Social Networks - Not just Facebook!

Think about this for a minute - teachers have always had "Social Networks".  Your Social Networks might have included those that taught the same subject in your same building or in the same district. These might have included those that you graduated from college or your master's program with. These might have included teachers that shared similar philosophies with you.  As you have gone through your teaching career, you have communicated with these people to learn, develop, and expand what you know about teaching, also to share ideas and information, and finally just to enjoy social interactions.

According to Green and Hannon  (pamphlet, Their space:  Education for a digital generation: 2007)

Social networking refers to the aspect of Web 2.0 that allows users to create links between their online presence  such as a webpage or a collection of photos.  These links may be through joining online groups or by assigning direct links to other users through lists of "friends" or contacts (p. 13)

The idea of social networks has become such a part of our society that colleges now have classes on social networking and Web 2.0.  These are full courses - not just special presentations or units of other courses.  University of Arizona teaches this from a business standpoint.  These courses help develop leadership, communication, and community building skills.  The final project is to work with a group of students from a local high school and separate them into micro-communities.

Why is Social Networking a Useful Tool?

When you think of social networking your probably think of Facebook....  or along the growing list of ones popping up on a frequent basis - Twitter, LinkedIn, Orkut, Friendster, etc.  Often these will have people grouped together who enjoy similar ideas, products, or services.

A study by the National School Boards Association (2007) explored online behaviors of US teens and tweens...

• 96% of students with online access used social networking technologies, such as chatting, text messaging, and blogging, and visited online communities such as Facebook, MySpace, and WebKinz;

• 81% said they had visited social networking website with the past three months; and

• 71% said they used social networking tools at least weekly.  

• Further students reported that one of the most common topics of conversation on the social networking scene was education.

Educators have been reluctant to use social networking tools as part of their teaching (I think - because we tend to think immediately about Facebook... and in some places there are policies that make us apprehensive)   Some have started thinking of the idea - what if we could create our own social networks, we could be in control and organize and control our "space".  The idea of Ning emerged (there are other similar products.)  

I teach an advanced computer programming class.  Students earn their way into this class by taking three previous semesters of computer programming.  In this class, they design their own project, do their own research, and create a final product.  Students are working at their own pace, but their needs to be communication between the student, the teacher, and other students (who may have the class other periods.)  I created a Ning social network.  Students keep a blog (journal of their daily work), can post questions (things they are having trouble solving), or just post ideas.  I now have alumni that are involved as well.    Students can check and post anywhere they have an internet connection.  To start - they have to have an invitation from me.  I do this by having them email me a questionnaire to start the course.  I then send them an invitation to join the Ning.  They get in and set up their account.  I then have to confirm before they can actually do anything.  I confirm and then they can begin to post.  I could also include parents in this Ning process by sending them invitations as well (I have not done this - but I know of teachers that have included this step).  Now I just need to remind students occasionally ... "Have you Ning'd today?"

Another example - LibraryThing is a social network of about 1.5 million people who love books.  You can join, post a catalog of books you enjoy and then connect with other for suggestions and conversations about books.

When do Teachers Use Social Networking?

Teachers can use social networking for learning, professional development and content sharing.  Here are some examples:

• We Collaborate
• Super Club Plus
• Learnhub
• Classroom 2.0

Although it is interesting that the School Board Association found that most kids that use social networks talk about education topics - school districts have very strict rules about the use of social networking during the school day.  The question needs to be addressed:  Will students learn better and develop better skills through traditional methods or will they learn better through learning environments that include Web 2.0 tools?  There have been some studies done to look at the skills (Social/Personal; Cognitive/Physical; and Technical) that are developed through the use of Web 2.0 tools.

According to one educator (published in the web 2.0; how-to for educators - p 86)

Teaching was an isolated experience.  Learning more so, ... the power was in the hands of the "experts" ... Finally, production, performance, presentation, product, OBJECTIVES are happening and energizing all learners.  This is the goal of true education, to share with others, ourselves.  And in that process, to burn brighter (learn).  Social networking allows that to happen.  It is like for years, we were just reading about driving, now in the classrooms, we can drive/demonstrate/do/experience.  This is social networking, or the future of it.  Not merely chat but performance, high speed performing vehicles ... purring cars.  

