We all know that networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter are popular among young students and adults alike. However, did you know that there are social networking sites established specifically for the purposes of education and learning? Remix, Ning, and Classroom20, are all examples of social networking sites with an educational perspective, yet designed to resemble the online community and public conversation model that Facebook and MySpace have in common.
In the Edutopia article titled “Kids Create and Critique on Social Networks”, a student commented that he posts his work online because others can see his work, and it’s not just in his computer. Some students have even established their own networking sites, such as the Realm of New Thought.
With regard to Instructional Technology Standard 1: Creativity and Innovation, educators can take standards of technology, like Identifying Trends and Forecasting Possibilities and use them with even the most basic pre-school standards, such as keeping a daily weather graph and posting it online. Young students can create graphs, and easily share their work by learning to scan and upload their work to a forum
Researcher, William Richardson says that educational networking sites provide an important avenue for students to share their work, while “[practicing] important soft skills”, such as accepting feedback and usefully reviewing others’ work. I disagree with his statement because although students may be sharpening their technological skills, an online setting provides an atmosphere where critics can allow themselves to be harsh, and presenters less accepting. In a real time classroom setting, critics should be less harsh, because they are face-to-face with the presenter. Additionally, because the presenter is face-to-face with his critic, would too be more likely to accept the feedback as useful information.
Another important aspect of net critiques especially with young students) involves ongoing modeling by the facilitator. A student mentioned, in our SPU online discussion, that in her real time classroom, elementary students require a lot of modeling in order to give constructive feedback. The same should be true for students posting feedback online.
In keeping up with the times, another topic of our discussions focused on the use of multiple applications of technology. Suddenly following your friends on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter is a chore, more than a useful tool. With all the innovations in technology, a teacher is now expected to communicate with parents via real time meetings, phone conferences, e-mail, classroom newsletters, classroom websites…Blogs, Twitter, the list goes on. Are we able to keep up with it all?
Lastly, a few tips for networking: whichever application you chose to use, whether it be a networking site deigned for learning, or your own personal website. Be smart about the information you post. Teachers especially need to be careful not to use the names and or pictures or samples of their students’ work without parental permission. Similarly, be watchful about what you say concerning the school and or district, in which you work. Don’t mention the names of parents, coworkers, or other people in your community unless you are willing to reap what may result in its discovery. If you are dealing with a private site, still be cautious as to who you accept as your “friends” or “followers”. Plagiarism may be easier to track with technology, but it is also more readily accessible.
