MOVE OVER MYSPACE…
NING IS THE THING
Social Networks in the Classroom
Social Networking in Plain English
Social Networking Statistics
Social Networking sites grow 47%, MySpace dominates the social
year over year, reaching 45% of web networking realm, with more than
users. (Nielsen/Netratings) 85% of teens citing it as their
Most teens are using the networks to network of choice. Following on its
stay in touch with people they already heels is Facebook, with 7% of
know, either friends that they see a lot profile-owners updating their
(91% of social networking teens have Facebook profile most regularly.
done this) or friends that they rarely
Almost half of teens who use social
see in person (82%).
networks, visit them once a day
49% of social network users say they (26%) or several times a day (22%).
use the networks to make new friends. One in six (17%) visit the sites 3 to 5
For 12 and 13 year olds, social days a week and 15% visit them 1
network use is not as prevalent, with to 2 days a week. One in five or
just two in five (41%) of teens those 20% say they visit online social
ages using the sites. 61% of teens 14- networks every few weeks or less
17 use online social networks. often.
Pew Internet & American Life (April 2007)
More Stats…
More than 4 in
5 social
network users
(84%) have
posted
messages to a
friend‟s profile
or page.
“It‟s a nice
feeling to get,
like,
comments,”
said an early
high school-
aged boy.
Pew Internet & American Life (April 2007)
The Kids Say…
“Part of what people like about it is when you go on and you do your
“It‟s a sense of profile and there‟s this little box at the bottom that tells you if you have
attention. For a new friend request or new comments and so you click on it and then
some people you see what‟s going on.” – Boy, Early High School
it‟s like „well, “It is a great feeling. Like if you go on there and you haven‟t been on in
people know I a day and you don‟t find anything in the box, you don‟t want to be on
exist, I‟m there anymore but if you go on there and there‟s a new picture,
there, people comments, people want to talk to you, you start feeling part of a group.”
acknowledge -- Boy, Early High School
me,‟ you know “And you feel special when you have a picture comment.” – Girl, Middle
you feel like School
you‟re a part “It‟s like there‟s a sense of like you can put your interests and stuff on
of something.” there and people can be like „well, yes I like that too‟ and stuff and you
can start talking to someone and eventually it‟s like you get friends from
– Boy, Early it. Like you start meeting more people that have the same interests and
High School you‟re part of a group now.” – Boy, Early High School.
Pew Internet & American Life (April 2007)
Is it Good or Bad?
Good Not So Good
When correctly administered and Unsafe disclosure of personal
monitored, SN‟s teach 21st Century
communication and interpersonal information
technology skills Addiction
Provides a forum for student
expression as well as peer and teacher Cyber-bullying
feedback Cyber-Cheating
Serves as an extended classroom
allowing for discussion, enhancement Inappropriate use of the
and extrapolation of lessons technology to promote at-risk
Allows for collaboration across behaviors
classrooms, schools, states, and
countries
Non-educational focus
Willard (2006)
What Can Schools Do?
Create a clear policy with a strong focus on educationally
valuable use of the Internet -- no "Internet recess." The policy
must be supported by curriculum and professional
development, and a clear expectation for teachers that all
student use of the Internet should be for high quality, well-
planned instructional activities.
Implement student education about online safety and
responsible use.
Maintain effective technical monitoring.
Enforce appropriate consequences. Schools and districts should
consider a full review of Internet use management policies and
practices. A needs assessment and evaluation of Internet use
would provide helpful insight. Safe school personnel must be
involved in that process.
Willard (2006)
What Can Teachers Do?
The Teach your students about internet safety.
misconception Ensure that your network is specifically educationally
of many
based.
teachers that
a social Keep content active…update regularly.
networking
site will take Be a definite and active presence in the network.
care of itself. Set clear rules and enforce them.
It is an
extension of Handle infractions quickly, document them, and follow the
your AUP consequences of your district.
classroom and
requires the Include an administrator and another teacher in your
same level of network.
classroom
management.
Share your network with parents. Be prepared with
alternative assignments if necessary.
How Can You Use It?
