What are your thoughts on social networking for educational purposes?

This seems like something that is talked about more than carried out. I for one have been blocked by school policies and then technology. It would be a great way to give the class a way to conect when they are not together. In a way, I almost wish that I was teaching an online course, where students had to coolaborate with and through web 2.0 technology. I'm am currently having good success with using google docs, and students are benifiting form sharing with me and eachother.

I do see this as being the future of education. I have an idea. Cut all the overhead with school campuses and put all the classes online allowing teachers to teach at home for more pay.


Is there a use? Why or why not?

There is a use. Beyond what I've already described you can give students a way to coolaborate and carry out assinments outside schoool boundries. You this can be a safe place to share and be known. It seems like people are more real in these settings, though their is always the risk of deception.


Compare and contrast Facebook, LindedIn, and Ning. Which would be the most appropriate for classroom use?

All have a way to leave information on ones site. You have a measure of persnalization. LindedLn is more aimed at non-educaton profesionals who want to network. The most similas are facebook and the last where facebook is more personal. All of theses allow you to share media. All have membership. I suppose that Ning would be the most appropriate for educational use because it is more modular where all the students could belong to the same site. I would be interest to see if this works at my school, and then may be I'll try it.