How Schools Can Start a Homework Hotline on FaceBook for Students

FaceBook is all the rage from younger kids to senior citizens. It only makes sense that schools might begin to use social networking sites like FaceBook as a source to help students with homework. There are some reports that have stated that FaceBook and other social networking sites make kids grades slip. Is it possible that a "homework hotline" on these sites could reverse those affects? It is fairly easy to set up a type of homework hotline from any school in order to help students benefit more from being on such sites. They are going to be there anyway, why not give them some help with their grades while you are there.

How schools can set up a homework hotline for students on FaceBook:

Open an account- The first thing the school will have to do is open up a profile on FaceBook. It can be titled by the name of the school, then homework hotline. You might even open an account under that name for each grade level at your school. This makes the experience a little more targeted.

Look for Volunteers- Look in the school for volunteers that would be willing to help with the homework hotline. Although some schools already offer a peer homework help line over the phone, that is usually done on a very limited basis. A FaceBook homework hotline can allow those same peers and even teachers and other staff to help even from their home internet connections. That means that students can help each other through the night as well as other school staff members. You could even initiate the help of some parents who would be willing to help students via FaceBook with their homework.

Assign a Moderator- You will probably need more than one moderator that can help keep an eye on the FaceBook homework hotline. A moderator for this site is just someone who will check on the site to make sure that everything is running smoothly and not getting out of line. FaceBook can be a great place, but no matter what the topic should be, it can be left open for comments that are uncalled for, even in a homework hotline. You will need at least one person that checks in every now and then to make sure those type of comments don't happen, even if it means blocking someone from having access to the profile.

Students/Parents- The next step is to let students and parents know that this help is available. Send out flyers letting the students know and send home information for parents so they know that the homework hotline is available. This will get the word out so the hotline gets used.

Communication- There are several ways that students can interact on FaceBook. There is a chat and they can see who is online and available to help. They can have a private conversation with the person that they are seeking help from, they can send a private message so that the first available person gets the message and can help them or they can post the question on the FaceBook page so that other students can benefit from the answers. There is also a place where you can write notes and the students will be able to comment on the topic. For instance, teachers can post the assignments in the FaceBook homework hotline in the notes section. The student can refer to the assignment and ask question on the exact assignment they are working on. This makes it easier to narrow it down to who should answer the questions. Teachers could even start their own FaceBook homework helpline if they want to take that initiative.

Chances are, students are going to be on FaceBook no matter what they are doing on the internet. This is a great opportunity for schools to get into the game and help students and even parents. It can be a way for parents to check on the homework assignments their children may have to make sure the homework is getting done.