experiences out of class. If student affairs practitioners embrace this, they can utilize it as a tool for student development.


Best PracticesBest PracticesVirginia Commonwealth University

Internet-privacy orientation activities for incoming studentsCampus police, administrators, and trained students will be facilitating discussions on Internet safety

Online-security reminders will be posted in the residence halls for students

The University of New Mexico Installed software to block student usage of Facebook from on-campus computersBelieved site could breach campus network

Penn State Utilized Facebook to hold students judicially responsible for riots following a rival football gameCampus police do not typically use Facebook for routine investigations (this was a unique situation)

University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University have both disciplined students who posted pictures and information indicating/proving that they were engaging in underage drinking

Georgia College & State University An officer is assigned daily to browse Facebook and find any potential situations where police may need to get involved.Developing class to teach students how to use Facebook safely and responsibly.

(Read, 2006)


Best PracticesBest PracticesFisher College

Expelled student for posting offensive comments towards a campus police officerSays violation of the Student Guide and Code of Conduct—“verbal, written, graphic, or electronic abuse, harassment, coercion, or intimation of an individual”

Tufts University Orientation leaders for first-year students encouraged students to not include personal information in their profiles

Brandeis UniversitySeminar on Facebook—recommended safety tips and encouraged students to think before posting, reminding them that future employers, family members, faculty can view FacebookAdministrators informed students that they often check profiles before hiring students for jobs on campus

Boston University Administrators believe Facebook should be used as a student website. Kenneth Elmore, dean of students comments “This is a community forum, and I don’t want to goof it up. I think that would put some people in a tough spot.”

(Schweitzer, 2005)


References

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