Creativity outside of the classroom

It was a challenge to think of an application that allows students to share with peers inside and outside of the classroom.  I kept coming back to the same thing but I hesitated to blog about it.  The reason I hesitated is because I am talking about social network sites, Facebook for example.  Facebook is a social networking site that is very popular with secondary and post-secondary students.  Facebook gets a bad rap because it can and has been used inappropriately and irresponsibly, 
However, there are settings that can make Facebook a more secure and private sharing site for students.  There are options to limit Facebook sharing  to a particular audience, say only members of a class.  There is also an option to change the access/privacy options for specific images, videos and comments posted by an individual.  Students can use Facebook to share with classmates and teachers or they can share with the world.  Students and teachers should learn more about these options and how to set them up.
Changing the privacy settings is one way to help students stay safe on Facebook, but they are not foolproof.  Students need to learn how to keep themselves safe on the internet in and out of the classroom.  They also need to  learn how to use the internet responsibly and to practice "netiquette".  Using Facebook in the classroom can provide students with an opportunity to learn safety and netiquette skills in a supervised situation.
Facebook has a lot of features that students may not be aware of.  Students can tag items, use social plugins to share websites, collaborate on projects, keep up with class events and share digital media.  Facebook can provide students with opportunities to access and share resources provided by experts.  Students can share their own thoughts and creations and receive feedback from their peers.  It is true that adolescents can be overly critical and that their creativity can be thwarted by criticism (Gardner, p 87).  However students can be encouraged by the positive comments of their peers and they need to experience criticism and failure so that they can improve.Facebook can nurture and develop the creating mind through the many features it offers to students.


Gardner, H. (2006). Five minds for the future. Harvard Business Press.