Social networking tools offer
learners exciting new ways to carry out researches, create visual and audio
teaching aids and learn from frequent interactions with others. Social
networking is used to explore interests and find information that goes beyond
what learners have access to at school and in their local community
(Richardson, 2010). Many
teachers are increasingly using social networks to supplement teaching and
learning in the traditional classroom environments as they can provide new
opportunities for enriching existing curriculum through creative, authentic
and/or flexible, non-linear learning experiences (Wikipedia, 2013). The new Web
2.0 technologies built into most social networking services promote
conferencing, interaction, creation, research on a global scale, enabling
educators to share, remix, and repurpose curriculum resources (Wikipedia, 2013).
In short, social networking services can become research networks as well as learning
networks (Wikipedia, 2013). Two
social networking technologies that have the potential to enhance adult
education are Facebook and Pinterest.
Facebook
was selected because it has a number of features with which users may
interact. Facebook allows users to
upload photos and create and download videos as they share ideas and knowledge
with each other (facebook.com, 2013). Two
techniques through which one might incorporate facebook into one’s professional
practice are brainstorming and discussions. Both techniques allow collaboration
among learners which allow students to actively participate in the learning
process by talking with each other and listening to other points of view.
Collaboration establishes a personal connection between students and the topic
of study and it helps students think in a less personally biased way
(Wikipedia, 2013).
Pinterest
was selected for the reasons that users can upload, save, sort and manage
images, known as pins, and other media content (i.e. videos) through
collections known as pinboards (pinterest.com, 2013). Pinboards are generally
themed so that pins can easily be organized, categorized and discovered by
other users (pinterest.com, 2013). Two ways in which this social networking
site can be incorporated in one’s professional practice are field trips and
group projects. Learners will take pictures on the field trips and save images
on their pinboards. In groups, they will create a story using video and their
collection of photos. Teachers can pin sites for later referral while students
can pin and organize sources and collaborate on projects (pinterest.com, 2013).
REFERENCES
‘Collaboration’(2013). Retrieved
from www.wikipedia.com
‘Facebook’(2013). Retrieved from www.facebook.com
‘Pinterest’(2013). Retrieved from www.pinterest.com
Richardson, W (2010) Blogs, Wikis. Podcast and Other Powerful Web
Tools for
Classrooms 3rd ed. California:
Corwin
‘Social Network’(2013). Retrieved
from www.wikipedia.com
Pinterest sounds like a good tool. As a writing instructor, I could group students and have them choose a theme using pictures to create a story. This is so neat. Sounds like even a great way to organize photos from events that the school may have.
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