Teachers have experimented with ways to reach out to students through the World Wide Web in a way that is convenient and part of their daily routines.
Kavahn Mansouri
-Editor-In-Chief-
As social media websites continue to net larger numbers of users than ever before, teachers have experimented with ways to reach out to students through the World Wide Web in a way that is convenient and part of their daily routines.
STLCC-Meramec professor Joe Schneider found success in communicating with his students outside of class by using his Facebook as a source of useful material for his class.
Schneider said it helps students understand that he teaches students about his hobbies, not just his work.
“I thought since I was getting a larger number [of] students as time was going on — and besides showing my enthusiasm in class — how could I throw it out to them all the time?,” Schneider said. “How could I show them this isn’t just about what I do in the classroom? These are my hobbies, and I’m interested in this material.”
Schneider started a Facebook group called “Tricky Joe” where he posts weather reports, astronomy news and shares his excitement about weather with students.
Schneider said after posting articles pertaining to his several courses content, he grew a large fanbase of students.
“Especially articles on observational astronomy, things that you can see, things you don’t have to be in my class at the time to understand,” Schneider said. “I thought that was a way of continuing to teach students, and in some ways, to help them not forget the material by putting [articles] as my status.”
Associate Professor of Business Administrative Systems at St. Charles Community College, Andrea Compton, gives her students’ office hours in which she will be on Facebook open to communicate about course content.
“I’ve experimented with online office hours by saying I’ll be on Facebook chat during this time on this day, and they can go log-in and ask questions,” Compton said. “I’m just trying to find out how to make it easier to communicate.”
Marketing Specialist at St. Charles Community College, Kanna Taylor, uses social media to reach out to students in a more direct fashion.
“Our overarching purpose [with social media] is to reach out to our students and have a place for them to reach out to us,” Taylor said.
Taylor said that Facebook is a good place for students to ask teachers questions about homework and classwork.
“Facebook is a good place for students to ask us questions opening. Rather than having to go in and talk to someone and having to wait on the phone, they can post a question on our Facebook page and hopefully get a response within the hour,” Taylor said.
Twitter has given Taylor the recourses to organize events for their school by connecting with companies who also use the website.
“I can build relationships through Twitter with a company when it comes time to need a donation for something. Or if we want to work on an event together, we have that base relationship already,” Taylor said.