Examples of Professional Development

This list will be quite lengthy - but check some of them out - you might find something that you really connect with.

• BLC/MELC Middle School Teachers in Action - They are working on developing a library of multimedia learning resources and facilitating interaction between teachers.  It is expanded to high schools now.  
• TERC/MCPnet  --  MSPnet (the Math Science Partnership Network) provides the MSP program with a web-based, interactive electronic community in order to build capacity and enrich the knowledge base of each individual MSP project as well as the MSP learning community as a whole.
• DO-IT -- Nation Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education offers a community for educators, students and mentors an opportunity to exchange information.  DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) provides computers, assistive technology, and Internet connection for home of disabled college-bound teens who have been accepted into the DO-IT Scholars program.
• Fireside Learning - Conversations about education.  They invite teachers to "sit by the fireside and share your thoughts."
• English Companion Ning - A virtual book club.  Also a great support for personal and professional growth.
• Teacher/Librarian Ning - A place for Librarians to work, share and help each other.
• EFL Classroom 2.0 -- Teachers of English as a Foreign Languague have a place to learn ways to improve their practice.

The following are a little more narrowly focused - 

• Math Teachers
• Art Teachers 
• Biology Teachers
• Math Teachers using Smartboards -- also has other great technology ideas

How are teachers using Social Networking for teaching and Learning

Take these ideas and adapt to what you are already doing in your classroom. 

• A teacher uploaded a song to the classroom Ning site - ask students to interpret the lyrics.
• A math teacher uses Ning to post homework and a "problem of the week".
• An English Teacher had students create blog posts on a Ning site while in character of some literary character.  (could also do this as a Social Studies teacher as an historical figure)
• Project Peace - designed to teach English through singing.  Teacher joins network - students then create videos, podcasts, and other projects to post online and can view other projects from around the world.
• Rolling on the River - Centers on the study of rivers and other bodies of water.
• Flat Classroom - Transforming classrooms through global collaboration.  Teachers can post ideas of connections they would like to start.

As always - I would love to hear how others are using social networking in their classes.  Please post comments what you are doing.

If you are interested in starting a Ning (or something similar in your class) I have some additional information (things to consider, rules from other teachers, etc).  This post was just getting too long for me to add more to it....

Still Learning - and lovin' it.

Every Day Tasks - What do you need to make your job easier?

Think about what computers can help you with everyday.  The software you are thinking about are Productivity Applications.  You might have been thinking about word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software, and calendars.

Although most people will purchase these (for example: Microsoft Office) there are Web 2.0 tools available that will do much of the same work.  The advantage to much of these options is that the information will be available via the web or company (or school district) server.  You can be at any computer and work on your items.

This list is changing quickly and everyone has their favorites.  We will look at a few in here.  These tools have become known as GTD (Get Things Done) tools!!!  Google Docs has a variety of templates to help you get started.  You can also view of video called Google Docs in Plain English to help you see some advantages of using this tool.

Why Are Productivity Applications Useful?

Imagine if the district took away the tools you use on your computer for one month?  How difficult would your job become?

Google Docs is probably the most well known Web 2.0 productivity tool.  In addition to word processing, there are also other tools available:

• Spreadsheet
• Presentation Tool
• Calendar
• Sketch Up (draw, create 3-D models and more)
• Reader (Follow your favorite website, newspaper, blogs)
• Conduct Polls

Google has a free website builder - Google Sites.

Some other Productivity Tools 

Take some time to look through these and try them out.  Many of these will require you to set up an account.

