Group items tagged

A primer for those who aren't to into the whole social networking phenomenon.

The most profound impact of the Internet, an impact that has yet to be fully realized, is its ability to support and expand the various aspects of social learning. What do we mean by "social learning"? Perhaps the simplest way to explain this concept is to note that social learning is based on the premise that our understanding of content is socially constructed through conversations about that content and through grounded interactions, especially with others, around problems or actions. The focus is not so much on what we are learning but on how we are learning….

A new study by alum Christine Greenhow finds social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook have more educational potential than you might think.

"As school districts explore the use of social computing throughout the school day and as an approach to extend instruction, many educators are making the decision to create a wiki, publish video online, or to participate in blogging, social networking or virtual worlds. Social media guidelines encourage educators to participate in social computing and strive to create an atmosphere of trust and individual accountability."

"The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Media and Learning examines the effect of digital media tools on how people learn, network, communicate, and play, and how growing up with these tools may affect a person's sense of self, how they express themselves, and their ability to learn, exercise judgment, and think systematically. "

"Facebook is the world's leading social network, with over 300 million users and more than 900 employees. But how do you get the most out of it? To answer this question and more, Mashable has created The Facebook Guide Book, a complete collection of resources to help you master Facebook."

In the Web 2.0 world, self-directed learners must be adept at building and sustaining networks.

Are your students collecting RSS feeds in Google Reader, bookmarking sites as a group in Delicious, blogging, interviewing content area experts they found through Google Scholar, and teaching the section of the course for which they are responsible? Wendy Drexler's students are doing all of this. This is a must listen for those of us who dream of the day when education is a more active, accountable process for students and teachers.

Online diagramming application.

Things to consider when posting to your Facebook page. Aimed at "the workplace," this video contains good advice for educators, too.

How the fundamental idea of social dynamics, the sense of communal glue which appeared to be in its final death throws in the late 20th century, has suddenly been reborn thanks to the Internet. And with it, a shocking sense of what's possible when we stop being political sheep, and start being grass-root shepards. Click on the FREE CONTENT button, register and then click on it again. You can then watch this one hour film.

Wouldn't it be great to invite authors into your classroom or library to video chat with students before, during, and/or after you've read their books? We are growing a list of authors who want to make that connection with you. See the alphabetical list in the scrolling author box on the left. Read on to find out just how easy it is!

David Hargreaves argues in this report that the education system will be transformed only when small-scale improvements and school-based innovations are shared between schools and teachers without direct interference of central government.

Online charting/diagramming software.