3.2 Facebook Usage in Informal Education
This section describes how we can use Facebook in informal education. We have used Facebook groups in a research group and in guiding new mothers in breastfeeding.
3.2.1 Using Facebook in a Research Group
Facebook group has been created for using among research group members. Since some discussion ideas should be kept as private, it is usually created in a secret group as shown in Figure 9. It can consist of announcements, setting laboratory meeting dates, posting research questions, assigning and following up tasks. After a few days of creating group, students responded and got acquainted quickly with all the activities mentioned above. That was counted as the first step of success in integrating research activities into students’ personal agenda. From their wall, not only they see their friends’ situation but also their research group’s. This part of seeing instant wall post is inevitably important to catch students’ attention. Since communicating with them needs to be quick and be through the right tool. Facebook is definitely an answer.
เท a longer period, the second step of success is counted when students keep the group active. An advisor is the key player in this part since she/he is responsible of announcing, assigning and posting messages. For example, a research question is posted and students have to find an answer and post on comment section. This informal assignment is fast and interactive. Students are already there in front of their laptops serving the web. Thus they can use WWW to find answer or just analyze based on their research and classroom experience. เท a group with a number of students, this activity is fun and open for all kinds of answers. Students have opportunity to express their thoughts and share with the others. The advisor again also plays a major role in guiding the answer in between comments. Such activity could be called virtual exercise.
The final stage, where called the final step of success, is that students are able to post research activity, ask interesting questions, and design their own tasks. The sample of the occurrence of this stage is shown in Figure 8. เท this stage, the advisor plays a smaller part, but still needs to guide via comments. Once students naturally post research matters on the group wall, or even on their own wall, Facebook is formally the informal tool in their learning process.