Educational NetworksEducational Networks

What are they and why are What are they and why are they important?they important?

Social networking is a joining of people with like-minded interest where users can Social networking is a joining of people with like-minded interest where users can share information with each other. Although networking can be done in person most share information with each other. Although networking can be done in person most people are using the internet to network due to the ability to reach a large number of people are using the internet to network due to the ability to reach a large number of people.people.

Educational networks can be used the same way as social networking. By using Educational networks can be used the same way as social networking. By using online educational networks users have the ability to reach both educators and other online educational networks users have the ability to reach both educators and other students all across the world. There are many different educational networks students all across the world. There are many different educational networks available but we will look at two today that I use and benefit from.available but we will look at two today that I use and benefit from.

Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life. Once a user signs Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life. Once a user signs up for an account they can search for other facebook users and users can search for up for an account they can search for other facebook users and users can search for them and add friends to their accounts. You can also create groups and users can them and add friends to their accounts. You can also create groups and users can join these specific groups. Friends are able to post comments on your page as well join these specific groups. Friends are able to post comments on your page as well you being able to post on your friends page.you being able to post on your friends page.

Facebook gives me the ability to keep in contact with co-workers and students. I Facebook gives me the ability to keep in contact with co-workers and students. I currently use facebook to post class announcements and stay connected with what currently use facebook to post class announcements and stay connected with what my co-workers are doing in their classrooms. If students are going to be absent they my co-workers are doing in their classrooms. If students are going to be absent they can let me know on facebook and retrieve missed work online as well. The message can let me know on facebook and retrieve missed work online as well. The message feature on facebook is used when someone has something to say that they would feature on facebook is used when someone has something to say that they would rather everyone else not see. There are also private communities within facebook rather everyone else not see. There are also private communities within facebook such as Edutopia.such as Edutopia.

Edutopia is a forum for people passionate about change in education. This site Edutopia is a forum for people passionate about change in education. This site allows me to connect with other educators around the world and draw inspiration allows me to connect with other educators around the world and draw inspiration from their stories. Users post questions, comments, experiences and other things from their stories. Users post questions, comments, experiences and other things that other users can take and learn from. Most times the posts allow for discussions that other users can take and learn from. Most times the posts allow for discussions about a specific topic. It is amazing how much you can learn from others. Being that about a specific topic. It is amazing how much you can learn from others. Being that we are all here for the success of our youth I think edutopia is a fantastic site to we are all here for the success of our youth I think edutopia is a fantastic site to connect with other like minded educators.connect with other like minded educators.

Professional development networking sites were not familiar to me until this Professional development networking sites were not familiar to me until this research. However, I am glad that I learned about them due to the enormous research. However, I am glad that I learned about them due to the enormous benefits that they bring. Networking sites that give me the ability to continue to benefits that they bring. Networking sites that give me the ability to continue to learn about my profession is such a big help. I am already online anyway so being learn about my profession is such a big help. I am already online anyway so being able to access information easier is great. Some sites are specific to certain people able to access information easier is great. Some sites are specific to certain people and some are general sites for everyone with the like-minded interest.and some are general sites for everyone with the like-minded interest.

Collaborating with Judy Collaborating with Judy CampfCampf

I found this site to be of interest to me because it includes anyone who teaches or I found this site to be of interest to me because it includes anyone who teaches or intend to Web 2.0 technologies. The site is called Learning on the Cutting Edge. I intend to Web 2.0 technologies. The site is called Learning on the Cutting Edge. I like it because there are many resources on how to integrate technology in the like it because there are many resources on how to integrate technology in the classroom. These days it is imperative that you integrate technology in the classroom. These days it is imperative that you integrate technology in the classroom in order to fully engage and teach your students. Being that my school classroom in order to fully engage and teach your students. Being that my school does not offer a lot of professional developments sessions on integrating technology does not offer a lot of professional developments sessions on integrating technology this site will help me. After signing up I am able to connect with many different this site will help me. After signing up I am able to connect with many different educators and gain information that I can use in my classroom right now.educators and gain information that I can use in my classroom right now.

Networking is an intricate part of the learning process. Students are often absent for Networking is an intricate part of the learning process. Students are often absent for various reasons. Traditionally they would have to wait until they returned to school various reasons. Traditionally they would have to wait until they returned to school to find out what they missed and make up the work. With technology like online to find out what they missed and make up the work. With technology like online educational networking communities like facebook students can just log on to find educational networking communities like facebook students can just log on to find out what they missed.out what they missed.

Both Facebook and the Campf website allows for group discussions on particular Both Facebook and the Campf website allows for group discussions on particular topics. Everyone that is a part of that online community are able to make comments topics. Everyone that is a part of that online community are able to make comments and post discussion topics. and post discussion topics.

Facebook allows for me to connect with other educators as well as students. I can Facebook allows for me to connect with other educators as well as students. I can post assignments and answer questions about those assignments when we are away post assignments and answer questions about those assignments when we are away from school. Other educators can connect with me about things that are going on in from school. Other educators can connect with me about things that are going on in the classroom and we can also message each other about specific private issues.the classroom and we can also message each other about specific private issues.

Campf is limited to educators only. We can discuss issues that we are all facing as Campf is limited to educators only. We can discuss issues that we are all facing as educators. There is also the ability to post innovative projects and things that we are educators. There is also the ability to post innovative projects and things that we are doing in class so that other users can learn from it. By being a member of the campf doing in class so that other users can learn from it. By being a member of the campf community I can connect with educators all over and we can discuss everything from community I can connect with educators all over and we can discuss everything from education to politics. Most importantly is the sharing aspect. Often times educators education to politics. Most importantly is the sharing aspect. Often times educators are lost when it comes to finding ways to present a lesson in an engaging manner. are lost when it comes to finding ways to present a lesson in an engaging manner. Members of the site post useful information, tips, experiences and advice.Members of the site post useful information, tips, experiences and advice.

I am currently using facebook to connect with students as well as co-workers. I have I am currently using facebook to connect with students as well as co-workers. I have created an account with campf and I am looking forward to the benefits that it has for created an account with campf and I am looking forward to the benefits that it has for me and my career. I believe that by using both facebook and campf I can be a more me and my career. I believe that by using both facebook and campf I can be a more effective teacher. It allows for me to not only be accessible to my students outside of effective teacher. It allows for me to not only be accessible to my students outside of class when they need assistance but also the availability to learn from my colleagues class when they need assistance but also the availability to learn from my colleagues on an on-going basis.on an on-going basis.

ReferencesReferences http://www.whatissocialnetworking.comhttp://www.whatissocialnetworking.com http://www.facebook.comhttp://www.facebook.com http://www.facebook.com/edutopiahttp://www.facebook.com/edutopia http://campf.groupsite.com/main/summaryhttp://campf.groupsite.com/main/summary