Social Networking

Here's the deal: If you look at me and my relationship with social networking, it comes across as more of a noun than a verb. It's a person, place or thing (or actually all three) that is out there for me to use, but I don't do much of it....kind of like 'cleaning' lol. Even before the advent of Facebook etc. I have never been a big 'networker'. I think this may stem from the fact that with online social networking,especially in a professional network, I feel the pressure of an obligation to contribute something, not that I would know what that would be. Another issue, not feeling like I have much to contribute, and no one likes the person who simply re-hashes. I think my reluctance to dig into social networking also comes from the fact that I tend to be a fairly private person (no Twittering here....although I will for the class). Personally, I am a big fan of Facebook (which I check at least once a day if not more) because for me it acts as a aggregator of my friends lives so I can stay updated and prioritize my communications. That makes me sound rather snooty doesn't it? LOL But I really like the idea that I can choose what to "dip into" or ignore without having to explain or justify to anyone my choices. I also enjoy the fact that Facebook allows me to see all sides of a person not just their 'professional' personae. If a friend shares something about politics or rock climbing that I might find it interesting, but would not have known about the person had we only been interacting around the idea of education.

Professionally I really, really like the idea of Edmodo: Like Facebook, but you are able to keep the sense of a "professional" relationship with your students. I do actually use Facebook with the forensics team that I coach, as a group, events etc., and I am those students' friend, but I am not as concerned about this because I keep my profile "clean" anyway (the privacy thing again) so friending my students was not a concern. Any students that I have/had spend a good chunk of time social networking so these seems like a natural tool for them to use...like the author who mentioned that they have been doing things like Webkinz since they were little. I like the fact that, like Google Docs, things don't get lost between home and school. If you post a note at home, you can pull it back up at school, no more "I forgot my homework at home, but it's done I swear".

I would like to end by make a little soapbox comment. Administrators who block social networking SOLELY on the basis of preventing cyberbulling are Silly (to use a nice word). Just because I student isn't on facebook/IMing/whatever at school doesn't meant that they don't at home. Again, it's about teaching students how to use a tool properly and how to interact with others that promotes good community. A student who has a tendency to bully will find a way to do so with or without filter on the internet at school.