• Edit Grid - Online spreadsheet allows real-time update and collaboration.
• eFax - Allows you to receive a fax through a temporary phone number.  You can receive for free - but there is a small fee for sending.
• Gliffy - Collaborative tool for creating graphical representations online and in teams.  They can then be published.
• Instapaper - Great if you want to read something from a webpage later - once you register you simply click a "read later" button to be able to access it from your computer, a phone or offline.
• Mayomi - Flash-based mind mapping tool (like Inspiration or Kidspiration) to help students prepare to write a report or organize their information.  (In private beta testing right now - but you can subscribe to get information when it becomes available)
• ScreenR - Record screencasts and share them.
• ThinkFree Show - An exceptional Java-based presentation tool that is similar to PowerPoint.  Create, show and save.
• Prezi - An alternative to PowerPoint.  Allows you to layout your entire presentation on one canvas rather than separate slides.  You don't have to worry about resizing images, fonts, etc.
• Slide Rocket - Another alternative to PowerPoint.  

Reasons Why Teachers and Students Use These Tools

Imagine a group of students are working on a project.   One student emails the start of the project to the other members of the group.  Members of the group work on the project and email it back to the other teammates.  Students are also saving on the school server.  At some point in the project, there is some confusion.  Who has the most recent copy?  Are all the changes on everyone's copy?  Or student's have been working on a project at home and bring their flashdrive to school.  They either forgot to save the most recent version to their flashdrive or they used a different version of the software...

With the use of Google Docs (or some other Web 2.0 tool), most of these problems can be eliminated.  

It is very important that a teacher preview and practice using any of these tools before assigning student projects using them.

Professional Development

Ken Messersmith, University of Nebraska at Kearney, uses Google Docs with his teacher education students who are studying about classroom diversity.  Students are divided into groups and each group reads a different book on the topic.  Then the students have a book discussion by adding information to their Google Doc.  This document is then shared with other students in the class so they can see the information.

Bruce White, Thames Valley District School Board, London, Ontario, Canada, provides professional development to teachers in his district.  He posts outlines in Google Docs.  Other material is posted using Google Docs.  Participants have access to the document and add to it as they use the resources.  Teachers can also share Google Docs with their students.

Other Uses

A Russian teacher in Alaska and another in California encouraged their students to become acquainted through the use of Google Docs.  Students practiced using vocabulary in their communication.  They included pictures and additional information to communicate.

A high school classmate of mine teaches at USC.  She posted a link to an article about Teens Online Codes and asked a group of use to react to the article.  We responded back and forth on Facebook.  At one point, she used Storify to save the discussion.  One of our classmates is a Friends pastor and had some interesting insights on how this impacted youth in his church.  The professor at USC then set up a Skype call with the pastor to discuss this article with students in the class.  This example contains several tools.

I would love to hear other examples of how these tools are being used in your classrooms.  Use the comments to post examples of how you are using these tools or other web 2.0 tools either in your classroom or as part of your professional development.

Still learning (and loving it) ...

Podcasts & Vodcasts - Did I miss that episode?

Do you have a favorite TV show or Radio show that you like to watch or listen to?  Does it frustrate you when your schedule doesn't fit when that show is on?  Wouldn't it be nice to subscribe to that show and then when a new show is released, it is recorded for you and you can watch it when you want?  This is the concept of a Podcast or a Vodcast.

A Definition

According to Wikipedia, "a podcast (or netcast) is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically  and often downloaded through web syndication.  ..."

Further Explanation

Let me give you an example of a podcast I subscribe to.  I will give some background and explanation along the way.

I was driving in my truck one night when I came across a great radio show  (I never thought I would listen to people talk on the radio - it is supposed to be for music - only old people listen to talk radio....).  Unfortunately, because of our family's busy schedule, I never had time to listen to the whole show.  I would either miss the first part or the last part.  I decided to look up the radio show online.  I found a website where I could download mp3's of their radio shows (this in and of itself does not make it a podcast).  This radio show was a weekly radio show (see definition...  "released episodically").  I noticed on the website that I could subscribe to this  (here is where the podcast part comes in...)

