Kean Edu2 Tween Social Networking

Tween Social Tween Social Networking Sites: Networking Sites: They're Heeeeeere!They're Heeeeeere!

21st Century Learning: 21st Century Learning: Going GlobalGoing GlobalKevin Jarrett –Technology Facilitator, K-4Kevin Jarrett –Technology Facilitator, K-4Northfield Community School, Northfield NJ USANorthfield Community School, Northfield NJ USA

Holly Jarrett – 7Holly Jarrett – 7thth Grade Student Grade StudentNorthfield Community School, Northfield NJ USANorthfield Community School, Northfield NJ USA

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© 2007 Kevin JarrettP. 2 / 23

Image credit: http://flickr.com/photos/circulating/273246262/

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© 2008 Kevin JarrettPage 3

IntroductionsIntroductions

Kevin JarrettKevin JarrettTechnology Facilitator, K-4 Technology Facilitator, K-4 Northfield Community Northfield Community School (NCS)School (NCS)

Holly JarrettHolly Jarrett77thth Grade Student Grade Student Northfield Community Northfield Community School (NCS) School (NCS)

ObjectivesObjectives

Demystify Tween Demystify Tween Social NetworkingSocial Networking

Deconstruct activitiesDeconstruct activities Consider curricular Consider curricular

possibilities possibilities Live demonstrations Live demonstrations

of four leading sitesof four leading sites

Image credit: http://flickr.com/photos/gkweir/243781438/

AgendaAgenda

Definitions (What)Definitions (What) Locations (Where)Locations (Where) Participants (Who)Participants (Who) Motivations (Why)Motivations (Why) Implications & Implications &

ApplicationsApplications Q&AQ&A Image credit: http://flickr.com/photos/mr_biggs/215592586/

Quoting Gary Stager…Quoting Gary Stager…“I had a heated dinner conversation with a school computer teacher this evening.

She was arguing for a specific scope and sequence of computer applications intended to prepare students for “the real world” still years away. Besides my objection to what Paolo Friere called, “the banking model - learn this now because you may need it someday,” it seems patently ridiculous to believe that one tool or sequence of skills is essential for later. If this were true then every teacher who did not plan for web-based apps is guilty of negligence.

I suggested that 5th/6th grade projects like “researching MP3 players on the web and then comparing the prices in Excel” to be examples of sugar-coated medicine and less authentic than the real mathematics preschoolers are doing naturally in Club Penguin.

Once school “math” teaches kids arithmetic tricks the construction of mathematical knowledge and sense of self as capable mathematicians kids experience in real and virtual worlds is nearly over. Club Penguin may be a more productive context for learning than math class. It’s our challenge to make formal classes much more natural and put away our crystal balls.”

Source: http://tinyurl.com/yuwkqk

Quoting Gary Stager…Quoting Gary Stager…

“I suggested that 5th/6th grade projects like “researching MP3 players on the web and then comparing the prices in Excel” to be examples of sugar-coated medicine and less authentic than the real mathematics preschoolers are doing naturally in Club Penguin.”

Source: http://tinyurl.com/yuwkqk

DefinitionsDefinitions

Tween Social Tween Social Networking IS:Networking IS:– Web basedWeb based– Inexpensive (often Inexpensive (often

free to start)free to start)– 2D or 3D2D or 3D– Safe (when used in Safe (when used in

a controlled a controlled environment)environment)

– Commercialized Commercialized (usually)(usually)

Tween Social Tween Social Networking ISN’T:Networking ISN’T:– Dangerous (when Dangerous (when

used in a controlled used in a controlled environment)environment)

– Just for tweens Just for tweens (younger and older (younger and older kids participate)kids participate)

– ““Just for fun”Just for fun”

LocationsLocations

What are they DOING?What are they DOING?

Learning about the Learning about the value of moneyvalue of money

Working ‘jobs’Working ‘jobs’ ReadingReading ReflectingReflecting WritingWriting PlayingPlaying

Dealing with Dealing with advertisementsadvertisements

MessagingMessaging DecoratingDecorating CollectingCollecting Leading guildsLeading guilds Navigating UI’sNavigating UI’s

Source: Jeremy Burrus, ETS Source: Jeremy Burrus, ETS Techforum Northeast 2008, http://tinyurl.com/6c8hnbTechforum Northeast 2008, http://tinyurl.com/6c8hnb

Source: Jeremy Burrus, ETS Source: Jeremy Burrus, ETS Techforum Northeast 2008, http://tinyurl.com/6c8hnbTechforum Northeast 2008, http://tinyurl.com/6c8hnb

ParticipantsParticipants

Tweens (8-12)Tweens (8-12)– Some much Some much

younger, some younger, some even oldereven older

– Predominantly Predominantly femalefemale

– Exponential growth Exponential growth ratesrates

– Data as of Apr-07Data as of Apr-07Source: http://tinyurl.com/27ac5t

In The News…In The News… Barnes, B. (2007, December 31). Barnes, B. (2007, December 31). Web Playgrounds of the Very Young - New Web Playgrounds of the Very Young - New

York TimesYork Times. Retrieved December 2, 2008, from http://tinyurl.com/6bpmfo.. Retrieved December 2, 2008, from http://tinyurl.com/6bpmfo. Kennedy, T., Smith, A., Wells, A., & Wellman, B. (2008, October 19). Kennedy, T., Smith, A., Wells, A., & Wellman, B. (2008, October 19). Pew Pew

Internet: Networked FamiliesInternet: Networked Families. Retrieved December 2, 2008, from . Retrieved December 2, 2008, from http://tinyurl.com/5k4l3x. http://tinyurl.com/5k4l3x.

