Student EngagementUse a facebook group for your class

Eddie Tchertchian & Bob Martinez

No, nobody can enter the group from outside the class – I approve each member to be added, and if their name is not on my roster then they are not added in.

No, I’ve never had a problem with any inappropriate posts, why? – maybe because I know who they all are – students are only allowed to sign in with their actual roster name. Every time there is a post my cell dings, if the post was weird, as the administrator of the group, I would delete it right then and follow up with reporting it to the dean of student services.

First, FAQ answers:

True, you can’t MAKE someone join facebook BUT as soon as students learn solutions, hints, instructor notifications (things that will help them) are being posted, they join up right away.

Yes, moodle can run a discussion board … but facebook is cool! Posts ding right on their cells and say “facebook post” and that is part of their lives. You “get them where they live” !

No, students don’t have to include their picture in case they are on the run from the FBI.

Interestingly, I have posted test study hints at 3 am and 5 seconds later my cell dings from a student on facebook: “Thanks Mr. Martinez”

Learn student names and match faces with names. Get to know things about the students.

Facebook group uses in the course

funny spy studious wildman loner Travis Bickle party-er

Students post solutions

Students have discussions about problems (or assignments)

Students form study groups

Students post uplifting comments

December 16, 2014I just want to say that it was an honor to post alongside you all this semester; I hope everyone got the grades they were aiming at, especially the top contributors to this group. They say only 10% of Americans are competent in single variable calculus, so it's up to us to be the light of the world!

I want to share two videos with you all. The first one is just an inspiring speech to help us all get through finals week, the second is a documentary about a brilliant mathematician which has helped to deepen my own interest in mathematics and ethics alike:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7ymriMhoj0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng1W2KUHI2s

Students post helpful things for the class -1

(Joseph Fourier Born: March 21, 1768, Auxerre, FranceDied: May 16, 1830, Paris, France)

Students post helpful things for the class -2

Students post things you wrote on the board

Students submit an assignment “post a video about the Fibonacci sequence – cannot be a re-post of someone else’s post” or, “post a picture of the St. Louis Arch” …

Students post fun stuff

Students post mistakes in the book

You post notices for the students

You and students answer questions about the syllabus or logistics of your teaching system

Your first post of the course sets the tone

And, maybe tell them a bit about yourself

Young Bob …

…right before starting to teach at Pierce