What is Social Networking...

Social networking is the act of connecting to various people. Networks usually serve as a group of people that have common interests or are working toward a common goal. People use social networking for various reasons including journaling, making statements, self expression, artistic expression, professional advancement, and political reasons. Social networking has made much advancement with the introduction of the internet and the World Wide Web. Blogging, Facebook, Twitter, Digital Bookmarking, all are forms of online social networking opportunities.

I have seen many teachers' blogs and their use of social networking to share lesson plans, classroom management strategies, and post pictures and videos of their students. There are many ways that social networking can help teachers connect to support each other. Besides teachers sharing professionally, students can use of social networking to collaborate on projects. Wikis are great source for creating and discussing content in groups. The biggest problem with students using social networking for learning is accessibility and reliability. Some students do not have home internet access and the school’s computers and systems were established on a tight budget and are often unreliable.