Cartoon used with permission of Snaggy and GeekCulture.com
Yes, there can be serious consequences when social networking sites/tools aren't used thoughtfully. When I posted a FaceBook query about what to tell you about social networking, here are a few of the good tips my FB friends shared:
Kurt: stay away from the applications on the social networks as they almost all change your privacy agreement and gather information about you. Pay attention.
Nancy: Don't forget current employers reading things about you that could cause you to lose your job.
Ryan: In seven days I went from hating the idea of social networking and swearing I'd never get involved to being addicted. (You may want to put yourself on a social networking diet!)
Just what is social networking? Social networking focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Most social network services are web based and provide a variety of ways for users to interact, such as e-mail and instant messaging services.
Watch this short but informative video from CommonCraft to get a basic introduction:
Why are we so drawn to social networking? In his book, Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long, David Rock says:
"If you were a wolf, large parts of your brain would be devoted to getting resources directly from the wild. You would have complex maps for interacting with the physical landscape, like maps for sniffing out a distant meal and others for finding your way home in the dark. As a human, especially when young, you get your resources not from the wild, but from other people. Because of this, large amounts of your brain "real estate" is devoted to the social world. If you work in an office, you could probably close your eyes and describe ten people around you, how important they are in relation to each other and to you, how they feel today, whether they can be trusted, and how many favors any of them might owe you. Your memories of your social interconnections are vast.
This vast social network, the one in our heads, is activated when we go to a social media site and we [feel rewarded]." This may help explain the huge popularity and explosion of social networking sites.
Millions of users (and yes, educators!) are finally beginning to see how they can enhance their own (and their students') learning. I continue to add bookmarks to various sites/tools that I've discovered to my Delicious account, so check it out from time to time to see what's out there.
Is social media just a passing fad?
Scott McLeod doesn't think so. He presented to NEA at their national conference about the changing information landscape. Technology is changing what it means to be social. We all have a voice, we are all hyper-connected. In our schools we need to understand that we are not immune from what is impacting the rest of the world.
Erik Qualman also doesn't think so. Erik is the Global Vice President of Online Marketing for EF Education, headquartered in Lucerne, Switzerland. With more than 26,000 employees in 53 countries, EF Education is the world's largest private educator.
His book "Socialnomics: How Social Media has changed the way we live and do business" was released from Wiley Publishing in August 2009. Qualman is a frequently requested speaker within the Internet and marketing community and also maintains a social media blog at www.socialnomics.net.
Here's a video he created explaining why social networking and social media are here to stay:
A list of the statistics listed in the video.
Another interesting video, posted on the Educator's PLN by Tom Whitby, shares some recent data on students' use of social networking and challenges us to consider how we might use social networking tools in the classroom:
This representation of social networking and Web2.0 Tools lists many of the most popular sites and what they are primarily used for. It is available as a poster from ConversationPrism.com for $20 (includes S&H.) View it larger or order it online at the company's website.
Why do we need to bother teaching ourselves to use social networking tools? Is it just because it's "what kids are doing?" Consider the following video produced by students at Stillwater High School in Minnesota:
FaceBook and Twitter are quickly becoming powerful marketing tools for businesses and employers are wanting (and expecting) to be able to hire tech saavy people. What are we doing in our schools to help our students get hired?
Resources and Research
(many thanks to Dena Brudecki, Plymouth Schools)
- My Delicious bookmarks for social networking, social network sites, or collaboration.
- Kids reveal a lot about themselves online an interesting study showing the power of a little intervention with teens who had revealed too much on their MySpace or FaceBook pages.
- a new face for schools.pdf The power of social networks and how these "purposeful communities" may change the face of education
- footprints.pdf Will Richardson's insightful article about "the Web 2.0 world, [where] self-directed learners must be adept at building and sustaining networks."
- http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/Social+Networks a wonderful wiki where Library Media Specialists share ideas about how they are learning about and using social networking sites
- The Seven Top Social Networking Sites for Kids
Social networking is not just for tweens, teens, and adults. Little ones are heavily involved! Do we need to start teaching social networking skills and safety early on? You bet! Check out:
- Poptropica.com (76 million users)
- Neopets.com (54 million users)
- ClubPenguin.com (28 million users)
- FreeRealms.com (4 million users)
- MoshiMonsters.com (2 million users)
- Webkinz.com ( over 1 million users-available in 10 languages!)
- This TechNewsWorld article includes an annotated list of social networking tools for the education market that might interest parents as well as teachers.
- Social Networking in Schools: Incentives for Participation: An article from THE Journal. A comprehensive look at the positives of social networking and understanding why it has not been leveraged more in schools to enhance the education of youth.
- The wiki "Educational Networking" which is the use of social networking technologies for educational purposes. Because the phrase "social networking" can carry some negative connotations for educators, the phrase "educational networking" may be a way of more objectively discussing the pedagogical value of these tools. Direct link to articles and blogs on this site. A listing of social networks used in educational environments or for educational purposes.
- A recent report (Autumn 2008), produced by Childnet International and sponsored by Becta in the UK, looks at how social networking can support learning in schools and colleges, with students using sites to collaborate on homework projects or discuss lessons. It also considers how social networking services can help teachers to become more innovative in their curriculum approaches.
How to Use Social Networks for Education
Some GREAT advice to give to students (and some many adults can use as well):
10 Things Your Grandmother Can Teach You About Social Media
Just a few ideas from teachers and library media specialists
- set up a site on MySpace or Facebook for their classroom or school library media center for students and parents to access resources and information
- see what topics students are discussing
- keep students focused on work
- share information about school library media services
- share information and ideas with other professionals
- request help and/or learn from professional colleagues
- share what they are reading with colleagues, parents and students
- host videos, photos and discussions with colleagues, teachers, and/or students
- learn about social networking
- keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues in other schools and districts
- work on professional association committees
- teach students about social networks
- teach students about Internet safety
- teach parents about social networking and safety issues
- teach teachers about social networking and how they can use them
- provide a collaborative workspace for students' multimedia projects
- provide a collaborative workspace for teacher/lms work
- communicate with students (in a professional manner!)
- provide a virtual meeting and sharing place for clubs
- find new things for students to read based on what they like to read
- find new things for professional reading and personal reading
- collaborate with colleagues who have similar interests worldwide
- store related things together: videos, photos, articles, RSS feeds, etc. by curriculum area, teacher, or research topic
Steve Hargadon's wiki, where he and other educators share ideas for the use of social networking technologies for educational purposes. Because the phrase "social networking" can carry some negative connotations for educators, the phrase "educational networking" may be a way of more objectively discussing the pedagogical value of these tools. The original URL for this site (http://socialnetworksined.wikispaces.com) still works, but http://www.EducationalNetworking.com is now the main URL.
Here is part of a presentation by Steven Anderson during SimpleK-12's EdTech UNconference where he explains how his PLN made a difference to him and his students.
Sneak Peek: Personal Learning Networks from SimpleK12 on Vimeo.
Many college campuses are using Facebook to connect with students and to connect students to students. Read about "5 Friendly Ways to Use Facebook in Your Teaching"
Some Great Social Networking Applications for Education
Internet Safety Resources