Hello from Romania!

[Liliana Mihalachi]

Hello everybody!
I'm a beginner teacher from Romania and I would be interested in developing a Ning educational network about traditions in Europe.
We have an etwinning project with other 14 European schools (from 10 countries) on carollingineurope.wordpress.com and most of the partners there would like to continue the collaboration within a project called "Traditions across Europe".
I would appreciate any advice from you.
Do you think we should create a network or only a group within an already existing network? What would be the best way to handle this?
How safe is Ning for our pupils?

I look forward to receiving your advice.

All the best,
Liliana Mihalachi

[Steve Hargadon]

I really lean toward the creation of new Ning networks, as I find the group function is still limited. And your project sounds big enough, certainly, for your own network!

Ning is as safe as you want to make it. At it's most secure, you can make the network private, so that no one outside can see it, and you can choose the strictness of your system for joining the network. I'll be interested in how others running networks answer the question about safety.

[Mrs. Archer]

This sounds like a grat project. Nings are great but I've had a little trouble. If you students are under 13, technically, Ning can't host them. A few teachers have slipped in low under the radar but I'm not sure I would start another one for children that age, myself. You might want to consider a wiki or a pbwiki too. My second graders created a wiki to work together at http://coloniallife.wikispaces.com/. With a wiki, everyone needs an account (including email address). But with pbwiki, a password is all that's needed to edit. I've made a few professinal pbwikis. My school is using a pbwiki that I created at http://wearetheworld.pbwiki.com/. Both pbwikis and wikis can be set as private so no one can see them except members, if you wish as well. Anyway, it's a thought. I wish you success in your venture!

[ellen pham]

These are wonderful and inspiring wikis, Mrs. Archer! I appreciate all the work you put into these, thank you!

[Sharon Betts]

Hello Liliana,
We have just started a network for students internationally just getting started and your group is invited to join us.
You could form a group for your European Traditions inside of TLG if you wished. Or sharing with the rest of us would also be appreciated.
At least take a look - http://tlgplace.ning.com
Sharon

[mario]

Mi chiamo Mario Martino e sono il collega di Gina Mango. Vorrei far parte del vostro gruppo e partecipare al progetto "Traditions across Europe".Saluti.
Mario

[Michael]

Liliana,

I am an Upper School teacher in Madrid, and I'm interested in joining your group, if only to meet other teachers in Europe. I teach science, so I don't know how much my students will be able to tell you about traditions. My school is an American school, however at least one third of our kids are Spanish and another third are from countries all over the world (other than Spain and the US).

I have never used Ning before, but was referred to it by our technology coordinator. I have never had students on it, but I'm considering it for my Forensic Science class in the next school year.

Michael