Sometimes we professors pride ourselves on not doing the things that “others” do. For a long time, many professors would brag that they didn’t own a T.V. They were above that. I admit that I’m secretly proud that I own only one T.V. and I don’t live and die by it. I’d much rather live life than watch it.
Sometimes professor-parents pride themselves on not letting their children do the things that “most” kids do or brag about providing their children with constant learning experiences that will make them smarter. Okay, I also admit that I like to expose my daughter to lots of cultural activities and travel. However, I’m happy to say that I don’t pressure her to be a brainiac.
In the early 2000s, I remember some of my professor friends (okay, I was one of them) working very hard to avoid using a cell phone. We did not need to have cell phones because we didn’t have them in the past and they were a distraction. “We don’t need to be accessible all the time.” I now love my Blackberry.
The newest thing for professors to “avoid” doing is Facebook. I hear it all the time. “I don’t have time for that.” “I don’t get it.” “I don’t want my students knowing anything about me.” “What’s the purpose?” You can’t imagine the number of blank stares I get when I bring up Facebook in a conversation with faculty.
I have a confession. I like Facebook. Why? I’ll tell you. I enjoy connecting with my students in a more personal way. I like the idea of being seen as a real person rather than just a scholar. I also like knowing a bit more about my students lives -- it helps me to understand and relate to them better. I like sharing my blog posts (both here and those I do for Diverse Issues in Education) with my students and those young people around the country. I also like connecting with other faculty member around the country and hearing about their scholarly and personal lives -- it humanizes them and we could all use a more frequent brush with humanity in these times. Facebook bridges the scholarly and personal for me and I like that.
For those who worry that Facebook is a distraction, it probably can be to those faculty who are easily distracted. But for those faculty members who are disciplined, Facebook can be an interesting and creative way to interact with students and colleagues -- a method of communication that, in many ways, breaks down some of the status barriers between faculty and students. If I still haven’t convinced you, try this: I get some of my best research and writing ideas from reading the posts of my students and colleagues. They keep me thinking, challenge me, and inspire me daily.
