The “Walled Garden” approach to Social Networking: Utilizing Ning in distance education. Bethany V. Smith & Lori B. Holcomb College of Education, NC State University

Bethany V. Smith & Lori B. Holcomb

College 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

18-24 40%

25-34 26%

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)

Class work

Lectures

Exams

Vent concerns

Gain clarification on assignment

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

* Nomenclature may be changed within each respective Ning network 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

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 I Sharing and comparing of information

Sharing and comparing of information

Phase II Discovery and exploration of dissonance or inconsistency among participants

Discovery and exploration of dissonance or inconsistency among participants

Phase III Negotiation of meaning or knowledge co-construction:

Negotiation of meaning or knowledge co-construction:

Phase IV Testing and modification

Testing and modification

Phase V Phrasing of agreement and applications of newly constructed meaning

Phrasing of agreement and applications of newly constructed meaning

Lack of diversity common

Week 8

Phase Number 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 Smith [email_address] [email_address]