Social networking, collaboration, and professional learning networks

WHAT IS SOCIAL NETWORKING?

What is social networking?

http://www.commoncraft.com/video-social-networking

What is social networking?

• According to some, it is “the biggest shift” since the industrial revolution!

• http://goo.gl/4j1c

Some facts and figures…

• By the end of 2008, social networking had overtaken email in terms of worldwide reach.– According to Nielsen Online, 66.8% of Internet users

across the globe accessed “member communities” last year, compared to 65.1% for email.

– In 2008, users spent 63% more time on member communities than they did in the previous year.

Digital Buzz Stats for 2012

The Social Media Skinny 2012

Some facts and figures…

• A third of adults post at least once a week to social sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

• A quarter of adults publish a blog and upload video/audio they created.

• Nearly 60% maintain a profile on a social networking site.

• 70% read blogs, tweets and watch video.

Stats 2012

• An average Facebook user has 130 friends and likes 80 pages

• 56% of consumer say that they are more likely recommend a brand after becoming a fan

• Each week on Facebook more than 3.5 billion pieces of content are shared

I Infographic 2012

Twitter 2012

Some more facts and figures…

• From 2007-2008, Facebook saw growth of 566% in time spent on it by users worldwide.

• Facebook’s fastest growth demographic is older users – the social network tacked on 12.4 million people between ages 35-49.

• Women are reported to make up 64% of Facebook’s users.

• Facebook is the top social network in all countries except Germany, Brazil, and Japan.

Elements of social networking sites

• Profile• Friend list• Communication via personal profiles• Other published material (quizzes, blogs)• Writing of the self

– “performing identities”– Active learning process– Skill development online

Many sites whose purpose was not originally to be a

SNS site (such as YouTube or Flickr) are now

incorporating elements of social networking. Do these

characteristics make you more or less likely to use them in a class task or

activity?

Using SNSs in FL classes

– General considerations– Project ideas

• Centered around profiles• Centered around media• Centered around themes

Advantages to SNS

• Students…– Are participants and active citizens– Develop their own voice– Learn to build trust– Create, manage and distribute content– Learn to collaborate and work as a team– Are encouraged to explore and discover– Learn about self-representation – Are already there!

Risks of SNS

• Instructor lack of knowledge, confidence• SNS not viewed as educationally viable• Some sites are blocked in some

institutions• Risks associated with www• Requires out of class work• PUBLIC audience, need to be careful

giving away information• Students don’t want to mix personal and

educational tools

Discussion

• Do you think our millennial students are prepared to use their favorite SNS in classes? Why or why not? How can we help them?

• Weigh the risks and benefits of incorporating language specific SNS into FL classes – do you think it’s worth it? How?

Exploration

• First, let’s examine what social networking sites are out there…

Exploration

• Go to Wikipedia.org and search for “list of social networking websites”.

Exploration

• Or go to http://go2web20.net and do a search for “social+networking”

Exploration

– How many sites are listed?– Investigate at least 5 different sites. – Note:

• Who the target community is• How many members it has (if known)• What features the site offers• The attractiveness of the interface• Other features worth commenting

Note: In wikipedia, when you click on a link from the list, it will take you to the Wikipedia page about that social networking site. From there, you can explore the site directly using the link on the top right-hand side of the page.

Putting it in practice

• Working with a partner:1. Select a social networking site to focus on (next slide)

2. Come up with a list of its advantages and disadvantages to classroom integration

3. Brainstorm possible task ideas for using this site in the following language class settings:

» A beginning language class» An AP class

Be prepared to share your ideas with us!

Some sites like Ning that you can use with your classes…

• www.ning.com (can apply for K-16 free)

• www.spruz.com• www.grou.ps• www.webs.com • http://mixxt.com • www.classroom20.com• www.whyville.net• www.imbee.com

< Kid-friendly!

Your “PLN”

• What is a PLN?– Personal learning network– Professional learning network

• The group of people you follow, interact with, post with, etc. on a regular basis about either personal or professional issues

– Share news, resources, links, ideas, thoughts, reactions, etc.» Check out this blog post: http://goo.gl/KViQ