Kean Edu2 Con Tween Social Networking

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

21st Century Learning: 21st Century Learning: Education 2.0Education 2.0Kevin Jarrett –Technology Facilitator, K-4Kevin Jarrett –Technology Facilitator, K-4Northfield Community School, Northfield NJ USANorthfield Community School, Northfield NJ USA

November 30, 2007November 30, 2007

[email protected]@ncs-nj.org

© 2007 Kevin Jarrett© 2007 Kevin Jarrett

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Tween Social Networking Sites: They're Heeeeeere! 21st Century Learning: Education 2.0 Conference, Kean University

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



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IntroductionsIntroductions

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

hpgirl230hpgirl23066thth Grade Student, NCS Grade Student, NCS

catsrule10catsrule1066thth Grade Student, NCS Grade Student, NCS



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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/



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AgendaAgenda

Definitions (What)Definitions (What) Locations (Where)Locations (Where) Participants (Who)Participants (Who) Motivations (Why)Motivations (Why) ImplicationsImplications Q&AQ&A

Image credit: http://flickr.com/photos/mr_biggs/215592586/



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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



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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



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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”



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LocationsLocations



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Webkinz.comWebkinz.com

$12.98/pet/year$12.98/pet/year Care, feed & dress Care, feed & dress

pets; decorate roomspets; decorate rooms SocializationSocialization Games (jobs) earn Games (jobs) earn

Kinzcash (currency) Kinzcash (currency) for food, clothes, toysfor food, clothes, toys

New content oftenNew content often Design your spaceDesign your space



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ClubPenguin.comClubPenguin.com

Free (limited) Free (limited) accounts can’t accounts can’t decorate or buy decorate or buy clothesclothes

Paid accounts are Paid accounts are $58/yr $58/yr

Lots of socializationLots of socialization Games pay in “coins” Games pay in “coins”

(currency)(currency)



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Neopets.comNeopets.com

Free accounts: up to Free accounts: up to four pets, full accessfour pets, full access

Paid accounts: $70/yrPaid accounts: $70/yr Care, feed & dress Care, feed & dress

pets; pets have petspets; pets have pets SocializationSocialization Games (gambling?)Games (gambling?) Pioneered “Immersive Pioneered “Immersive

Advertising”Advertising”



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Imbee.comImbee.com

Tween “MySpace”Tween “MySpace” Emphasis on multi-Emphasis on multi-

media content & media content & productionproduction

Direct messagingDirect messaging True social networkTrue social network Substantial parent / Substantial parent /

teacher involvementteacher involvement Somewhat commercialSomewhat commercial



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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



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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

Source: http://tinyurl.com/27ac5t



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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/



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MotivationsMotivations

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??



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ImplicationsImplications

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…



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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?



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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 globallyBuild 21Build 21stst century skills century skillsMake learning more like playMake learning more like play

– Learning affordances of SN environments Learning affordances of SN environments unlike any otherunlike any other



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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

Webkinz.comWebkinz.comLive DemoLive Demo

By: catsrule10By: catsrule10andand

hpgirl230hpgirl230

ClubPenguin.comClubPenguin.comLive DemoLive Demo

By: catsrule10By: catsrule10

Neopets.comNeopets.comLive DemoLive Demo

By: hpgirl230By: hpgirl230

Imbee.comImbee.comLive DemoLive Demo

By: catsrule10By: catsrule10andand

hpgirl230hpgirl230

Thank You!Thank You!

Kevin JarrettKevin Jarrett

Email - [email protected] - [email protected]

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

catsrule10 & hpgirl230catsrule10 & hpgirl230

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