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My district's firewall blocks all websites where students can email, blog, or post anything...Enotes, YouTube, Facebook, My Space, and all the free email sites are included.  Teachers are able to have these approved for their personal classroom computers, but students can not access these sites.

That having been said, I don't think Facebook and My Space would be helpful in the classroom.  I have perused these sites and have found too many things on personal pages that would prove embarrassing in a classroom situation. Call me conservative, but I don't think certain language, questionable photos, and other such informal socialization has a place in the classroom.

On the other hand, if the rules of formal language and behavior were observed, it could be a great place to have literature circles, book clubs, and study groups.  Perhaps outside of school this could prove to be an amazing resource for kids?

Although I use many websites in my classroom, I do not support using My Space or Facebook in the classroom for several reasons many of which are mentioned already including the possibility of viewing inappropriate material and better alternatives that are available.  Further, I have had several kids in my classes whose parents forbid them from using the site.  We can't ask kids to use in class what is forbidden to them at home.  My school blocks both sites.

In reply to #11: if the rules of formal language and behavior were observed, it could be a great place to have literature circles, book clubs, and study groups.  Perhaps outside of school this could prove to be an amazing resource for kids?

This is one of the main goals of the eNotes.com community-- creating a safe space online where students and teachers can come together to enhance the learning experience!

In reply to #1: I can't imagine how these sites could be helpful to the education process.  The students in my classes are already way too involved in socializing on their cell phones and sidekicks.  It is sometimes impossible to get through an entire class period without reprimanding several students for playing with these devices instead of paying attention.

Due to the nature of these sites and the fact that some students have difficulty concentrating on academics, I believe it would cause a great distraction.  How many students do you really believe would be using these sites for school work?  Just because the kids are familiar with these sites, and they are on them so much, does not qualifiy them as helpful in the sense of technology in the classroom. 

The blogging and IMing that is going on is in a language that does not resemble English.  I constantly, constantly correct abbreviations on essays that are a direct result of IM writing.

More and more students don't know how to spell simple words! It is frightening how many high school students I have who can't spell! 

In my view, no teacher can control the use of Facebook and MySpace to the degree necessary to effectively teach a classroom of 24-30 students.   

In Reply to #13:  I know!  I have tried repeatedly to get my school to approve the use of enotes on our school computers.  They have a strict policy against any site which allows students to post information or communicate through messaging of any kind.  I am just grateful that they allow me to use it on my computer, and I can project certain parts like the vocab workshops and the essay workshops onto my screen for teaching purposes.  You've got me as to why they won't unlock it!  :(  I am relieved that my kids are using this site from home, however. 

I guess this post has more to do with management, but here's a little history:

I've worked at schools that were micromanaged as well as others that had NO management. At schools where they have proficient tech staff, normally MySpace and Facebook along with gaming sites, etc. are blocked. That's probably a good sign. People in charge are on the ball.

At some schools where little or no management is practiced, employees and students alike can easily go online, gamble, view inappropriate content, or carry out a whole world of other activities that are totally unrelated to education. And while students and staff alike might enjoy the liberation from technological restraints, on a psychological level, it's very discomforting to think that head honchos are unaware or apathetic about how school computers are used. 

I have to agree with some of our posters who feel that Facebook and MySpace in the classroom is a formula for disaster. On the other hand, using either site for further professional contact and assistance (talking with peers) can be beneficial to enhance students' learning environments. Of course, that's best done after classroom hours... One new teacher recently asked for great ideas for first-day icebreakers, for instance, and a lot of other teachers helped her out. There's a positive use for social networking in regards to classroom improvement.

At the university where I teach, MySpace and Facebook are not blocked on the campus computer network, and the majority of our students use one or both.  In fact, a lot of faculty have begun using Facebook--including my department chair and me--as a way to have contact with students outside the classroom.  Our pages allow students to use a venue other than campus e-mail (which, BTW, seems to have down time quite a lot) to ask questions about assignments and homework.  The students seem to enjoy connecting with their favorite teachers on such a popular site.  However, there is no classroom value in either site, in my opinion, and neither would serve any purpose in enhancing the lessons and discussions we have during class time.  There is a time and a place for everything, a cliche rule of thumb that both my department chair and I agree upon.

Both MySpace and Facebook are blocked on our school computers.  As for use in the classroom, there are other spots out there.  Many are designed for school use.

That being said, I know how addicted to Facebook my students are, so I do keep a Facebook page that only current students of the class my visit.  I keep copies of assignments on there, and they're pretty good about sticking to school-related topics.

But you're right--I don't feel entirely comfortable with it, since I see some potential for abuse, though I'm quick to block anyone who does so.  A blog spot on eNotes would be great (since eNotes can be linked from Facebook now....).

There is also a you-tube like video forum called teacher tube.  Teachers can access youtube from their logins, but not students.