As time goes on, I continue to be introduced to tools the expand my learning and demonstrate to me the limitless possibilities for student use and learning. Social networks on the web are not unfamiliar to most. Nearly everyone has at least heard of 2 that our children are using daily in spite of the negative media we're exposed to: MySpace and Facebook. While unpopular with many parents, I have written before about the positive aspects of social networking. Some of the skills young adults demonstrate and learn using these social networks include creativity, global exposure, literacy (read/write), making connections with people and developing communication skills along with other secondary skills often viewed as a double-edge sword such as multi-tasking.
Iroquois is participating in a project called the Western New York Powerful Learning Practices. I have not provided a link as for now, this is a "closed" social network. Four teachers and another administrator have joined me in learning the myriad of tools available on the web. Web 2.0 as topic is familiar to those that have followed this blog or any of the other talented educators linked to this blog. We have experimented and then began using blogs, wikis and podcasting. Podcasting is just beginning to be used with instruction now that we have learned the in's and out's. Now we are looking at the potential social networks offer.
One such network is call Ning. Ning was developed in 2004 by two individuals that wanted to develop a platform where people could develop their own social network. Artists to musicians, athletes, bloggers, video channels, journalists, students, educators, parents, craft hobbyists, alumni, and interest groups are a sampling of the range and diversity of the social networks developed on ning. It becomes one-stop shopping for all your web 2.0 tools. You can post picture, video and music. Within your own social network you can host a blog or engage in a variety of discussion in a forum. On ning, it's possible to link to other social networks or expand your own network by having members of your network develop their own pages. The amount of information to be store and exchanged on ning can be more than overwhelming. For just that reason, the group of us involved in the WNYPLP needed to take a step back and developed our own social network called Virtually Iroquois. We thought if we began with a "blank canvas", we could explore the many features available and slowly build our community. It has only been a day, and members that felt completely intimidated my the WNYPLP have quickly joined and contributed to our network.
So, how can this be applied and used educationally you may ask? Imagine a class designing an on-line platform that each of them have membership to. The main page provides the shell for the topic or class the student is enrolled in. Each student then develops their own page (like their own web site). Students conduct research, share information, engage in discussions and post resources. Resources could be video clips, music, personal artwork or pictures as well as more traditional resources such a links to articles, newspapers or blogs. As if there isn't enough on the platform, you even have an e-mail account so people within your network as well as the entire Ning community can e-mail you. There are features similar to the notorious MySpace and FaceBook. You invite members to your network and thus the ability to acquire many 'friends'. Each person has a picture (avatar or actual digital picture) that is shown. If others in your network are on-line, an icon indicates so. If you desire immediate contact you can then communicate with that person either through e-mail or other IM or Skype accounts outside the Ning community. All you need is a valid e-mail address. I highly suggest you check out the network. No matter what your interest, you will find a network for you to join or you can begin one yourself.
Another on-linr tool to network with people is Twitter. Twitter is similar to instant message but everyone and anyone that has a twitter account and is on-line can communicate with each other. For our more "mature" audiences, I liken it to the original aol chat rooms. Many of the same rules apply but the conversations are much richer and generally related to 21st century learning. You can communicate with a particular person by beginning your text message with @(person's name) or just type to the entire community. You can join a conversation or begin a new one. The 'conversations' are in real time and worldwide. Those of us using Twitter see many uses. It can be your idea of "fun" by just texting to interesting people around the country or the world. Will Richardson posted a blog about the use of Twitter for professional development. Imagine you are a teacher and you're interested in finding a great podcast about the civil war. Twitter it and you may just find a social studies teacher that twitters back with your request. You could also engage in a discussion by asking how a high school teacher is using a wiki in one of their courses. The possibilities are endless. Give it a try. Again, all you need is that e-mail address.
