As social networking web sites such as Facebook and MySpace become increasingly popular channels for student communication, schools are struggling to define the rules for whether, and how, it's appropriate for teachers to interact with their students through these media.

Proponents of using online social networks to reach students say it makes sense to go where students are already spending much of their time online. But others fear that educators' use of these sites encroaches on students' online "turf" and could cross the boundary of acceptable social behavior between teachers and their students.

Online social networks are still too new for many schools to have considered an appropriate policy. But so far, it appears the guidelines at the collegiate level, if any, are typically more lenient than the ones suggested at K-12 schools.

"We're seeing, culturally, a shift of formal structure" in the academic hierarchy, said Jared Stein, director of instructional design services at Utah Valley University. "A lot of students call teachers by their first name."

Stein said social networking sites could be seen as a good platform for teachers to communicate with students, but there's a limit to how much teachers should engage.

He said there is no formal policy governing whether Utah Valley employees can interact with students on social networking sites, but the university discourages relationships that could cause bias when the instructor gives his or her students a grade. Stein said some of his students use the same tools that he does for social networking online.

"I believe that educators should keep a clear line separating educational relationships from social relationships," he said. "As long as the use of the tool is related to learning, education, or professional development, I don't see it as being a problem."

Alec Couros, a professor of educational technology and media at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada, said he uses online social networks in his teaching by creating a page on Facebook where current and former students have a space to network with each other.

"It's a space that's peripheral to the course [and] allows people to connect in different ways," he said.

He acknowledges that there needs to be a shared agreement between teachers and their students as soon as a social network is established.

"There should be a list of things that are OK. You can exchange messages about course assignments, but if you see that I'm signed on, don't send me a message making small talk," he said.

Couros also said students who are "friends" with their professors online shouldn't expect favoritism from their teacher.

"Just because I'm your Facebook friend doesn't mean I'm going to give preferential treatment," he said. "Sometimes there is a casualness that students get into, like asking for permission to extend assignment deadlines. Things like that need to be done in a formal way and not on Facebook."