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Using Using Ning networks for Ning networks for
sharing ideas in an sharing ideas in an educational contexteducational context
Helena FehrHelena FehrIETS2010IETS2010
What is Ning?What is Ning?
more than a word that rhymes with zing, more than a word that rhymes with zing, ding, ring . . . ding, ring . . .
Social networking platform for sharing Social networking platform for sharing interests, information, exchanging ideas interests, information, exchanging ideas onlineonline
Enables users to forge relationships with Enables users to forge relationships with people with common/shared interestspeople with common/shared interests
Definition of Ning continued. . . Definition of Ning continued. . .
In essence . . . In essence . . .
Ning Networks are "mini" Ning Networks are "mini" Facebooks for different topicsFacebooks for different topics
What can you do with Ning?What can you do with Ning?
Define own profile questions for membersDefine own profile questions for members Make Ning network public or private for Make Ning network public or private for
members only; moderate members before members only; moderate members before they jointhey join
Pull in one or more RSS feeds from your Pull in one or more RSS feeds from your blog, Web site or news sourceblog, Web site or news source
Enable members to upload and share Enable members to upload and share photos and videosphotos and videos
What can you do with Ning What can you do with Ning continuedcontinued
Enable your members to see who's Enable your members to see who's online and chat in real-timeonline and chat in real-time
Add a rich single or multi-threaded Add a rich single or multi-threaded discussion forum with categories, photos discussion forum with categories, photos and attachments. and attachments.
What can you do with Ning What can you do with Ning continuedcontinued
Limit forum topic creation to you or Limit forum topic creation to you or open it up to all of your membersopen it up to all of your members
Provide blogs to all membersProvide blogs to all members
Organize events and keep track of Organize events and keep track of who's attending – limit attendance or who's attending – limit attendance or open it up to all of your membersopen it up to all of your members
Using Ning in an educational Using Ning in an educational context . . .context . . .
Useful for engaging groups of people Useful for engaging groups of people around a topic or as a way of exchanging around a topic or as a way of exchanging ideas . . .ideas . . .
For example – the organisers of the For example – the organisers of the Canadian Network for Innovation in Canadian Network for Innovation in Education (CNIE) annual conference are Education (CNIE) annual conference are using NING as a pre-conference forum . . .using NING as a pre-conference forum . . .
CNIE’s conference NingCNIE’s conference Ning
““. . . for educators to gather, exchange . . . for educators to gather, exchange ideas, interact, post videos and photos, ideas, interact, post videos and photos, join discussions, create a profile and join discussions, create a profile and meet like-minded professionals”meet like-minded professionals”
Drawbacks . . .Drawbacks . . .
Insider TipsInsider Tipsfor developing a catchy Ning page. . .for developing a catchy Ning page. . . A good forum layout is key to engaging your A good forum layout is key to engaging your
visitors and members:visitors and members: Tab setup (limit # on main page to 11 or less)Tab setup (limit # on main page to 11 or less) Create a home page layout that is very simple and Create a home page layout that is very simple and
easy to understand easy to understand
Send a broadcast message Send a broadcast message at least twice a at least twice a monthmonth (and no more) – this action is imperative (and no more) – this action is imperative to encourage participation in the communityto encourage participation in the community
Keep the entire site open. This will increase Keep the entire site open. This will increase visits from search enginesvisits from search engines
ResourcesResources
http://creators.ning.com/profiles/blogs/ninghttp://creators.ning.com/profiles/blogs/ning-networks-101-a-guide-to-networks-101-a-guide-to
http://cnie2010.ning.com/http://cnie2010.ning.com/
