ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to shift the focus of the debate about the integration of Facebook in the classroom from questions of safety and distraction from learning to those of opportunities to rethink the teaching process and engage learners, with the hope that doing so will help teachers. It considers how new modes of communication and interaction might be applied to their teaching practice and how to move beyond teaching paradigms that focus on the acquisition of information by learners. The chapter examines e-safety issues that arise from the use of social media by children and consider whether social media use in the classroom would help to mitigate cyber-risks. It explores how Facebook may act as a distraction from learning and discusses its potential to act as a catalyst for rethinking teaching practice. The chapter discusses a handful of practical guidelines for teachers who want to integrate Facebook or other social network site in meaningful ways into their classroom pedagogic practice.
