The “Walled Garden” approach

to Social Networking:

Utilizing Ning in distance

education.

Bethany V. Smith & Lori B. HolcombCollege of Education, NC State University

boyd & Eliison (2007) define social

networking as:web based services that allow

individuals to

(1) construct a public or semi-

public profile within a bounded system

(2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a

connection

(3) view and traverse their list of connections

and those made by others within the

system. The nature and nomenclature of

these connections may vary from site to site

42,089,200

18-2440%

25-3426%

Student Use

Ellison et al (2007) surveyed 286

students, 94% were users of Facebook.

Communication Use

•Class work

•Lectures

•Exams

•Vent concerns

•Gain clarification on assignment

(Selwyn, 2007)

Even though they had Blackboard

But do we, as pre-service educators want to endorse Facebook usage?

Ning: The Walled Garden Approach

The “walled garden” is a term coined by former

TeleCommunications, Inc. founder, John Malone to

describe a closed network that limits subscribers’ choices to a restricted

range of content (Van Tassel, 2006)

Ning

Ning Facebook

Comment Wall The Wall

Blog Post Status Update

Latest Activity News Feed

Photos Photos

“My Page” Profile Page

Friends* Friends

Blog Post Notes

* Nomenclature may be changed within each respective Ning network

Does a student-centered online tool, such as Ning, foster

knowledge construction through

discussion boards more than a class-focused online tool, such as a traditional

CMS?

Discussion Board

Interaction Analysis Model

Gunawardena, C. N., Lowe, C., & Anderson, T. (1997)

Phase ISharing and comparing of information

Phase IIDiscovery and exploration of dissonance or

inconsistency among participants

Phase IIINegotiation of meaning or knowledge co-

construction:

Phase IVTesting and modification

Phase VPhrasing of agreement and applications of

newly constructed meaning

Lack of diversity common

Week 8

PhaseNumber of Postings

Percentage

Phase I 4 28%

Phase II 7 50%

Phase III 2 14%

Phase IV 2 7%

Phase V 1 0.06%

Started by a Student

Controversial Topic

Implications for Practice

Creating a Walled Garden

Shift of current discussion board

expectations

Tool acquisition

Bethany Smithbethany_smith@ncsu.edu