Using Nings with Middle School Students

[Jennifer Carbonneau]

What are the implications for using a ning with middle school students? What are the dangers? I know the benefits are priceless. I am assuming that these are safe places when I select the privacy fearture. Is my assumption correct? What should I include in a presentation to parents? How do I sell them on this rhealm of technology? Is a ning the best method? I am hoping that my page would facilitate discussions or student and class readings as well as a place to do peer reviews of writing. I realize that I will have to teach the ethics of using technology and respecting other's coprighted resources. What am I missing? What are the loop holes that my administrator may see when I present it to him? What reservations do school techs have? Anything you can offer that will help me prepare for this venture would be helpful.

[Nancy Bosch]

Connie Weber over at http://firesidelearning.ning.com uses ning as an intergral part of her classroom You might ask her your questions. Her students' ning is protected but I'm sure she'll help you in anyway she can. N.

[Jennifer Carbonneau]

Thank you, Nancy, I appreciate your response.

[Steve Hargadon]

These are great questions!

As with any read/write web technology, you have to teach appropriate use. If you're network is private, then you are just dealing with the students you oversee, and no one else will be able to come in without your permission. You can explore the privacy features once you've set your basic network up, which takes only a few minutes if you just leave things to the default settings.

I like the idea of looking through Connie Weber's postings here (see http://education.ning.com/profile/connieweber)--I think you'll find some great material for a parent presentation. I'm hoping others will chime in with some help for you.

Ning is not the only solution right now, but it is *by far* the easiest and seems to be the most engaging to students. Elgg and Drupal are two Open Source programs being used, but they require installation and customization far beyond Ning.

[Jennifer Carbonneau]

I appreciate your knowledge and perspective. I'm on my way to Connie Weber's page next. Thank you, Steve.

[Nancy Bosch]

FYI--As far as I know, the last time I checked students had to be 13 years old to use ning legally. I'm sure most of yours are, unless 6th is in your middle school, but you may have a few young ones.

[Jennifer Carbonneau]

You are right. Most of my kids are twelve going on thirteen. I didn't know this. Thank you for stopping from making a big mistake.

[Katie Hatch]

I am a middle school teacher too trying to use ning into my classroom. I teach 6, 7, and 8th grade and want to do this with my 8th grade students. I am a second year teacher so need to tread lightly and legally! I was so excited to use Ning and got caught up with the age and legal question too. The problem (I think) is students under the age of 14 can not give their email to a website. I was hoping I could get permission forms signed by parents and since my site would be closed they would be more into it. I am working with a "coach" through a program in Michigan to help teachers with technology so I am hoping she can help guide me through the legal stuff. I'll keep you updated to what I find out!

[Susan]

Hi Katie, although Ning requires 'an' email address it does not have to be an active account, students could sign up with a fake email address, alternatively you can use the gmail+ method which is explained in another forum here.

[Katie Hatch]

Thanks!

[Jennifer Carbonneau]

Katie, students under thirteen will not be able to create an account. I did a trial on my own--Nancy is correct. It isn't any where written in the terms of use, but they wont be able to use ning.

[Steve Hargadon]

Here's the terms of service page, which you see when you are signing up for a new account with Ning:

http://about.ning.com/tos.php

Text search for "13" and you'll find the restriction.

[bobbartley]

It is a shame as it really is a fantastic platform that is easy to manage and facilitate. I too was lucky and didn't use Ning with my class who is under 13, even though I had a private community.

I am now having to look at other options such as elgg, a social network platform that you can install on your own server and Joomla with Joomlapolis, which is a community builder add on for Joomla. This means a rather large learning curve to get either of them up and running as I know little about running web databases.

I would be keen to make contact with other teachers looking into similar platforms or ideas.

Regards,

Bob (plurk and twitter: bobbartley)