Social Networking in Education Apps

[Mary Hricko]

Still plugging away on my research project invovling social networking applications in education.

Next semester, I am planning to teach using NING instead of my courseware app to measure the differences etc. This past semester I taught my sections of my course in the courseware, a wiki, and Sakai. I decided to swutch over to the social networking tool for mext semester to see how it works with my students.

So far, I'm in the construction phase. It should be interesting to see how this all works.

Much of the research I have found regarding social networking tools and education deals with the negative perceptions of these applications in K-12.

Some of the apps we are using at our place include:

Establishing a science research portal for faculty and students

Establishing a writing center network for writing center directors in NE Ohio that connects tutprs to students to WC Directors

Establishing learning communities for faculty to share research and faculty development

Establishing a network for statewide faculty development projects

I have also been taking a look to see what type of analsis has been used to measure the effectiveness of learning through social networking--believe me--in these last few months, there's not much out there...

Anypone looking for a good dissertation topic may find one in this area.

Hopefully, if you are doing the same type of thing, let me know.

[Mark Jacobs]

I have been studying this for quite some times. I see that kids tend to like it when they feel they are being given the freedom to do what they wish, and the learning process is very subtle so that they do it unknowingly.

[Rebecca Vaughan Frazee]

I am also interested in doing some research in social networks for improving learning. I co-created a NING site for my class this semester...a Master's level class on human performance technology (HPT). The site is:
http://pinotnet.ning.com/. We are just starting to think about how to do a little research around this site. I'm interested in what you all are doing, lessons learned as well as how you're approaching the research.

This NING site was used as a platform for one of their class projects; it wasn't used for delivering the entire class. We used Blackboard to support the class.

[Javed Alam]

Mary

I will not be at DE conference. You said
"I have also been taking a look to see what type of analsis has been used to measure the effectiveness of learning through social networking--believe me--in these last few months, there's not much out there..."

I did assess students work that is accessible at the url

http://www.eng.ysu.edu/~jalam/engr6923s08/studentwebaddresses.htm

and here is the student assessment of the course:

http://infotechtools.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=2002853:Topic:6166

I hope that is what you were looking for.

[Javed Alam]

Mary

Thanks for connecting. I noticed that that you plan to use Ning for teaching. Actually, I have done that before. Here is the course URL

http://infotechtools.ning.com

it is open registration. If you are interested then have a look around in that web site.

regards

[David Levesque]

Hi Mary, I just found this helpful research by a school principle in New Jersey. Not directly addressing your question but interesting.

http://plethoratech.blogspot.com/2008/01/top-5-myths-about-technology.html

[David Levesque]

Hi Mary, I appreciate your angle on getting some good quality data on social networking in education.

I am passionate about leveraging the technology to enhance the educational experience, I know it's happening and working but I understand it is difficult to find good data.

I am sincerely interested in your results and possibly helping with developing them.

Here is a resource that may help, our company has a whitepaper on integrating social networking in education which you can find at
www.Saywire.com

We are implementing safe social networking in schools and would be interested in sharing some of our experience with you for your research.

I hope this helps and look forward to talking about it further with you.

Enjoy,
David