Using Ning for Educational Social Networks

Chad Outten's Blog (7)

Future of Education

Traditionally, education has been an entity, a system, a learning process that students undergo, or all or a combination of these things. Albert Einstein was once quoted as saying: "Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school". In modern terms, education today is about learning as a life-long experience, not simply a process that students endure for a period of their lives. Future learning requires deconstructing traditional views of education as an insti… Continue

Added by Chad Outten on April 13, 2008 at 10:17pm — 2 Comments

De-schooling Society

The 'mass production line' is a great analogy to describe the traditional school system. Students as the raw material and educators as the cogs in the machine working for a bureaucracy. For too long, many schools and universities have operated like this: farms and factories that produce clones of a pre-determined specification, fit for society. It is refreshing to consider an educational system that is not bound by four walls. Learning can happen by anyone about anything, anywhere and anytime.… Continue

Added by Chad Outten on April 13, 2008 at 10:16pm — 2 Comments

Social Networking in Education

According to a recent US study by the National Schools Board Association, 96% of students aged 9-17 years, who have internet access, use social networking tools. The study was comprised of 3 surveys, an online survey involving 1277 students, an online survey of 1039 parents, and phone interviews with 250 school district leaders who make internet policy decisions. The study identified that students spend on average 9 hours per week pos… Continue

Added by Chad Outten on April 13, 2008 at 10:15pm — 1 Comment

Google Generation: Myth?

'Google Generation' refers to a generation of people born since 1993, who have grown up in an Internet dominated world. According to Wikipedia, the phrase has entered common usage as a "...way of referring to a generation whose first port of call for knowledge is the internet and a search engine, Google being the most popular". The Online Computer Library Center recently conducted a global survey that indicates the Google Gen… Continue

Added by Chad Outten on April 13, 2008 at 10:13pm — No Comments

OLPC: $100 Laptop

I recently attended the Moodle Moot in New Zealand and an inspiring presentation by Martin Langhoff. Martin is a Moodle guru and works for New Zealand Moodle Partner, Catalyst IT. During his spare time, Martin is involved in the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project. I also had the rare privelege of test-driving an XO-1 prototype. For those not familiar with the project, the OLPC social welfare organisation developed XO-1, previously known as the $100 Laptop,… Continue

Added by Chad Outten on April 13, 2008 at 10:13pm — 2 Comments

Educating the Net Generation

Net Generation students were born into the age of information technology. Their attitudes, expectations, skills and learning styles reflect their environment - which contrasts to our own upbringing. From my personal experience as an educator, I've outlined what I believe are the 7 key traits of the Net Generation:

Connected: Net Gen expect instant access to information. If they need to know something, they will Google it. They also need co

… Continue

Added by Chad Outten on April 13, 2008 at 10:11pm — No Comments

Open Learning

Open learning advocates flexible education that can occur about anything, anywhere, anytime by anyone. This concept redefines the traditionally held view of education whereby students and teachers are bound to a strict bureaucratic system. My Learning Space has now made available a series of free Open Learning courses designed to promote the professional development of educators. Each course contains a sequence of activities, resources and referen… Continue

Added by Chad Outten on April 13, 2008 at 10:10pm — 1 Comment

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Welcome

Welcome to the community for those using Ning to power their educational social network. Also be sure to check out Classroom 2.0 for general discussions of Web 2.0 in the classroom.

Please introduce yourself in the "Introductions" forum post. And to see a list of Ning networks being used in education (or to add yourself!), please visit Social Networks in Education.

And have fun!