Kids' Informal Learning with Digital MediaKids' Informal Learning with Digital Media. (2008, November 19). Retrieved . (2008, November 19). Retrieved December 2, 2008, from http://digitalyouth.ischool.berkeley.edu/.December 2, 2008, from http://digitalyouth.ischool.berkeley.edu/.

Schaffhauser, D. (2008). Teens' Online Safety Improved by Education, Schaffhauser, D. (2008). Teens' Online Safety Improved by Education, Research Shows. Research Shows. T.H.E. JournalT.H.E. Journal, Retrieved December 2, 2008, from , Retrieved December 2, 2008, from http://www.thejournal.com/articles/23646.http://www.thejournal.com/articles/23646.

Sieberg, D. (2008, November 21). Sieberg, D. (2008, November 21). Is Generation Y Too Hooked On 'Tronics?, Is Generation Y Too Hooked On 'Tronics?, CBS Evening News: How Always Being Connected Online Impacts Real-World CBS Evening News: How Always Being Connected Online Impacts Real-World Interaction - CBS NewsInteraction - CBS News. Retrieved December 2, 2008, from . Retrieved December 2, 2008, from http://tinyurl.com/5buxwd. http://tinyurl.com/5buxwd.

MotivationsMotivations

Kids:Kids:– CreativityCreativity– Self ExpressionSelf Expression– ControlControl– ConnectionsConnections– Care/attachmentCare/attachment– ResponsibilityResponsibility– Coolness factorCoolness factor– FUN!FUN!

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/27ac5t

Image credit: http://flickr.com/photos/45519093@N00/451601169/


Providers (most):Providers (most):– Sites are for-profit Sites are for-profit

businesses exist to businesses exist to make money. Period.make money. Period.

– Whyville.net is a Whyville.net is a notable exception notable exception (no advertising (no advertising whatsoever, heavy whatsoever, heavy educational focus)educational focus)

……does a profit motive does a profit motive mattermatter??

““Ad executives say creating an entirely Ad executives say creating an entirely new form of advertising to put in untested new form of advertising to put in untested places like virtual worlds … may not be places like virtual worlds … may not be worth the effort in tough advertising worth the effort in tough advertising times.”times.” - The Wall Street Journal- The Wall Street Journal

““Virtual worlds are probably one of the Virtual worlds are probably one of the things that haven't been proven effective things that haven't been proven effective just yet.” just yet.” - Lars Bastholm, AKQA.com- Lars Bastholm, AKQA.com


Source: http://tinyurl.com/5lw6ng

Implications & ApplicationsImplications & Applications

29% feel SN could 29% feel SN could help reading & help reading & writing skillswriting skills

28% feel SN could 28% feel SN could help self expressionhelp self expression

36% feel SN could 36% feel SN could help students learn help students learn to work together to work together

Source: http://tinyurl.com/2cvnr2

National School Boards National School Boards Association study (July 2007)Association study (July 2007)

Among Among District Leaders…District Leaders…


76% 76% feel SN could feel SN could help reading & help reading & writing skillswriting skills

75%75% feel SN could feel SN could help self expressionhelp self expression

72%72% feel SN could feel SN could help students learn help students learn to work together to work together

Source: http://tinyurl.com/2cvnr2

National School Boards National School Boards Association study (July 2007)Association study (July 2007)

Among Among Parents…Parents…

……who’s right?who’s right?


Our challenge: “make formal classes Our challenge: “make formal classes much more natural” (Stager, 2007)much more natural” (Stager, 2007)– Let’s create safe SN environments to:Let’s create safe SN environments to:

Explore core curriculum content areasExplore core curriculum content areasCollaborate globallyCollaborate globallyMake learning more like playMake learning more like play


Collaborative Collaborative stories based on in-stories based on in-world characters world characters and adventuresand adventures

Track, value and Track, value and manage inventory manage inventory with a spreadsheetwith a spreadsheet

Debates with other Debates with other classes, culturesclasses, cultures

Conduct science Conduct science experiments using experiments using in-world resourcesin-world resources

Explore, model Explore, model prosocial skillsprosocial skills

Draw out shy, Draw out shy, reticent childrenreticent children

Cybersafety skills Cybersafety skills & education& education


Dizzywood Pilot ProjectDizzywood Pilot ProjectPatti PurcellPrincipalBel Aire Elementary Schoolhttp://www.belaireschool.org

60 students, grades 4 & 5, 1:1 school60 students, grades 4 & 5, 1:1 school Walled garden, second year of pilotWalled garden, second year of pilot Social Skills curriculumSocial Skills curriculum


What about after-school programs?What about after-school programs?

Global Kids Digital Media Initiativehttp://www.holymeatballs.org/

Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, NChttp://www.plcmc.org/teens/secondlife.asp

LIVE DEMONSTRATIONSLIVE DEMONSTRATIONS

Imbee.comImbee.com Webkinz.comWebkinz.com ClubPenguin.comClubPenguin.com Ourworld.comOurworld.com

Whyville.netWhyville.net Neopets.comNeopets.com WeeWorld.comWeeWorld.com Dizzywood.comDizzywood.com

Thank You!Thank You!Kevin & Holly JarrettKevin & Holly Jarrett

Email - [email protected] - [email protected]

Blog - http://www.ncs-tech.orgBlog - http://www.ncs-tech.org