SOCIAL NETWORKS

Facebook, Ning, Connections, and Communities

 OVERVIEW

• Introduction
• Facebook • Facebook for Personal Connections
• Ning • Facebook in the Classroom
• Connections
• Communications • A Ning for all Passions
• Setting up your Ning site
• Conclusion
 Introduction

• “Living and Learning With New Media”

• Facebook – Published November 2008
• Ning – 3 yr study – young people’s participation in
• Connections new technology
• Communications
• Key findings
– Friendship-based
– Interest-based
• Results
– Youth engage in “self-directed, peer-based
learning”
– Different than typical experiences found in
school
 Facebook for Personal Connections

• Started in a Harvard dorm room in 2004

• Facebook – July 2009: 700,000 accounts per day
• Ning – Total membership: 250 million
• Connections
• Communications
• Facebook description
– Signing up is easy
– User friendly platform
– Interactive network
– Friend request
– Friend search
– Blocking profiles
 Facebook in the Classroom

• Interest based NOT friendship based

• Facebook – Most schools block Facebook access
• Ning – Friend requesting students (good/bad)
• Connections
• Communications
• Faculty interaction
– Open view vs Closed view
– Exchange information
– Write on each other’s walls
– Answer questions
– Create a shared space for materials
 A Ning For All Passions
• Pros
– Interest based NOT friendship based
• Facebook
– Created around interests/topics
• Ning
– Faculty interaction
• Connections
– Good for educators without the beaurocracy
• Communications
– Self-contained
– Sharing and posting happens under one roof
– Can be totally private
– Teachers have total administrative control

• Cons
– Either all public or all private
– Interface can get overwhelmed with content
– Terms restrict members younger than 13 yrs old
– Lose ability to subscribe to RSS feeds
– Google Ads appear on homepage
 Setting Up Your Ning Site
• Ning description
– Signing up is easy
• Facebook
• Ning
– User friendly platform
• Connections – Interactive network
• Communications – Member management
– Interest-based (Pick a topic)
– Must set privacy levels
CONCLUSION