Discussion forums
Online journals
Online book clubs or other organizations
Group collectives for research
24 hour classroom extension
Enrichment through audio, video, peer feedback
Ancillary lessons, explanations, connections that time prohibits
in the classroom
Evening office hours to get tutoring from the teacher
Turn passive receivers into content creators by spotlighting
student work
Connect parents into your classroom as active participants
The Right Tool For The Job
Network Information
Moodle Allows for online grading, rss feed inclusion, activities and lessons, password protected,
asynchronous environment, requires installation on a server, http://moodle.org
YackPack Allows for verbal and text messaging in an asynchronous environment, primarily voice
based, requires microphones, password protected, web-based , http://yackpack.com
Ning Allows for text communication, video and rss feed inclusion, blogging, discussion forums,
password protected, asynchronous environment, web-based, http://ning.com
Gaggle Allows for email, blogging, file sharing, password protected, filtered, web-based,
specifically for educators, http://gaggle.net
Think.com Allows for email, messaging, forums, file sharing, filtered, web-based, lengthy
qualification process, specifically for educators – especially elementary,
http://think.com
Wikispaces Allows for users to contribute to the site, edit, post content, leave messages, web-based,
password protected, http://wikispaces.com
Creating Your Network
Go to http://ning.com
Enter your network
name and desired URL
on the front page (URL
must be at least 6
characters
Click the Create New
Network button
You may need to
create a Ning Account. Note: Put Mr. or Mrs. before your name in
This is free. your profile so that students will recognize
you as an adult.
Basic Information
Set
Privacy
Option to
PRIVATE
Complete
Basic
Network
Information
Add a
Network Icon
from your PC
Add Features to Your Network
Select an Appearance
Select an Appearance
for your social
network.
This will appear on all
public pages of your
network.
You may change the
appearance as often
as you like and
customize it with your
own graphics and
colors.
Please choose one
quickly. You can
always come back and
change it later.
Create Your Profile Questions
You may put as many
profile questions as
you like – but don‟t
overwhelm your
visitors.
You may have multiple
selection questions,
single selection
questions, short answer
questions, or long
answer questions.
Click and drag to
order your questions.
Recommendations for Profile ?‟s
Require that students give their full name – BUT mark that
information as a PRIVATE QUESTION. Then you can tell who‟s
who without making the information public.
Require that the students agree to abide by all classroom
rules in the ning and all activity must be school appropriate.
Require that all students agree to abide by all Acceptable
Use Policies adopted by the district.
Require that your students agree that they understand that
misuse or abuse of the ning will result in expulsion and
consequences as addressed in the AUP for the district.
Require that the students agree that they will NOT post their
full name, address, telephone number, or email address
anywhere in the ning.
More Suggestions
Do give your students some fun questions to answer
Favorite color, food, musician, movie, book, planet, etc.
If you could play one role in a movie, what would it be?
If you could meet ANY historical figure and ask them only ONE
question...who would it be and what would you ask?
NOTE:
A student‟s profile will appear on the left column of their
personal page in the ning for the student, network
members, and network creator to see. Requiring this step
before allowing membership is an excellent way to make
students accountable for their actions and to document their
agreement to follow the rules.
Launch Your Site
Adjust Your Settings
Privacy, Membership, and More
Manage Your Network
Privacy Settings
Set your
network to
PRIVATE
Decide if you
want to let
anyone
request entry
or only those
people you Turn on
invite
MODERATION
of members,
videos, and photos.
Manage Your Members
Promote people Ban members
to Ning from the network
Administrators
You can also:
Invite New Members
Manage Your Invitations
See Status and Date Joined for All Members
Add Content To Your Site
Click on your text boxes, widgets, videos, photos, forum, groups,
etc. and add content.
Edit Your Profile Page
Click on My
Profile Settings to
adjust the privacy
settings for you
page.
Communicate and Collaborate
Click on your name at the top of the Ning page to see your friends,
the networks you belong to, check your private messages or send new
messages, and see new friend requests. You can also click on any
member of the network, visit their profile page, and leave a comment
on their wall.
Get Help
The Ning help
files and FAQs
are extensive
and a great
place to go
for help.
Pay a Visit…
http://sectech.ning.com
http://education.ning.com
http://classroom20.ning.com
http://algebrea4elks.ning.com/
http://hooverportfolio.wikispaces.com/
http://www.burlesonisd.net/moodle-1.6.3/course/view.php?id=40
http://kerrlibraryrocks.ning.com/
http://classroom20.ning.com/
http://education.ning.com/
Resources
1. YouTube Video – Social Networking in Plain English -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6a_KF7TYKVc
2. Neilson//Netratings - http://www.nielsen-
netratings.com/pr/pr_060511.pdf
3. Teens, Privacy, & Online Social Networks by Pew Internet &
American Life Project -
http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Teens_Privacy_SNS_Rep
ort_Final.pdf
4. Schools and Online Social Networking by Nancy Willard -
http://www.education-
world.com/a_issues/issues/issues423.shtml
GET THIS PRESENTATION…
http://it.burlesonisd.net/presentation.html