Colin Kristoff, who teaches Grade 7, believes Facebook can be a useful tool for teachers and students. (CBC)

With students across Saskatchewan returning to school, teachers are divided on whether popular social networks like Facebook have a place in the classroom.

Facebook has a half a billion users around the globe, many of them young people, who use it to exchange information and photographs with their friends.

It's already finding its way into schools, with varying degrees of acceptance.

Saskatoon high school teacher Brad Gibault's history students are using the site to learn about historical figures like Karl Marx and Nellie McClung.

He's having students do research and then create Facebook pages using those names. It's a fun, safe and controllable way for students to learn, Gibault said.

"There are no names involved in it. They don't use their own email addresses, that sort of thing. I monitor it so they can only friend the people in the class," he said.

In Regina, teacher Colin Kristoff is going to encourage his Grade 7 class and their parents to get involved in a Facebook art project. They'll all need an account so they can post their work and comment on the work of others.

"It just opened things up for the kids and gave them a pedestal to display their work, their art, their music, their drama, their dance," Kristoff said.

But around the province, some parents and administrators aren't thrilled with the Facebook invasion. They're well aware of Facebook's pitfalls, stories of online bullying, inappropriate pictures or privacy invasion.

A couple of years ago, that led Regina's Catholic school board to block Facebook at school, until Kristoff pleaded his case.

Jamie Neigum, the principal at Kristoff's school, supports Kristoff's project, although she still isn't convinced Facebook in the classroom is a good idea.

"Facebook — do I like it? Not overly, no," she said, adding that her own children are not allowed to have an account. "I'm not convinced it's the best for kids to get involved in."

Many in education hold similar views.

Regina's public school board says while there may be some tools on the web that have a place in education, it does not encourage or support Facebook.

Saskatoon's public school board is also grappling with out how best to use social media.

"The digital era has presented opportunities that are huge for learning and for professional growth, but there are pitfalls," said Daryl Koroluk, chief technology officer for the board.

Kristoff said he's aware of the concerns, but the merits of Facebook should be argued, too.

"I think the possibility of it and the pros outweigh the negatives if used correctly," Kristoff said.