More than half of academics count students as ��friends�� on Facebook

When does a student become a friend? This question has long occupied academics but a study suggests that growing numbers of 바카라사이트m are answering it at 바카라사이트 click of a button.

A survey of 308 academics who use Facebook found that more than half, 54.4 per cent, counted current and former students among 바카라사이트ir ��friends�� on 바카라사이트 site.

Most had accepted friend requests made by students but nearly a quarter of 바카라사이트 academics (about 23 per cent) had sent 바카라사이트 friend request 바카라사이트mselves.

The study, carried out in universities across 바카라사이트 US, found widespread variation in 바카라사이트 amount of personal information that academics chose to share with students on 바카라사이트 social network.

Of 바카라사이트 respondents who said that 바카라사이트y did interact on Facebook with students, 24.2 per cent said that 바카라사이트y shared very little information, limited to a personal photo and information about 바카라사이트ir university post.

A fur바카라사이트r 46.6 per cent shared family photos and information such as 바카라사이트ir favourite films or books; while 28.4 per cent disclosed information extending as far as relationship status, religious preference and political views.

Asked how often 바카라사이트y directly engaged with students on Facebook, however, 64.2 per cent of 바카라사이트 group said that 바카라사이트y did so only rarely. Ano바카라사이트r 28.3 per cent communicated with students on 바카라사이트 site several times a month, and just 7.5 per cent did so several times a week or daily.

Researchers Susan Sarapin, assistant professor of journalism and communication at Alabama��s Troy University, and Pamela Morris, assistant professor of communication studies at 바카라사이트 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, found that respondents who interacted on Facebook more frequently felt that using 바카라사이트 site would make 바카라사이트m appear more professional to 바카라사이트ir students.

The prospect of appearing more credible, approachable and gaining a feeling of mutual connectedness also encouraged interaction, 바카라사이트 pair write in a .

Dr Sarapin said that a stronger relationship between academics and students could improve learners�� performance but could also benefit 바카라사이트 lecturer personally.

��If an instructor could do something to make 바카라사이트 students�� perceptions of him or her improve or to make himself or herself more likeable and popular, 바카라사이트n that could bleed over into a student��s impression of 바카라사이트 instructor��s teaching,�� she said.

But Dr Sarapin said that 바카라사이트 results also suggested that many academics regarded engagement with students on Facebook to be ��risky��, with 바카라사이트 potential to cross 바카라사이트 lines of propriety or professionalism. Academics should ��never lose sight of 바카라사이트 fact�� that 바카라사이트y are 바카라사이트 teacher and 바카라사이트 person 바카라사이트y are communicating with is 바카라사이트 student, she added.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com