Social Networking

Social Networking in the Classroom

New technology forces the 21^st century learner to process and apply information in a very different way and at a very different pace from any other time in history (Davis, Edmunds, & Bateman, 2008).  The span of time between learning something new, being able to apply it, and finding that it is outdated and no longer useful continues to decrease making how people connect to the information and knowledge a vital concern (Davis, Edmunds, & Bateman, 2008).  With the incorporation of social networking sites, users are able to access and share information at a much quicker pace and to a larger population of participants.  All roads now point to a Web where little is done in isolation and all things are collaborative and social in nature with the ability to share, connect, and create with many, many other of like minds and interests (Richardson, 2010).

                                        Social Networking Technologies

Twitter

URL:  https://twitter.com/

Twitter or more aptly, Twitterverse, is a “microblogging” tool that has grown by leaps and bounds since first being introduced in 2006, now being implemented by online educators as a powerful professional development and communication tool ((Richardson, 2010). Twitter was developed by Jack Dorsey and Biz Stone as a free microblogging service.  Users of Twitter can tweet up to 140 characters at a time and include links to other content in their tweets.  The users have the option of making their tweets broadcast publically or kept private.  Twitter users include celebrities, politicians, journalists and companies wishing to influence their customers. 

Incorporating the use of Twitter in an educational role provides the users a virtual network at their fingertips that can be accessed to find answers, link to blog postings, resources, or share ideas for projects as one progresses through the day (Richardson, 2010). 

Edmodo

URL:  Edmodo.com

Edmodo is another free site that provides services similar to that of Twitter but in a more secure setting that would be more appropriate for the K-12 environment.  In order to join, the user needs to create an account, which can be linked to the school you teach in.  One feature that I found to be beneficial is the ability to select which groups to follow, for example one could select language arts, special education, college readiness, etc. which will make the search for information more streamlined.

In an effort to provide learners with a place they can connect and share ideas, project information, or other academic related resources, both Twitter and Edmodo offer a free, easy to access service.  As an educator attempting to instill in my learners the importance of 21^st century learning skills, I would establish both a Twitter account and an Edmodo page.  Members of the class could then join and conversations, links, and additional sources could easily be shared with all those following our tweets. 

Technology Integration in Education

URL:  http://www.technologyintegrationineducation.com/
 
This site provides a plethora of blogs and postings by those striving to integrate technology in the learning scenario.  Through its ease of use, one can access blogs by topic of interest as well as join and participate in a learning community focused on specific areas of interest.  As an educator the integration of technology and keeping abreast of innovations and new ways to utilize existing technology is an essential component to being a successful educator.  This site would benefit not only the educator but also the leaners as well, especially if they are interested in becoming an educator, speaker, presenter, or consultant.

References:

Davis, C., Edmunds, E., & Kelly-Bateman, V. (2008). Connectivism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Connectivism.

Mashable.com/category/twitter

Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.