Journal 1

Social Networking For The K-12 Set, Jim Klein, Learning & Leading with Technology, Volume 35, Number 5, February 2008

Two IT staff members and one curriculum specialist created the SUSD community site, a social networking site for the district staff, teachers and students to use. It did not cost anything but time, and it was ready to work in three weeks. It allows the district employees and students access to user profiles, blogging tools, secure file storage, sharing, RSS and podcasting. It also allows the options of sharing with the general public, site members only, small groups or individuals. The teachers are using the site for newsletters, lessons, announcements, updates, presentation sharing, communicating and collaborating with colleagues, sharing lesson plans, video and podcasting. The students are using the site for posting podcasts and creative writing projects, collaborative research, and lesson reviews made by their teachers.

This is an amazing resource for both the students and the teachers, not to mention all district employees. It sounded like a fairly simple set-up (for the IT people, not me ;0}), no extra expenses, except time, and the users are thinking of ways to use it that the IT people didn't even think of!


Question 1: Would I be able to use this resource in my classroom?

Answer: I definitely would be able to use this resource in my classroom. I would also be able to use this type of site as an invaluable resource for communication and collaboration with my colleagues, perhaps we could replace the weekly staff meeting? {giggle}. I could communicate with my students, communicate with their parents, write lesson reviews, newsletters, blog, have great multi-media projects, access to group projects, and give the students easily-accessible assignments. The possibilities are endless.


Question 2: How will I implement this resource at my school or district?

Answer: I am going to talk to our school's IT coordinator tomorrow. I will show him the article and ask him how to go about getting this program started for our school. I will offer any services I can provide, which are limited, but I'm willing to learn and help. I will let you know how it goes...