Before we move on the next topic, I wanted to share some more of my reflections about using social networking as a tool for teaching and teacher training in the UAE.
As a reflective task, I searched for a group that was used by UAE learners of English to observe how they used the group and maybe also to participate in the discussions. It was surprisingly difficult to find a group based in the UAE. I used a range of search terms: English, learn, college, UAE and so on with few viable results. Those groups that did come up were often inaccessible because the group participants had reverted to using Arabic in order to keep the discussions active; had fallen into inactivity soon after their formation or the discussion boards had been taken over by adverts for companies and services.
Finally I came across http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42452619586#/group.php?gid=42452619586It appears to be run by students from Dubai Men's College and they have done a good job of making the group active. It's a young group, with most of the postings dated 2009. The students have conversations about goals and success and post videos and photos related to their college and career goals. One piece of social networking that has gone on involving a contact outside the UAE is a teacher from Italy enquiring about the possibility of his students meeting HCT students when they visit the UAE this year.
However, I just didn't feel comfortable adding a post to the group. Why was that? On reflection I think there were three main reasons:
1.I don’t want to get involved as a teacher and raise the students’ expectation that I will be replying to posts and then not be able to regularly post later. That would let the group members down in some way.
2. The group seemed to be out of Dubai Men’s College and I teach at Sharjah Womens’ college. I felt that it would be easy for me to say something inappropriate that could reflect badly on myself as an employee of the college system.
3. My profile picture shows my daughter and I feel uncomfortable showing that picture to people who don’t know me.
This experiment has made me reflect deeply about my Facebook use and especially my privacy and accountability. I’ve decided to review my privacy settings and set up a separate account that can be used for professional purposes which has less person information and which will be more culturally appropriate to this part of the world. This will be my professional Facebook account.
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Very interesting post Rachel!!
ReplyDeleteIn many blog posts various expressed their reluctance or hesitation on using their existing Facebook profiles for getting involved in groups because there was a feeling that their private space was being intruded or somehow they were mixing entertainment with something more formal.
I totally agree with you!
If someone wants to use Facebook for something more than socializing, the best way is to create an another profile more compatible to the new use of the medium.
In a sense it is like what we do with having multiple mail accounts. Every account serves a different purpose.
Sorry mixed my accounts!!lol
ReplyDelete(one problem with having multiple accounts)
It's Nikos!!
What sort of content are you thinking of having on the work one? Do you feel you want to make a go of it?
ReplyDeleteI simply can't use it with my female students so can't see a purpose as part of my current curriculum but will set up an account which will allow me to accept ex-students as friends,also maybe colleagues/TESOL acquaintances that I don't know in a social way or who might be offended by the kind of things some of my other friends post.
ReplyDelete