Comments on: The “Added Value of Networking”

By: jenedge

jenedge — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:27:20 +0000

The power of what kids can teach us is definately untapped. Sugata Mitra work into how kids learn in groups using a “hole in the wall” computer is revealing.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/sugata_mitra_shows_how_kids_teach_themselves.html

or http://www.hole-in-the-wall.com/

By: jenedge

jenedge — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:21:29 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly with this idea and have made a conscious effort to use networks effectively myself so that I can demonstrate how to do so with teachers.

By: Networking is working for some in the classroom « Brave new world

Networking is working for some in the classroom « Brave new world — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:02:25 +0000

[...] his post The added value of networking, Will Richardson quotes Greenhow in a Harvard Graduate School of [...]

By: James Maxlow

James Maxlow — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:49:48 +0000

Our district too has struggled to adopt social networking technologies. We have made great progress with using the Oracle Educational Foundation’s ThinkQuest as a way to connect students to each other, but even then some principals have refused to sign on due to liability concerns. One option we are exploring is starting with an in-house social networking platform such as Elgg – we hope to build momentum with that so that we can carry forward to eventually opening up to the wider world.

It really is strange how much of a disconnect there is when in comes to socialization with technology. We don’t teach kids not to use the telephone because they might end up talking to strangers – we educate them on how to keep themselves safe. We don’t teach kids not to drive because they might be solicited by hitchhikers – we educate them on how to keep themselves safe. We don’t keep them locked inside the house at all times so that they won’t be exposed to dangerous people – we educate them on how to keep themselves safe. It’s sad that we haven’t translated those notions of good sense when it comes to technology tools.

By: Tim Drake

Tim Drake — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 18:00:06 +0000

Hi,
The whole idea of blogging and social networking in schools is a new idea and strategy to me. I have been a teacher for twelve years and feel that technology is moving so rapidly that I can’t keep up; however, I do feel the students and teachers need some kind of motivation to express ideas and learn. My question is what about the security issue with others somehow coming into the network and becoming a threat to our students. I feel this is one reason these sites are block at most of our schools across the country.

Thanks,

Tim

By: Chris Mros

Chris Mros — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:38:59 +0000

Great post! I agree with a lot of what was written. I currently teach a Technology class at the high school level in Communications. My district is one of those that do not allow any social networking sites. I am currently showing my students about blogging but some are even showing me because of sites like face book and my space. I think it would be great for the students to use these networking sites to our benefit rather then having are students look at them as negative things. If we educate them on the ethics and right ways to use the sites like we do everything else the students will be fine. Any ideas on how to convince my district to unblock these sites and others with out having to sneak around using proxy’s?

By: Patricia Young

Patricia Young — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:19:00 +0000

I have a perfect example of why teachers should be more open to social networking and taking part in what young people are using as their tools for communication. I have been using Twitter and Plurk for about a year and learning so much from my PLN, but it wasn’t until I joined Facebook and became friends with some of my former students that are in middle school now and help me out when I am having trouble. Now, I am not that savvy with technology and I really hate it when I get blocked at school for using Teacher Tube or You Tube. One of my former students/friend of FB told me to use a proxy because that is how she is able to access sites that are blocked at her school. She had to give me an example of how to do this. But, the point is we can learn so much from digital savvy young people and they want to help us. Most teachers don’t want to give up their total control of the classroom and are the ones now afraid of being in front of the classroom not knowing all the answers for their students. I, personally, like how this table is turning. I get more from my students when I say “I am not sure how to do this can someone help me?” Thanks for the post!

By: Michelle Palmieri

Michelle Palmieri — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:26:43 +0000

Hi Lisa,
Thanks for your response. I agree with you that programs, such as Facebook have had a lot of bad press. I think it would be a better idea to set up a classroom blog using a different site. I also agree that teachers may be lacking motivation to try new technologies. How can we change this?

By: stevendkrause.com » A couple of useful (potentially) Facebook links

stevendkrause.com » A couple of useful (potentially) Facebook links — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:27:45 +0000

[...] Will Richardson’s take on an article from Ed.magazine, “Thanks for the Add. Now Help Me with My Homework.” Here’s my favorite passage for me because it rings very true in my experiences: In a recent survey of one of his graduate classes, Blatt found that 100 percent of these future educators were enrolled on Facebook — and 30 percent of them even checked their profile more than once a day. Just becoming familiar with social networking sites, however, doesn’t mean that teachers will be able to directly use them as a tool for formal class discussion or collaboration. In one of Wiske’s classes, in fact, students experimented with doing just that, using Facebook as a forum to “coconstruct” meanings of readings. “It didn’t feel like the place to have that conversation,” says Wiske. “The structure of the tools wasn’t as conducive to that discussion, and the pictures and other stuff on the screen were kind of distractions from that work.” [...]

By: dave maclean

dave maclean — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:57:33 +0000

Dave Truss at Pair-a-Dimes wrote a great post called Facing Facebook that speaks directly to this topic. It is worth a read.

By: Will Richardson

Will Richardson — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:07:52 +0000

Right, Tyler, which is why it’s important to delve into these tools and networks for ourselves first. I don’t know how we can put together a compelling case with being able to model our own learning around these technologies.

By: Will Richardson

Will Richardson — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:06:58 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Lisa. I think the more important question first is are social networking sites good for your own personal learning? On balance, the answer, I think is yes. Even though Facebook may not necessarily be a learning environment on it’s face, (ugh), it does represent the potentials for the connections we can make with others.

By: Will Richardson

Will Richardson — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:04:38 +0000

Yep. It apparently took a personal unblock request for this blog to be accessible by NYC teachers…Sigh.

By: Will Richardson

Will Richardson — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:03:42 +0000

Nicely put. Especially when most of the current problems are mostly in our minds, not in reality. (Or something like that.)

By: Will Richardson

Will Richardson — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:00:53 +0000

Hey Bill,
I think there will probably end up being a lot of levers, unfortunately. The key for us is to focus on the ones we can effect. Since I’m not in a school, my sense for myself is to look at constituencies like parents and business, etc. But teachers, admins, etc. all need a push, obviously.