Updated Facebook Template

For the last couple of years, we've been using a PowerPoint Facebook page as a final product for a research unit.

When we used the template last year, my students were quick to point out that the template was "old school" - Facebook has made major tweaks to the layout and design of its site, which weren't reflected in this version.

This year, I finally got around to updating the template to reflect Facebook's current look. Click here to download the  new template for PowerPoint 2010. No, it doesn't have the timeline interface (I'm not using it yet on my own personal Facebook page, so I don't feel comfortable enough trying to recreate it), but otherwise it reflects many of the recent design changes. It is hyperlinked, so when you're in "View Show" mode, you can click on "Wall," "Info," and "Pictures," and go directly to those parts of the PowerPoint - making it behaving like a traditional Facebook page.
Heads up - I did customize parts of the template to meet our research project needs, like adding a "Resources"/"Favorite Sources" section to the Info page, and including captions underneath photos in an album.

[UPDATE: Here's a link to download the rubric we used to grade the project. Obviously, you'll need to modify it for your own needs.]

[UPDATE 5/1/12: Here are more versions of the page, plus the "extras" we use to support the projects:

World Religions Project
 Global Studies VIPs Project
]

Comments

  1. Awesome update! I am just trying to figure out a way to emulate the newsfeed now (to Photoshop I go!)Thank-you for sharing the link to this on the source of your original idea; I love them both.

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    1. That's awesome! Let me know if you get the newsfeed added into a template. I'd love a copy of that!

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    2. I am new to all of this and want to see if I can use a stylus in facebook or any other blogsite to work out math problems collaboratively instead of typing it all out.

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  2. I love it! Will definitely use it in my class when I start to teach next year and also during my practice teaching! Will also add a link from my blog ( http://mnrvermeulen.blogspot.com ) because I think it is awesome! Especially for History (part of Social Sciences in South Africa)!

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  3. How do you get this template to your students?

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    1. We have a shared drive on our network that everyone can access. I have the students all open the same file, and then walk them through the process of doing a File - "Save As," changing the file name, and saving it to their personal spot on the server.

      I always keep a backup copy of the file, so if a student inadvertently saves their changes on top of the original, I can replace it with my "master."

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    2. I'm trying to use this with a class doing presidential biographies. We have a shared drive as well but when the kids try to save under their H drive, they have to repeatedly save under a different name because it's a "Read Only." Any advice?

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    3. Hi Mrs. B,

      The FIRST time the kids open the template, have them do a File -> "Save As," and rename the file in their H:Drive during the process. This will keep it from being a "Read Only" file. Hope that helps!

      Lindsay

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  4. Do you have a scoring rubric for this assignment? Would you be willing to share it with me?

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    1. I just added a link to download it! Look at the bottom of the above post for it.

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  5. Thank you for the rubric.

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  6. Great resource. Can't wait to use it with my art students.

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  7. This is beautifully done! I'm going to use it for my students to research important figures in the Spanish-speaking world (and, maybe, I'll translate the headers into Spanish)! Have you posted anywhere the instrutions that you give to students (i.e., required elements, etc.)? Thanks again for you and David for making these templates available to us!

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    1. Denise, I added some other files today to include the graphic organizers we use for the research portion. I tweak the template and the graphic organizer for each project, as we delete and add elements depending on curriculum goals, but these should give you some things to work with. Hope it helps!

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  8. Thank you so much for sharing all of your hard work!! This is a true gold mine for middle school teachers :)

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  9. What a neat idea.Thanks for sharing this great stuff..Its been useful...

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  10. Just want to say thanks for this, really helpful !

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  11. I just want to say thank you so much for this! I used the NY Times unit on elections and was excited to see this as an option for my students to use for their candidates! I am also very excited that you have included a rubric!!!

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  12. Thank you for creating this - it's going to be so motivating for my students...

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    1. You're welcome - it's so nice to know that resources you share are being utilized.

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  13. I am also using the ppt facebook template and just tweaked the rubric for the Election 2012. Awesome! I think students will really enjoy this -- thanks so much!

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    1. Hi Alicia.
      if by any chance you're willing to share the adapted template for the Election 2012, please let me know, as I got to this page looking exactly for that!!

      And Lindsay, thank you so much for creating this in the first place!

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  14. This is fantastic. Thank you so much! My students are very excited about doing this project over people from the Renaissance1

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  15. Lindsay, thanks so much for this--you took so much care with it. Just wanted to say thanks from a fellow educator!

    Garth

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  16. This looks like a great project! I am working on a sample one before I have my students do one next week. I began working on it at school (and had no problems), but when I opened it on my computer at home it will not allow me to make any changes. Any suggestions?

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    1. Try doing a "File -> Save As" and then editing the newly saved version. You might also look for a button that says "enable editing" when you open the file. Hope that helps!

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  17. I teach 7th grade science. What grade did you use the templates? What recommendations would you make if I want to use it with 7th graders?

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    1. I use it with 8th and 9th graders. Your 7th graders should be just fine - the only modifications may just be to make the rubric more flexiable/appropriate for your students. They should be fine with the basic project though.

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  18. I am impressed. I don't think Ive met anyone who knows as much about this subject as you do. You are truly well informed and very intelligent.

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  19. How do you get the powerpoint online? I finished my page, but need to post it and send a link to a site with it... how can I do this?

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  20. thankyou very much for this! I'm a student and had an assignment to create a fake facebook page, this helped alot! thankyou

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  21. I am very impressed with your information. I hope it is helpful.

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  22. Hi there... wondering if you know of a template like this one but that has the new format with the cover photo??

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    1. Sorry, Veronica. I haven't gotten around to creating a template for the newest update. Maybe this fall?

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    2. I adapted your template for Facebook timeline. I was planning on doing it for my internship presentation anyway. It could be improved, but it's workable. My email is shawneby@gmail.com. Send me an email if you would like to look at it and post it. :)

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  23. Wow! This is great. I have been bouncing around the idea of using social media, specifically facebook, for an assignment in my classes, but wasn't sure how I wanted to go about it. The media specialist at my school has been very helpful. But this will help me formalize my ideas better. I really appreciate your posting this for others to have access to. Thanks so much!!!

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  24. Lindsay,
    Thank you for this update! I used the old one every year for my guitar class (HS guitar) for their Guitarist Biography project (much more fun than the old school ppt method!) The rubric is great, but I LOVE the graphic organizer.
    Thank you so much!

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  25. This is such an awesome idea. Thanks for being so generous and sharing this resource. I think it would work well as an icebreaker and an "about me" activity

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  26. I just wanted to reach out and say thank you for the materials on your blog. My students have been studying the Middle Ages and we used your power point to create Middle Ages characters. Through this project my students learned how to use power point, their district email address, and one drive. Without the materials you have shared I don't know how I would have been able to teach such a variety of skills. Again, thank you for your generosity, your hard work is deeply appreciated.
    -HB Lee Middle School, Portland, OR

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