Social Networking in Education

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What is Social Networking?

• According to webopedia, “A social network represents relationships and flows between people, groups, organizations, animals, computers or other information/knowledge processing entities.”

• According to wisegeek, “A social networking site is a website where individuals can set up an online users are able to post personal information, including photographs, videos, and blog entries. One social networking site, MySpace, is extremely popular….”

What Experts Have to Say

• In a recent study, the University of Minnesota found that most students have a facebook or myspace account (Science Daily, June 21, 2008). The children expressed how social networking cites improve their technology and communication skills. Furthermore, the study found that students using social networking cites are practicing 21st century skills that prepares them to compete in the world beyond schooling. According to the National School Boards’ Association, Teachers need to find ways to adapt social networking sites for classroom use.

• Most social networking sites contain a wiki and a blog, among other things.

What is a Wiki?• The American Heritage Dictionary defines a wiki as “A

collaborative website whose content can be edited by anyone who has access to it.”

• They may serve a specific purposes for collaboration over the Web. People may use a wiki to perform some or all of the following:

- planning vacations, meetings, etc. - sharing information such as files, videos, pictures,

data, etc.- group projects- any other purpose where collaboration is desired

or needed.• Collaborative group size is unlimited• Although the world can view the activity on a wiki, the creator determines who can edit it.

What is a Blog?According to problogger at

http://www.problogger.net/archives/2005/02/05/what-is-a-blog/• A blog is a journal that is available on the web• Entries are posted in reverse chronological order with the most

recent post listed first

Sample

Blog

The Gifted Kids Network• The web address is http://www.giftedkidsnetwork.com/• It provides enrichment opportunity for gifted children to

collaborate with other gifted students.• Communication can occur in a few different methods,

but blogging is the most common.• This social network site also provides GT students with

emotional and academic support • An example of projects completed on this wiki occurred

during the summer. A group of 20 students from Australia and the United States came together to a create virtual zoo.

• Students were presented with a question to guide their research and used a number of software tools to complete their assignment collaboratively.

Choices of Software for the Gifted Kids Network

• Some of the software the children in this network site used were:

• Animoto – makes video from images• Community Walk – create maps. Click here to see an

example of the a map related to the virtual zoo project. http://www.communitywalk.com/endangered_species/endangered_species/map/207203

• issuu at www.issuu.com - make electronic flip books• Slideshare at http://www.slideshare.net/ for sharing and

uploading power point presentations through avenues like you tube or teacher tube.

Facebook• Social networking site

used to create and maintain communities over the web.

• Can be used to create communities for educational purposes.

• Upload and share photos, files, videos.

• Blog, email, and chat with others.

• Keep track of birthdays • Select your own privacy

settings• Search for friends

Courses on FacebookHow Facebook Can be Used for

Education

• Find it at http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2791815712&b&ref=pd

• For students and educators• Add courses and activities• Class discussions• Manage and create schedules• Upload and share files• Create your own course

Resources Cited• The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language,

Fourth Edition (2005). Updated 2005.Published by Houghton Mifflin.

• http://www.giftedkidsnetwork.com/• Picture of sample blog http://www.elgg.org/?

weblog=blogs&ref=6172&owner=1593• University of Minnesota (2008, June 21). Educational Benefits Of

Social Networking Sites Uncovered. Science Daily. Retrieved January 24, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080620133907.htm

• http://thinkingmachine.pbworks.com/Think%20Social%20Networking%20for%20Education

• http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/social_network.html• http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-social-networking-site.htm• Picture of facebook page

http://www.answers.com/topic/facebook