• So, we now have a series of digital media files (mp3's of the weekly shows)
• It is released episodically (every week - at least while the show was active)
• and it is downloaded through web syndication (say what???)

Let me explain briefly "web syndication".  When I subscribed to the radio show - I did this through something called RSS (Really Simple Syndication).  This syndication then communicated with my podcatcher (I use Apple iTunes, but there are others).  The podcatcher then searches for and automatically downloads any new files that fit that category (my radio show I subscribed to).  Once these files are downloaded to my computer, I can put them on my personal device, take them with me, and listen to them when I want or have time (or listen to them directly on my computer if I wish).

When do Teachers use Podcasts?

In my search for podcasts - I have found podcast for preschool age students through graduate level.  Many teachers are even having students create podcasts to show understanding of material, present research, and express points of view.  Some teachers will assign freely available casts, some will have students create casts, and other will create their own.  

Podcasts use can be put into 4 categories

• "Teaching Driven" -- Allows educators to provide a lecture or summary of material and also to provide other timely academic material.
• "Service Driven" -- The opportunity to provide detailed information to families and others  about policies, events, or activities.
• "Marketing Tools" -- To promote the school and community to potential students or provide a virtual tour of the facilities.
• "Technology Driven" --  To be used to assist with instruction about podcasts.

Places to Start Looking

• Scientific American -- Click on the Multimedia drop down menu and you will see various 60-second podcasts.  (Science, Mind, Earth, Space, Health, Tech).  Once you select one you might want to try - click on the RSS or ITunes link to subscribe.  Or you can listen to the shows directly.
• Book Wink -- Video book talks on books from Grade 3 through 8.  You can select category and/or grade level.  
• Story Nory -- Podcasts of familiar stories from around the world.  They post a new story each week. The stories come with full English test for beginning readers or ELL.  Once on the home page - see the Follow box to subscribe.
• Inkless Tales -- provides retelling of familiar stories often with a twist.  For example, in the Princess and the Pea, the princess is usually quite passive.  In the retelling - she is filled with spirit and is active.
• Blazing Guns and Rugged Hearts -- Includes stories of Kansas History.  A great way to prepare for a visit to the area (other Historical Societies have similar podcasts).  
• Civil War Podcasts -- Take a tour through historic Civil War Sites.  

Uses in the Classroom

If you see my other blog post on Flipped Classroom - there is an explanation of how to implement podcasts into your classroom in a meaningful way.  But why do teachers want to have students create podcasts?  Research has shown that active writing, with an authentic audience, makes learners more committed to the activity  (Dalton & Proctor, 2008).  Students have to plan, write, edit, rehearse, record and post their own podcasts.  Students can even use their smart phones to create their podcasts.  (this may require schools and districts rethinking policies about technology in the classroom.)

Professional Development

Teachers are always looking to improve themselves in two ways.  Personally and Professionally.  Podcasts can come in useful in both areas.  You can find podcasts that will help you grow and learn.

• The Teacher's Podcastis a site that will help you find much information.  This information can range from how to get started with podcasting, to latest news in the educational field, as well as many other education topics.  
• iTunes -- Go to the iTunes store - click on the Podcast link - and then either look through the available podcasts or search for a topic. These could be for professional use or personal development.   You can also go to the iTunesU link on iTunes.  You can find college lectures and other educational topics.

To Get Started

There are some great resources on the web to help you get started:

How to Create your own podcast -- it will walk you through the steps regardless of the type of computer or software you are using.

Poducate Me -- a great resource in all areas of podcasting.

I'm Still Learning....

Microblogging - Do you tweet?

Just as Jello, Band-Aid, and Q-Tips have become the generic terms for anything in those categories - Twitter has become the generic term for microblogging.  What is microblogging?  Think of a cross between blogging and text messaging.  Now limit your character count.  You have microblogging.

Twitter has become the microblog of choice.  People in sales, business, and public relations are jumping on this bandwagon.  "In particular, we saw its communication potential expand when Iranians were protesting election fraud in 2009.  Twitter worked because it operates differently from other web-based tools.

