I don't like to mix Facebook with teaching. Some of my friends have pages for the classes that they teach (tolerable), join their class fan pages (suck-ups!), or friend students (creepy).
At TempCollege, students were very good about maintaining proper Facebook distance from professors. My students waited until I mentioned Facebook first (5 creepy points to meeeee!), and then, quite relieved, excitedly asked me what the hell my profile picture was. (For the record, I was posed next to a statue from a previous teaching assignment, and yes, my profile picture and name are the only FB items of mine that would-be student stalkers can access.)
Undergrad then tested the waters with a "so can I see your profile?" She laughed, indicated that she was joking....sort of.
I informed the crowd of upperclassmen my (very standard, I think) FB policy: I accept friend requests only after a student graduates.
They excitedly pointed out that I would be departing TempCollege in mere months. I agreed to modify my policy. I will accept friend requests after a student graduates or after I leave the institution.
The friend requests came pretty much the day after graduation. The others informed me that they had my departure date marked on their calendars (by calendar I assumed they meant electronically on their iPhones, not on an actual paper calendar... I mean, do people even use those anymore?).
"Aw," I said, "that's nice that you want to be sure that you tell me bye."
"No, Dr. Reaction! It's so we remember to facebook you!!"
Did I mention how much I miss my students?
6 comments:
If popularity is any measure, you sound like a very successful teacher!
(waving) I still use paper calendars. I have one in the kitchen with all appts, special dates and bill due dates on it.
My cell phone is just a cell phone. I think it can do more but I don't bother with it. I don't even like it that much as I hate being available 24/7 to anyone. My Mom constantly gripes about the fact I leave my phone off most of the time.
And no, I am not on FB either.
Sign me
The Dinosaur
ECF: Haha... unfortunately (or fortunately!) popularity is definitely not a measure of anything here.
The Mad Chemist: props to you! I'm completely addicted to my cell AND FB. So sad.
Aww, they sounds like a good group.
I haven't been faced with this yet- wasn't on fb when I taught. Yours sounds like a good policy though.
I still love and adore my paper calendar. I'm also not on facebook. I'm young so it's not an age thing, maybe just personality thing?
Albatross: It definitely is a good idea to think about what you would use as a policy. Definitely helps avoid miscommunication or potential favoritism.
FrauTech: I should point out that I cannot function without a dry erase calendar and to-do list. I don't use my iCal at all. :-) And you are right; it definitely could be personality-driven.
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