Throughout my high school years there was always a stigma around social networking as a waste of time. You got in trouble for using it, and it was often discouraged by parents and teachers as a semi addicting good for nothing habit. Even in college, at the top of most syllabi it is clearly stated that if you are found on social networking sites you will be punished accordingly. For this reason I never thought that I could use Facebook to further my education. But after doing a little
research I discovered that Facebook can be a valuable resource if used properly.
Organizations such as NAFME, rockSTAR music education, Online Music Education,
and countless others have pages or groups on Facebook and all of them have
links, videos, and information that can be harnessed to help one succeed. Music educators can connect and learn, without leaving their computer. One is presented with thousands of resources at the click of a mouse and can easily get in touch with anyone just by "inboxing" them, or asking a question on the group page.
Also, individual music departments have
pages for their members where they can release information quickly to the
masses. I know that the Hartt School has a page where members can discuss
what’s happening on campus and become friends with their peers. If we begin to treat Facebook as a help rather than a hindrance, it can be used to display new ideas and easily send out information to a mass amount of people.
With over 955 million members as of June
2012, Facebook is definitely a vital tool to help spread knowledge and ideas.
If people begin to tap into this resource, who knows what could happen. By using social networking beneficially, we as educators can help to increase our awareness of new ideas and learn knew ways of teaching students.
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