Social Networking

When it comes to social networking, you have to watch out for the dangers just like in everything else. Social networking can be a good resource if you use it correctly. The articles we read about social networking stated the good and bad of social networking, while also stating different peoples opinions. Being a person who is in the social networking system, I too have an opinion of whether social neworking should or should not be used in the classroom. I think that as long as you are cautious and responsible for what you display, why not have them in the classroom. It is an easy and accessible to way to get information. It is yet another way to integrate technology into the classroom, the TPACK model. The Richardson article talked about you as long as you stress rules and civil discourse, students should be ok in the social networking world. With everything we do there is a risk. Why not let students use this system? If it is in a classroom the teacher is most likely going to make it private, making it so that what ever information the student puts up the public is not eligible to see. The Barker/Favata article gives a few good ways social networking systems can be used in the classroom. They can be used for differentiated instruction, to access digital libraries, and to help build a global learning community. Again, as long as you are careful what you put up and what you write on these systems (show some courtesy), you will be ok in the social networking world.