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.

[Steve Hargadon]

Hi, Susan! Be sure to check the wiki at http://socialnetworksined.wikispaces.com and see if anyone is doing anything that might help you. Also, check with Alexis - http://education.ning.com/xn/detail/u_204c29otijbx5

Am really interested in seeing if Ning works for you. I live in an area with a high concentration of autism/aspegers.

[Steve Hargadon]

Great, Liz. Glad to have you here. A whole list of social networks based on education is at http://socialnetworksined.wikispaces.com. Also worth looking at www.classroom20.com.

[Jessica]

Hi everyone. My name is Jessica and I am a sixth grade teacher at Banks Stephens Middle School in Forsyth, Georgia, and a graduate student at the University of Florida. I am studying to get my specialist degree in instructional technology. I am defintely not a technology whiz so this is quite challenging to me. I look foward, however, to learning how to use technology, such as Ning, in my classroom.

[Steve Hargadon]

Hi, Jessica! Glad to have you here. You'd be amazed at how quickly you'll go from being a "newbie" to and expert! :)

[Elizabeth Houston]

Greetings! My name is Liz. I am a grad student specializing in Educational Technology at the University of Florida. I see a few of my classmates have recently joined this network as well. I'm new to Ning, so I would love to hear how everyone uses it in an educational setting. I teach computers at the elementary school level.

[Steve Hargadon]

Hi, Liz! Glad to see the U of F contingent growing! :)

[Renee Fox]

Hello, my name is Renee and I just joined this Ning community, and am actually new to Ning. I am currently working on my Masters in Elementary Education specializing in Educational Technology. I am a student at the University of Florida and especially looking forward to teaching in the 09-10 school year. I'm also looking forward to learning and sharing with all of you.

[Steve Hargadon]

Hi, Renee, and welcome! You Florida folks rock!

[Stephen C. Veliz]

Hi. Stephen C. Veliz from Tallahassee, FL. I've joined several Nings, but I'm interested in exploring the possibilities for using Ning in my classes.

[Steve Hargadon]

HI, Stephen! Somehow missed you're introducing yourself when you did--sorry! Welcome. Hope you make some progress on thinking about using Ning in your classes.

[Katie Hatch]

Hi. I'm an art teacher who teaches 6, 7, and 8th graders in southern Michigan and am working on developing a Ning site for my 8th grade art students. They are already using MySpace....so I want to teach them how to use social networks and give them a safe one. My plan is for each page to act as their portfolio where they will post digital pictures of their work. They can comment of each other's work and blog about their own. I'm hoping this will increase a sense of pride in their work!

[Steve Hargadon]

Hi, Katie. I missed your introduction when you made it--sorry! Glad to have you here. I'm very interested in hearing about how this works for you. Are you familiar with http://www.essdackartsnacks.org ?