Ning: Social Networking
for all grade levels
Social networking is one of the newest tools in a technologically inclined teacher’s toolkit. Ning allows users to create their own social networks, rather than merely join one. Teachers can take advantage of the benefits offered by social networks in a neutral setting that still offer students usability and functionality similar to that of popular sites like Facebook® and MySpace®.
Creating a Ning is simple. Choose a name and URL for the network, then follow the step-by-step process. You have a choice of creating a private (only invited people can view or join) or public network. This is key for classroom use: MySpace and Facebook are blocked in most schools because they are public networks. Another beneficial feature offered by Ning is the ability to edit comments. This allows teachers to remove inappropriate comments and materials. Users may incorporate features such as photo and video sharing, blogs, forums, groups, RSS feeds, as well as a wealth of gadgets.
Teachers can create a learning community around a specific project or course. Students can gather and share resources to make their learning more relevant and meaningful. Colleagues can share resources with colleagues in other buildings, districts, states, or countries. You may want to explore Classroom 2.0, or the Social Networks in Education wiki for a list of educational Nings and other resources.
As with any new technology, there are limitations that educators should be aware of. For example, users must be at least 13 years old to use Ning. Also, educators should be aware of their school’s policy on email use, blog access and Internet use before implementing a Ning in their classrooms.
So what exactly is Ning? It’s anything you want it to be. Check it out at
http://www.ning.com/.
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