The use of Facebook, and other social networking sites, on the Learning Commons workstations has recently become a topic of discussion. Opinions range from one extreme to the other. Some view Facebook as an essential tool that helps a person in their day-to-day life (including school), whilst others feel it is an unnecessary waste of time and University resources, and should be banned in the Learning Commons.
I came across an interesting article regarding some research by Ohio State University.
Study finds link between Facebook use and lower grades in college
Interesting reading – the study doesn’t actually say that use of Facebook leads to less studying and lower grades, but that there is a relationship. Surely every generation has had their own distractions which affect their studies? Is Facebook any different, or are other factors involved? Has use of social networking sites had a detrimental effect on your studies? Should Facebook be allowed, or blocked, on the Learning Commons workstations?
I feel it might be the other way around; lower grades mean more Facebook. Sure, most students are prone to checking their Facebook during the day, but I feel the students who get lower grades anyways will be spending more time on it. If it is blocked, those students with the poor grades will find something else to procrastinate on.
Facebook should definitely not be banned from the Learning Commons. Many students use facebook as a welcome break from studying, and just the other day I acquired much-needed notes from a person in one of my classes over facebook. Although I see how it could be a distraction to other students trying to avoid using it during their study time, shouldn’t these computers be open to whatever usage the student would like? We do pay for the learning commons, after all.
I believe Dalhousie does not need to provide access to facebook on the university computers. This is a waste of time and resources. Students can check from home or other CAP sites. If not banned, it should at least have a time limit. Others should not have to wait for a computer, while someone is checking out others profiles and photos for hours.
I am on Facebook myself, but I see it as a social networking interface, not as a learning aid.
I agree with Leslie. I would rather see Facebook limited than banned, but since there really is no way to do that, it should not be accessible from the Dal libraries, and if possible, even from the Dal wireless network. It is a pain walking around the atrium windows study areas looking for somewhere to work on a paper to no avail, particularly when 4 or 5 out of every 10 people you pass are on Facebook.