Creation of a Course Facebook Page to

Increase Classroom Engagement

Deborah J. Good, Ph.D.Dept. Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise

Virginia Tech

Facebook is too big to ignore

1.19 Billion Facebook Users Worldwide Average time spent on Facebook per day is 20

minutes34% of Facebook users are aged 18-29

November 2013 Facebook data http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/by-the-numbers-17-amazing-facebook-stats/#.UryJN2RDvd

E

Students use Facebook during class time (among other

things…)Visually observed students during lecture

14 Facebook 10 email 13 other (Pinterest, shopping, news, Scholar, pictures,

non-class documents, weather) 11 talking 6 texting

Course Description and Methods

Metabolic Nutrition-HNFE 3026 Junior/Senior Level CourseRequired for Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise

majors.Approximately 230-240 students per year

MethodologyPre-survey on Facebook page interestFacebook metricsPost-survey on Facebook page usage

Pre-Survey DataFacebook page interest

Metabolic Nutrition Facebook Page

•170 joined the page initially (69.4%)•An average of 162 students during the course were members•No grade difference in students who joined versus those that did not

Post-survey dataFacebook Membership

Facebook Page EngagementViewing posts

Facebook Page Engagement

Likes, Shares, Comments on posts

Facebook EngagementFacebook Statistics

Post-Survey DataEngagement

Post-Survey DataSelected Student Comments-

Positive I think it added to the course by referencing real life examples

and making the material we were learning applicable to everyday life ( like the Kevin Ware story)

Yes it was enjoyable. Helped to remind me while I was on facebook that I need to study for class. Interesting articles were posted as well

I didn't think it was a good idea to have a facebook page initially, but I found that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

I did not use the Facebook page as much to help with class but I found many of the posts and articles to be more relevant to everyday life and enjoyed reading them. Some of the posts and articles I even sent to family/friends.

Post-Survey DataSelected Student Comments-

NegativeNot much was very relevant to the exams, which is why i

(sic) didn't use it much.

I did not find the Facebook page useful. It was a good idea, and it may work for some people, but I would respond better to it if articles weren't posted. At least when I use facebook, i (sic) scroll through my news feed and look at statuses rather than go on people pages and am less likely to read long articles

The facebook page was not very useful. It was unique because it is my only class which uses facebook, but I did not gain anything from the page nor did it help me in the class

Post-Survey DataInterest in staying “friends”

Metabolic Nutrition Facebook Page-2014

Screen Shot taken 12/26/13

Future Plans for 2014Currently 311 members with the spring 2014 class

Creative Content assignment is generating a lot of interest.

Dr. Jie Li (Stats) will join me and help to analyze data

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjoj6EYQjh8

ConclusionsMajority of students were interested in, and

joined a Facebook page for the courseBut for 2013, students were passive “friends”,

never fully engaged.For 2014 class, a creative content assignment is

being used to increase student engagement with the page. Students reporting that it is “fun”Lots of “views”More “likes” than for posts by the professor last

year.