Connecting to Learn, Learning to Connect: Social Networking in the Classroom

[Learning 2.008 Conference]

"Now that you've signed up for the Learning 2.008 Ning, would you like to learn how to use this (and other) social networking tool(s) in your classroom?

Social Networks (like Ning) are a great way to: engage learners, empower all students, enhance dialogue and discussion, connect with classrooms around the school or around the world, promote and share multimedia hassle-free, differentiate by ability level and interest, and enable learners to be leaders in a truly collaborative environment.

Find out how social networks are being used in classrooms at all grade levels (from second grade to twelfth grade) to create globally collaborative projects, engage students at the appropriate learning level, and enhance curricular conversations outside the classroom. Rationale, online safety, planning process and classroom social networking examples and resources will be shared. "

Presenter: Kim Cofino
Room: MS403

[Kim Cofino]

I would love to have anyone interested in this session join the presentation wiki . Please feel free to add your own resources, notes from the session, or just some ideas that anyone interested in social networking in the classroom could use!

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Shanghai!

[Don]

I am hoping the session includes a discussion on social netowrking apps schools can host locally like elgg? For those of us in China, overseas connections can be unreliable. We need in-house solutions.

[Kim Cofino]

I'll be using Ning as an example - the same social network that we're using for this conference. The session gives practical approaches for how to implement social networking in the classroom - using whatever tool works for you.

[Jeff Pierce]

hey can someone put up here links to those videos kim shared? youtube is taking too slow for me to load them...

[Kim Cofino]

Videos are up on the wiki now: http://connectingtolearn.wikispaces.com/Resources

[Ariel]

social net working
web 2.0
to engage the student
learning to conect

layout- foundation number 1
set security, who can use
guide lines for class and users
check who will join

have active teachers
teachers and student must check and answer the questions, so the site looks live and people do use it properly

[Ann Martin]

Advantages - Features - Getting Started
Advantages
engage with learning the way that they learn
learn appropriate behavior - simple and safe Ning
student centered - allows choice
build leadership skills
make personal connections
Think Before you Post video
Ning - can choose security levels - can create groups of learners - threaded forum discussions - share highlights on main page - personal reflection space - easy media uploads
laying the foundation - design the Ning (involve/invite parents) - develop class guidelines and post on Ning - network security (can be private - teacher, children and parents) - screen new members - must have active teachers - always modeling and guiding

[Michelle]

Notes for this session:

Engage students! Use tools that appeal to them
Learn appropriate behavior - pick a safe place for students to use
AdCouncil on Cyberbullying
Build Leadership Skills
- student-led questioning
- making personal connections
Internet Safety -www. cybertipline.com (video on posting photos)
- appropriate use of technology, privacy, check security levels! Are your students safe online?
Create Groups of Learners , leading us to differentiate
Threaded Forum Discussions - look at how students build discussions, and for teachers could help build quality questioning and deeper thinking
Share highlights - immediate impact when students see the highlights
Personal reflection/space - Have a personal space, allows you to be an individual in a public page
Easy Media Uploads - eliminate clutter, makes things more organized
Laying the Foundation - Design your social network beforehand (what can the kids handle?) Add when they're ready for the next step; Avoid the mess and lay the groundwork!
Develop Class Guidelines - Spend a lot of time to experiment and try new things, digest guidelines
Networks Security- Who can access? Parents?
Screen New members - Ask why you are interested?
Active Teachers- model questioning and answering at a deeper level, constructive criticisms

[Rhona Polonsky]

about ning
presentation on a wiki
advantages: engages students-kids have these tentacles this reaches out to them.
Helps me help students learn appropriate behavior online.
cyberbulling utube about patti.
student centered:
builds leadership skills for students and brings them to center of class.
makes personal connections: power of connections in a safe environment.
Internet safety: cut & run-video
What is appropriate and not just what is not appropriate. Ning you can pick your security
How are my students staying safe online.
ning lets you create groups-bookclubs, ability, interest and differentiate.
Groups can connect classrooms: talking about groups
focused conversations. threaded forum discussions, how they are building questioning and replies. Builds questioning skills, for deeper thinking. teacher can track discussions and how questioning may need to change.
Feature different blog posts, etc. and highlight it.
Personal reflection space -my page, reflect on my learning, can be seen by all??
upload any media you want on ning. Podcast, videos, etc...
GETTING STARTED
laying solid foundation: lots of menus strands
develop class guidelines
network security-all the ones Kim did last year were private: especially elementary
Screening new members-
invite the whole family
Having active teachers-teachers model questioning, constructive criticism, etc...
Use teachers as models and how much work does this entail.
Having students as leaders.

[Elizabeth Wargo]

Are we too busy digitally to be social face to face?

Ning:
Ning is a "safe" place to learn appropriate behavior online
Start conversations about "what is appropriate behavior?"
Ning is a easy way to build social connections....again with safety in mind
Security levels are easily set and can be totally private
Focused conversations
Through threaded discussions a teacher can build "quality questioning" ..."let us push the conversation start further" ....and easily tracked
Using Ning a student doesn't need to learn many "tools"


With help from Dennis Harter and Wikipedia.... Ning means "peace" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ning

Invite the family.... why not let the trailing spouse be involved in the learning process

David Warlicks comment- he likes to think of a wiki as a document and a social network is more like a playground

empower students to feel like an online space is theirs and safe! make take a conversation

[Jen Smith]

During your session, you mentioned getting parents involved in the Ning in which their student is participating. Do you have them interact with the class ning or do they have like a 'read only' permission level?

Also, you said that your parents are informed about their students using this learning tool. Do you have a sample of the consent form that your school used? It would be a great starting point.

[Kim Cofino]

Hi Jen,

I would give parents the same rights as the students - they would end up with their own page, they can comment on other student pages, post questions in the forums, but not administer the network. In most cases, I haven't really seen the parents use any of the networks anywhere near as much as the students, but hopefully we'll see an increase in use as we help parents build their understanding of how powerful these networks can be.

I just added the permission slip to the Ning: http://connectingtolearn.wikispaces.com/Resources

Hope that helps!

Kim