Should I add teacher to my social network?

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TO ADD TO LIST OR NOT: Social media like Facebook have pros and cons for students and lecturers alike.

KUCHING: It is a matter of privacy when it comes to deciding who to add to one’s social networking site like Facebook.

Junita Junit

Ardiana Mazwa

For young students who believe in expressing themselves without being judged or criticised, the idea of adding their teachers or lecturers on social networks is beyond consideration.

Sixteen-year-old Vanessa believes not all teachers are open-minded on what students post on their site.

“Teachers don’t really need to know what students do online. Adding them is like telling them your whereabouts and what you do after school.

“Even if we don’t do anything wrong, teachers have their own opinions when it comes to some activities, for example, cosplaying. Not many adults understand the activity and may misunderstand students who post on Facebook photos of themselves in costumes.

“Even with filter options, it is still not a good idea to add teachers. If teachers look at your wall and can’t see any post, they might get suspicious,” she pointed out.

Vanessa was among the few who gave their opinions in response to a Oct 20 Bernama report in which Information, Communications and Culture deputy minister Datuk Maglin Dennis D’Cruz urged students to maintain good relations with their teachers through social media like Facebook.

In the news report, the deputy minister said students who had completed schooling could refer to their former teachers for views on issues through the social media when they encounter problems interacting with college or university professors.

Benjamin Yeo

“Students who have completed their schooling and have difficulty interacting with college professors can communicate with their former teachers via Facebook to seek clarification on issues,” he told reporters after officiating at a secondary school event in Klang recently.

Twenty-year-old college student Gracie Ling said adding former school teachers on social media network would not solve problems encountered in tertiary level education.

“Even though teachers know me for five years of my school life, it doesn’t mean they understand what I’m going through in college. I also don’t need them to pry into my life after secondary school.

“The best way to overcome any problem is to communicate with the current tutors or lecturers in person,” she said, adding she has a few selected lecturers in her Facebook and Twitter friend lists for formal communication.

Antanious Aloysious, 19, saw nothing wrong with students adding their teachers or lecturers to the list.

“Since most teenagers have Facebook accounts nowadays, they should use it for their studies too.

“Through Facebook, they can learn to get along with their lecturers and teachers. Besides, it will be easier to get information on course subjects through Facebook Group or Page. Students and lecturers can discuss assignments, exams and course subjects in specially created Groups,” he said.

Scott Teoh, 16, agreed that Facebook could be beneficial to both students and teachers.

“By introducing such technology to the classroom, teachers can send out messages for upcoming tests, information and notices, allowing students to be updated on the school’s happenings, assignments and activities.

“Communications should be strictly professional and respectful, so students must remember not to call their teachers by name, and be careful of inappropriate behaviour. There must be a clear line between professional and personal,” he said.

Primary school teacher Benjamin Yeo, 31, thinks one advantage of having students on his friend list is that he gets to know them better.

“Knowing them better, based on how they interact with their friends, is useful in managing and dealing with them in school. Maintaining a positive relationship with them makes it easier for them to open up if they have problems.

“Some teachers draw a line between how they interact with their students. As for myself, I’m more flexible and approachable as long as they know I’m their teacher and there’s some respect,” he pointed out.

Yeo, who has both former and current students as Facebook friends, believes having students on friend list make him more cautious on what he posts.

“I try not to entertain them too much unless it’s homework or school-related stuff,” he said.

According to Junita Junit, a tutor with Unitar in Kota Kinabalu, social networking sites like Facebook enhance communication with students.

“It’s easy to keep in touch with them as most of them logon Facebook first thing when they go online. Some of my students prefer Facebook to email because it is less formal and quicker.

“Problematic students tend to seek counselling or advice through Facebook because they find it more casual and easier to express themselves.

“But some students or lecturers are not comfortable about getting too familiar because they don’t want to expose their personal lives. Whatever their opinion, we cannot deny the power of the social media in communications,” she noted.

UiTM Sarawak lecturer Ardiana Mazwa said she encouraged her students to add her on Facebook so they can communicate with her anytime.

“We usually meet once or twice a week at an average of two hours per session. Most time, the face-to-face communication in the classroom is occupied with lectures. This means I’ll be doing the talking most of the time. At the end of the day, if students have queries or problems, they may not have the opportunity to ask me in class.

“But through Facebook, students can reach me at a convenient time for them, and I can respond to them at a convenient time for me. The best part is I can share information with not only one but many other students.

“It becomes a mini forum where Q&A and discussions can be conducted,” she shared.

The 28-year-old lecturer started to have students as Facebook friends since 2008 and is still in touch with those who have graduated.

“Sometimes they message me to ask questions on job vacancies, on how to further their studies, and some of them asked me to become their referee when applying for jobs.

“They also ask me on job-related issues like how to solve problems encountered in the workplace. Other than that, they seek my advice and opinion on products in the market and personal problems.

“Overall, I believe having my students and ex-students as my friends on Facebook is mutually beneficial. The ultimate benefit is being able to connect with each other,” she said.