People can use [Twitter] to communicate with each other from a multitude of locations...  You do not have to visit the home site to send a message, or tweet.  Tweets can originate from text-messaging on a cellphone or even blogging software.  Likewise, tweets can be read remotely, whether as text messages or, say, "status updates" on a friend's Facebook page. (Cohen, June 21, 2009)"    (From web 2.0: how-to for educators - page 34)

Although you can use the Twitter site, or send messages via text messages - there are some other sites you can use as well.

• Twhirl  - A desktop program you can download to your computer to manage tweets &other social media.
• Twuffer - Allows you to schedule tweets, posts, etc
• SocialOomph - Another option to schedule your tweets - has other features as well.
• Future Tweets - Want to send a tweet next week, but wont be around a computer?  Also works with other social media programs.

Why is Twitter Useful?

Twitter is a great way to connect with an extended Professional Learning Community.  You can post a question and get a response from your community.  You can invite people to read you latest blog post.  Or direct them to an article you just read.  This list goes on.

Another Option

Since Twitter is a public option (you can control who sees your tweets) some in school settings have started using edmodo as an option.  This is similar in look to facebook.  A teacher can set up a private community and invite students, parents and other teachers to their page.  Teachers and students can share files, links and notes.  I have a group of advanced students (known as our "Techies" - I will be testing this with them this year.)  I will be able to post announcements, jobs, and other information on the site.  They can also update other techies and me on progress on their tasks.

Professional Development

An important part of teacher's professional development is time to discuss with other teachers.  Twitter allows teachers to connect with teachers in a global community.  To help find a group of teachers to connect with, try the Twitter4Teacher wiki.  From this site - you can look up topics you teach and find others who teach similar topics.  Then "follow" them on Twitter.  Many will post articles, blog posts, and ideas they are using in their classes.  You can also post questions and some may respond.

Ideas in the Classroom

Students can work on communicating an idea in a few words.  You can encourage tweets on a topic.  Sometimes communicating an idea in few words is tougher than using more words.  Although this should not replace all of our writing - it might help the reluctant writer get started.  Students could tweet their thesis statement for a project, answer a question about what they feel is the biggest technological influence in this century and why, or give 3 brief reasons for the start of World War I.  These could be displayed using the projector in the room and discussed from there.

Twitter can be used to remind students about upcoming events, trips, and assignments.  Students can follow a teacher's Twitter (allowing them to get these as text messages as well) or teachers can include a gadget on their webpage that will post the tweets).  Students could also tweet questions to homework, projects, etc to be answered by teacher or other students.  (Some teachers may wish to have a "personal" twitter & and separate "teacher" twitter.)

Interactivity can be engaging for students.  They can use tweets to gather data from literally around the world.  Students could ask their global network to tweet them the current temperature where they live.  Students could convert the Celsius temperatures to Fahrenheit and then graph these temperatures.  You could have them tell you the price of a common item and then compare prices around the world.  You could tie in geography to these and look at where these tweets are coming from.  Use your creativity to see what you can come up with in your classroom.  You might need to give 24 hours for responses because of time differences.

As a teacher - you can create "Twalter-Egos"  (short for Twitter Alter Egos).  Create fictional characters and follow their tweets.  As the students get to know the characters you can begin to create an activity.  Have students prepare questions to ask the character.  Write a letter to the character about a certain topic or issue.    You could even have the Twalter Ego be a historic figure (but don't give away who it is).  See if students can figure out from the tweets who the figure is.  Or ask them to write some tweets that a historic figure may have written.

To get students writing - you can give the students a theme or genre.   Then create a story opener (tweet this information to your global network).  Ask the network to continue the story in tweets, they should use the previous tweets.  You can follow these on Twitterfall or use a hashtag (#tag).  Students follow the tweets, choose the best ones, and then edit the story to make it coherent.

For more ideas on Twitter

There is a great couple of resources for teachers:

22 Ways to Use Twitter in the Classroom 

Twitter Handbook for Teachers 

I'm still learning...

