Using Facebook for asynchronous communication - Assessment post 2

Using Facebook for asynchronous communication - Assessment post 2

Discussion May 11. Blog June 5.

Although colleagues, family and friends ran accounts, prior to INF506 I dismissed Facebook as a trivial waste of time with little potential for effective communication. Immersion has altered my opinion. For three months I have participated regularly (cloud posted June 6), adding comments, photographs, video, plus suggesting class links for professional and general reading.

Discussing ‘asynchronous communication’, I questioned my continuing Facebook. Private use will continue and I intend to explore maintaining professional contact with interested colleagues and other groups. I have valued my classmates’ energy, advice, judgement and broad professional interest consistently displayed on the ‘wall’ and ‘discussion’ pages. Early studies of Facebook efficacy may not convince (Glazer, 2009, blog March 29), but Facebook has promoted a supportive class atmosphere and offered a visually attractive means of communication, more personalised than text-based distance education forums. Of the group of thirty-three however, approximately one third only consistently contributed, but that outstripped class participation for this semester’s other subject, where five students, myself included, contributed to non-compulsory forum discussion. The compulsory forum attracted 113 posts. Facebook is a more successful tool for ensuring interaction and motivation. Although not compulsory, the wall attracted 546 posts, some no more than a brief note, but indicating ongoing interest.

In terms of functionality, Facebook is simple to use, automatically formatting links and embeds, and readily accessible, although often blocked in the workplace. Some found reverse order of latest discussion and posts confusing, but appreciated facility for professional collaboration and distance contact. In Australia, take-up has been significant, prompted by geographic distance and multiple time zones. Asynchronous communication is vital, personally and professionally. The privacy debate (MacMillan, 2010; Magid, 2010) and crowd pressure (Van Grove, 2010) can only be productive; better management of social networking as well as individual awareness of new literacies may result.

References

MacMillan, D. (2010). Millennials: savvy on privacy. Bloomsberg businessweek, May 26, 2010. http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2010/tc20100526_876848.htm

Magid, L. (2010). New Facebook privacy settings announced: What’s changed? Huffington Post, May 29, 2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-magid/new-facebook-privacy-sett_b_590279.html

Van Grove, J. (2010). Exodus planned for May 31: Will you quit? Mashable, http://mashable.com/2010/05/14/quit-facebook/