Social Networking in Education YouTube Flickr Blogs Facebook Twitter TeacherTube

What is Social Networking? According to webopedia, “A social network represents relationships and flows between people, groups, organizations, animals, computers or other information/knowledge processing entities.” According to wisegeek, “A social networking site is a website where individuals can set up an online users are able to post personal information, including photographs, videos, and blog entries. One social networking site, MySpace, is extremely popular….”

What Experts Have to Say In a recent study, the University of Minnesota found that most students have a facebook or myspace account (Science Daily, June 21, 2008). The children expressed how social networking cites improve their technology and communication skills. Furthermore, the study found that students using social networking cites are practicing 21 st century skills that prepares them to compete in the world beyond schooling. According to the National School Boards’ Association, Teachers need to find ways to adapt social networking sites for classroom use. Most social networking sites contain a wiki and a blog, among other things.

What is a Wiki? The American Heritage Dictionary defines a wiki as “A collaborative website whose content can be edited by anyone who has access to it.” They may serve a specific purposes for collaboration over the Web. People may use a wiki to perform some or all of the following: - planning vacations, meetings, etc. - sharing information such as files, videos, pictures, data, etc. - group projects - any other purpose where collaboration is desired or needed. Collaborative group size is unlimited Although the world can view the activity on a wiki, the creator determines who can edit it.

What is a Blog? According to problogger at a-blog/ A blog is a journal that is available on the web Entries are posted in reverse chronological order with the most recent post listed first Sample Blog

The Gifted Kids Network The web address is It provides enrichment opportunity for gifted children to collaborate with other gifted students. Communication can occur in a few different methods, but blogging is the most common. This social network site also provides GT students with emotional and academic support An example of projects completed on this wiki occurred during the summer. A group of 20 students from Australia and the United States came together to a create virtual zoo. Students were presented with a question to guide their research and used a number of software tools to complete their assignment collaboratively.

Choices of Software for the Gifted Kids Network Some of the software the children in this network site used were: Animoto – makes video from images Community Walk – create maps. Click here to see an example of the a map related to the virtual zoo project. pecies/map/ pecies/map/ issuu at - make electronic flip bookswww.issuu.com Slideshare at for sharing and uploading power point presentations through avenues like you tube or teacher tube.

Facebook Social networking site used to create and maintain communities over the web. Can be used to create communities for educational purposes. Upload and share photos, files, videos. Blog, , and chat with others. Keep track of birthdays Select your own privacy settings Search for friends

Courses on Facebook How Facebook Can be Used for Education Find it at &b&ref=pd &b&ref=pd For students and educators Add courses and activities Class discussions Manage and create schedules Upload and share files Create your own course

Resources Cited The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition (2005). Updated 2005.Published by Houghton Mifflin. Picture of sample blog University of Minnesota (2008, June 21). Educational Benefits Of Social Networking Sites Uncovered. Science Daily. Retrieved January 24, 2010, from r%20Education Picture of facebook page