Why should we use blogs in school?

So, I have started my summer reading list.  First book on the list is:  web 2.0:  how-to for educators by Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum  (yes the letters in the title are lowercase on the book.)  This book starts with an introduction defining web 2.0 and discussing why schools should be looking at some of these tools.  It also warns of the "Bandwagon" effect.  Finally the 8 C's are introduced.  (I might talk about some of this in later blog posts.)

The first chapter is all about Blogs - a combination of the words Web Log.  In this blog post - I will share some of Solomon and Schrum's ideas and will include some of my own ideas.  I hope that if you are not using blogs in your classroom - you will consider this tool - if you are using blogs - maybe you will share with your colleagues some ideas to get them using this.

If you are concerned about having students posting blogs and some of the risks involved - consider the following:

• See if you school has set up an educational domain through google.  Students will have an email and access to blogs (through blogger and their google account).  Blog posts can be set up to only accept comments from people in that domain.
• Teach students to set up their blogs so that they have to moderate comments.
• Use one of the following designed for educational use:

1. ePals 
2. 21classes 
3. Class Blogmeister 
4. Gaggle  

Why are blogs useful?

Blogs encourage communication and thinking skills.  Because the blog will be public - students are writing to more than just their teacher.  Their thoughts and comments are on the web immediately.  Students can also get feedback quickly.  Whether this feedback is from their teacher, other students, or students in the global community.  Students can also read each other's posts and respond.  This encourages more thinking and communication.

How can teachers use blogs?

As teachers, we are being asked to look at writing across the curriculum.  We are being asked to do more in our classrooms - sometimes with less time.  Blogs can help in both of these areas.  Given a topic in any subject - students can create a blog post.  This could either be done in class or as part of their homework.   Students have to think a little more about their response since they will have an "authentic audience".    Sometimes students will be more motivated to put together a strong response knowing that others will see it. Using the comments - others may respond to the bloggers comments.  

Let's look at the C's

Creativity -- blogs encourage creativity.  Students can decide how they want to present an idea.  They can also embed images, videos, or other media.  (This can also be a good chance to talk about copyright laws).

Collaboration -- Students can post their writing on a blog.  They can do peer editing and peer review and leave comments for each other.  Students are able to work collaboratively on their times and within their busy schedules.

Communication -- If blogging is used over time - students will practice communication skills and get reinforcement in the process.

Connections -- Students are connected to a network of their teachers, fellow students, and other in the global community.   They can also learn that their words can make an impact.

Critical Thinking -- To write effectively - students will need to think about what they want to write.  They will need to organize their facts, opinions, etc.  They will then need to put this together in a logical fashion.  "Writing is thinking critically."

Using Blogs for Professional Development

Blogs can be great ways for teachers to improve.   Whether you are writing and reflecting on your own teaching, reading other teacher's blogs, or using one within your PLC to discuss and plan.  Another example is an online professional reading group.  An example is CM Russell High School in Great Falls MT.  Not sure if they are actively using this - but the concept is great.

Thoughts on How to Use blogs

Computer Applications (or English class) -- Write a superhero story.  Students need to come up with a Super Hero.  First post is introducing the superhero.  Second post is introducing the Villain.  Next post could be setting up the conflict.  You can go from there.  

Health class -- Students visit a Head Start class - instead of writing a paper about their observations - they wrote blog posts.  In their post - they wrote about observations of what the children were doing and discussed age appropriate responses.  Since they knew that this was a "public" document - they put a little more thought into their writing.

English class -- Students are put into reading groups.  They need to "discuss" their reading by way of a blog post and comments.  Groups change every couple of weeks.  Those in the group could be reading the same novel or different ones.  

Any Class -- Think about anytime you are having students write paragraphs - keep a journal - or do any other writing - Could they do this in a blog and make the activity more meaningful?

Please share any ideas you may have about blogging.  How you have used in your classroom, or want to use it in your classroom.  If you have any questions - feel free to contact me.

Still learning....