OK, if this is really true, it is ridiculous.
Apparently a student at Ryerson University in Toronto is facing 147 accusations of academic misconduct because he organized a study group on Facebook, the social networking site.
The student said the group was designed as a normal study group - where students discuss problems and help each other in the learning process.
Granted, this is more stupid academia than a stupid study, but really - if universities don't adapt to changing technology, that really gives students a huge disadvantage when they go out into the real world.
According to a story on London's vunet.com:
Kim Neale, Ryerson Student Union advocacy co-ordinator, said that the move makes no sense.
"All these students are scared s***less about using Facebook to talk about schoolwork, when actually it's no different than any study group working together on homework in a library," he said.
"That's the worst part. It's creating a culture of fear. If I post a question about physics homework on my friend's [Facebook bulletin board] and ask if anyone has any ideas how to approach this, and my prof sees this, am I cheating?
"No one did post a full final solution. It was more the back-and-forth that you get in any study group."
The university has refused to comment while the case is ongoing.
The full story link is here:
Student faces explusion for Facebook study group
Blah,
-SueVo
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Sue: If people want privacy on their social networking sites, they should consider posting legal terms of service to that effect. See http://hack-igations.blogspot.com/2007/11/privacy-advocates-such-as-nyu-professor.html The idea is not legal advice for anyone, just something to think about. --Ben
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