Introductions

[Steve Hargadon]

Welcome! Please introduce yourself, let us know who you are and where you are from, and, if you are already using Ning in an educational setting, how you are using it.

[Todd Finley]

Upload all the responses as a big compressed file, then give students coordinates to where I responded to their individual work.

I didn't use students' names, but I did allow students to hear my feedback for everyone. I'm experimenting with transparency in my feedback practices.

[Steve Hargadon]

Oooohhh, brainstorm. I just posted to my blog about adding a Google form to Wikispaces. We should try it with a Ning network! http://www.stevehargadon.com/2008/04/embedding-google-forms-in-wiki...

Would be great for a conference Ning network especially. Way to get the ideas flowing. :)

Steve

[Bill Campbell]

I just signed into this Ning for the first time while listening to the "Ning in Education" ("European" edition) stream. I'm not from Europe (but this time is better for me). I am from an independent school in Englewood, New Jersey, and am mostly "lurking" here now. We are a one-to-one computing school, and my interest is in delivering faculty professional development with a focus on technology. I'm looking at different options for providing an accessible forum for easy access to resources by faculty and for a way to promote communication among faculty about teaching and learning. This could range from resources for particular training sessions to a way to support ad-hoc conversations among faculty (who are mostly emailed based at the moment.) We've dabbled in a number of different online technologies (Blackboard, mediaWiki wiki, WordPress blog), and they have served various needs but I haven't found the solution yet that I like to try to pull things in a more centralized and easy to access space.

[Todd Finley]

I'm trying this, too. I think if we want "participants" to be able to create their own online experiences--and be somewhat constructivist--than Ning seems to offer a good experience. I wonder if newbies will be disoriented with the design if they are not oriented to communicating in the Facebook/Myspace Walled gardens...

Another one of my concerns is management of the Ning...especially if I want to role out curriculum gradually. I like how Moodle can make this process automatic.

Just freewriting here. Good to you.

[Steve Hargadon]

Bill:

Thanks for being here. I'm a few days behind in checking these messages! I'm really interested in faculty use of Ning and social networking, since I can see it having really positive benefits. And I've talked to different folks about it augmenting/replacing certain aspects of faculty meetings while providing much more actual positive outcome. As a PD piece, it seems to work really well.

Hope you'll keep us posted.

Steve

[Benjamin Gleason]

Benjamin Gleason, former h.s. teacher in CA, currently in Guatemala teaching at a private school and at a university. I´ve started two groups, one for each class, and use my Ning page as the ultimate conversation starter-- complete with discussion boards, forums, and lots and lots of links...

I´ve just started using it a couple of weeks ago, and am really excited to use it, but the biggest drawback is access...at the private school we have a great new computer lab (!) but the internet connection is slow and completely frustrating.

[Steve Hargadon]

Hi, Benjamin!

It can be frustrating to have slow access... darn! But I hope you'll keep us posted. Are your networks in Spanish?

Steve

[Nedra]

I'm Nedra from upstate NY. I just started a new Ning a few days ago specifically for elementary tech teachers. I am hoping it will become a valuable resource for both computer lab teachers like myself and for teachers that serve as facilitators to help teachers integrate technology into the classroom. I am very pleased that after just a few days we have 12 members and tonight the discussions have begun. So, if you are an elementary tech person please come and check out the site and join in the discussion.

[Steve Hargadon]

Thanks for popping over here as well. I think you'll like it. Please keep us posted on your progress. You might also want to connect with the folks from "It's Elementary," including Alice Mercer. http://edtechtalk.com/ItsElementary

[J Black]

Hey everyone. I'm new to this concept of using social networks in education. I teach a class on Web Design, a class on Web 2.0 technologies, and a class on Animation with Flash, all at the high school level. While I feel pretty comfortable using so many other Web 2.0 tools, this is the one I want to really focus on and learn more about this coming summer. Nings intrigue me because they are so powerful and aggregate so many resources and conversations into one place. I've just set up my first educational Ning (about four days ago), but am really just exploring it. I haven't really decided on how I want to use it, and feel like I need to see how other teachers are using them within their curriculums. I've started watching Steve's Illuminate series on starting an educational Ning, and have been learning quite a bit. I think these have tremendous potential within the classroom. So, I'm here to learn. Teach me up! :)

[Steve Hargadon]

Great to have you here! Be sure to look at the wiki (http://socialnetworksined.wikispaces.com) for examples of use.

Steve

[Todd Finley]

I've been trying to tie the use of Ning into a grant proposal for the Learn & Serve. Marc Andreeson's definition of Ning being a "double viral" community still leaves me scratching my head.