#11 (Week 5) web 2.0 awards lists

The 2.0 awards list is amazing. So much to see. Some of them I've heard of and others I have even used (flickr, craigs list). This summer, in conjunction with this course, but somewhat unrelated, I joined facebook. I wanted to understand the fascination the teens who use the library have with this site. Before school, at lunch, after school, during class, while trying to cut class: these are all the times that students attempt to use facebook. I wanted to know if it was safe (it seems to be and the school district hasn't blocked it as it has done to myspace). Sometimes, when I noticed a student using facebook when they are supposed to be working on a project, I question them about it. Usually, they would get off facebook and return to their work. Occasionally, a student would tell me they are checking to see if someone sent them needed information for their project. I wanted to see for myself so I joined in June, after school was over. It's not something you just join, look at, and then walk away from. Facebook draws you in. I only have a few "friends" on facebook - my two daughters and a few of the younger teachers at school. But, everyone of the friends' friends could become your friend and if I wanted to, the amount of friends could grow exponentially. I feel the need to check it every time I sit down at the computer, just to see what's happening, who added a new picture, who wrote on the "wall", who sent who a "gift" and on and on. I'm not totally immersed, but I'm in the thick of it. At least, now I know what the fascination for my students is, that it is completely a social site, and yes, it can be a total distraction that may keep work from getting done!