(1) Describe the Resource / Experience:
This week, during my resource search, I discovered an online article by Steve O’Hear entitled “Elgg: Social Networking Software for Education”. It is part two of a two part series authored by O’Hear. Part one of the series discusses how web technologies, such as blogging, podcasting, and media-sharing, are being used in education today. This article in the series discusses Elgg, which is a social networking software created specifically for education.
(2) Lessons Learned / Applications for the Classroom / Recommendations for Yourself or Others:
I am a big fan of social networking sites, specifically Facebook, and during one of my past reflections, I commented on being excited about learning more about using public social networking sites such as these in education. Through this article however, I have learned about a social networking site that has been developed especially for the educational realm. A lot of teachers (and older adults in general for that matter) frown upon the mere thought of using this type of technology in the classroom, but I would recommend that all teachers, both old and young-- myself in included, embrace using this type of technology in today’s classrooms because they are seemingly our future.
(3) Links to Readings, Resources, or Discussions:
These ideas directly relate to the following resource from my resource log:
O’Hear, S. (2006, August 11). Elgg: Social networking software for education. Read, Write, Web. Retrieved from http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/elgg.php
This resource directly links to several other social networking software articles I have listed in my resource log during the past few weeks. All of these articles discuss the benefits of using such software in education. I will eventually be authoring a WikiText chapter on social networking software in education.
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I wish I could remember, actually I might have it, but recently, Newsweek had an article about how Facebook is starting to reach out to the babyboomer generation. I have a friend who uses it to communicate with her kid at college. I don't use any networking site except for these that we are required to do for class:) However, I think you are right, this is where education and society is going-straight to technology. I'm sure one day I'll have faces in my classroom that I'll never meet in person. Sometimes it worries me, other times I think it could be pretty cool.
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