Forget MySpace and Facebook! You can now create your own social network. Whether it be for staff communication or professional development purposes, or for student learning, Ning can provide you with all the tools you need to crate your own social network.
Have a look at the Ning for the Educators’ Guide to Innovation.
As with any Web 2.0 tool, the privacy of both students and staff need to be addressed before entering full names, photos and other information. Please note that users of Ning need to be over 13 years of age. As of July 2010, Ning will be charging for most nings, but there is said to be a sponsored deal for schools in the pipeline.
Still trying to get thehang of this. #VicPLN
I’m with Janine – all very new to me too. Prefer this medium than Twitter tho!
Why would you forget Facebook (which is free) when Ning looks like it won’t be in a minth’s time, unless you are in a school?
Because nings can be totally private. Facebook would be blocked in a lot if schools.
Yes I’ve just re-named month – it’s now a ‘minth’ – must check spelling before pressing ‘submit comment’ !!!
I think I would feel more confident using a site like this and corresponding with hopefully, likeminded people, whereas I’m not prepared to put myself ‘out there’ on Twitter or Facebook. Do other people feel like this about social networking sites? (I am in an older demograph but have young adult children who use them and I do occasionally look over their shoulders to see what they are up to!)
I agree with cleocat about feeling more confident using a site that has limited access. I haven’t twittered before (or do you say “tweeted”?) and don’t love the idea of being totally out there, especially whilst I’m still in such a state of uncertainty about it. Perhaps when I feel more capable and confident, I won’t mind the idea of those wide open spaces! At this stage, though, I’m on such a learning curve yet am also quite time poor, so am not sure how I’ll keep track of who I’m meant to be ‘following’.
The beauty of Twitter is that you an customise your PLN by whoever you choose to follow.
Am new to twitter and nings. So far I think nings are easier to use!
I have found this weeks tasks to be really interesting I have discovered some great tools, especially liked Wall wisher, such a nifty tool but the other tools were all terrific.
Great news. Thanks for letting me know.
I really don’t enjoy using twitter. I don’t like the restrictions on how many characters used and the public availability of it. I am new to this concept though. I much prefer the concept of Ning and definately prefer it to facebook(which I use). I am always worried about what is available online from my children whist they are using facebook. Our school does not filter facebook, which as staff/parent I have issues with.
I am enjoying trying out all the different applications, can’t say I have any strong feeling about the worth or not of any of the ones new to me at this stage. I will reserve my judgement until I have given each one a decent amount of ‘play’ time before I make up my mind. After all this is what the course is all about.
Personally I HATE stalkerbook (AKA Facebook), we have so many issues coming into the school as a result of it. As a parent I will not allow my children to open a Facebook account. On the other hand I don’t mind the idea of a “Ning” and the use of one in school, although I have had major hassles (not yet rectified) with connecting to the PLN Ning.
I don’t believe Twitter is a tool for me, hence am not too concerned about my inablility to access it. Although I will continue to try as I suppose you “can’t knock it until you’ve tried it”. I do wonder if the introduction of the “Ultranet”, on Monday, will do away with the need for some of these types of communications within schools???
I do agree that there are issues with Facebook; hence why we don’t look at it in this course. I too would like to see how the Ultranet affects what we do; whatever happens, you can put most of these tools into the Ultranet. I put the Bright Ideas blog and some wikispaces wikis in there yesterday.
I am new to twitter and ning; but I think I am starting to get the hang of it.
I am finding this all very bamboozling! Will press on, though, and hopefully the pieces of the puzzle/s will fall into place!
The way to look at our ning is like a Facebook account that is private and only open to PLN people. It is there to help others
support you.
well ning is blocked at my school.
I suggest having a conversation with the IT staff.
I find ning a lot easier to use than twitter, and I like the fact that it is private. Very good for use in the school setting.