Tween Social Networking Sites: They're Heeeeeere! NJAET 2007 Fall Conference Kevin Jarrett – kjarrett@ncs-nj.org Technology Facilitator, K-4 Northfield Community School – http://www.ncs-nj.org

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

Objectives Demystify Tween Social Networking Deconstruct activities Consider curricular possibilities Brainstorm the future Image credit: http://flickr.com/photos/gkweir/243781438/

Demystify Tween Social Networking

Deconstruct activities

Consider curricular possibilities

Brainstorm the future

Agenda Definitions (What) Locations (Where) Participants (Who) Motivations (Why) Implications Q&A Image credit: http://flickr.com/photos/mr_biggs/215592586/

Definitions (What)

Locations (Where)

Participants (Who)

Motivations (Why)

Implications

Q&A

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

Definitions Tween Social Networking IS: Web based Inexpensive (often free to start) 2D or 3D Safe (when used in a controlled environment) Commercialized (usually) Tween Social Networking ISN’T: Dangerous (when used in a controlled environment) Just for tweens (younger and older kids participate) “ Just for fun”

Tween Social Networking IS:

Web based

Inexpensive (often free to start)

2D or 3D

Safe (when used in a controlled environment)

Commercialized (usually)

Tween Social Networking ISN’T:

Dangerous (when used in a controlled environment)

Just for tweens (younger and older kids participate)

“ Just for fun”

Locations

Webkinz.com $12.98/pet/year Care, feed & dress pets; decorate rooms Socialization Games (jobs) earn Kinzcash (currency) for food, clothes, toys New content often Design your space

$12.98/pet/year

Care, feed & dress pets; decorate rooms

Socialization

Games (jobs) earn Kinzcash (currency) for food, clothes, toys

New content often

Design your space

ClubPenguin.com Free (limited) accounts can’t decorate or buy clothes Paid accounts are $58/yr Lots of socialization Games pay in “coins” (currency)

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

Paid accounts are $58/yr

Lots of socialization

Games pay in “coins” (currency)

Neopets.com Free accounts: up to four pets, full access Paid accounts: $70/yr Care, feed & dress pets; pets have pets Socialization Games (gambling?) Pioneered “Immersive Advertising”

Free accounts: up to four pets, full access

Paid accounts: $70/yr

Care, feed & dress pets; pets have pets

Socialization

Games (gambling?)

Pioneered “Immersive Advertising”

What are they DOING? Learning about the value of money Working ‘jobs’ Reading Reflecting Writing Playing Dealing with advertisements Messaging Decorating Collecting Leading guilds Navigating

Learning about the value of money

Working ‘jobs’

Reading

Reflecting

Writing

Playing

Dealing with advertisements

Messaging

Decorating

Collecting

Leading guilds

Navigating

Participants Tweens (8-12) Some much younger, some even older Predominantly female Exponential growth rates Source: http://tinyurl.com/27ac5t

Tweens (8-12)

Some much younger, some even older

Predominantly female

Exponential growth rates

Motivations Kids: Creativity Self Expression Self Reliance Control Connections Care/attachment Responsibility Coolness factor Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/27ac5t Image credit: http://flickr.com/photos/45519093@N00/451601169/

Kids:

Creativity

Self Expression

Self Reliance

Control

Connections

Care/attachment

Responsibility

Coolness factor

Motivations Providers (most): Sites are for-profit businesses exist to make money. Period. Whyville.net is a notable exception (no advertising whatsoever, heavy educational focus) … does a profit motive matter ?

Providers (most):

Sites are for-profit businesses exist to make money. Period.

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

Implications 29% feel SN could help reading & writing skills 28% feel SN could help self expression 36% feel SN could help students learn to work together Source: http://tinyurl.com/2cvnr2 National School Boards Association study (July 2007) Among District Leaders…

29% feel SN could help reading & writing skills

28% feel SN could help self expression

36% feel SN could help students learn to work together

Implications 76% feel SN could help reading & writing skills 75% feel SN could help self expression 72% feel SN could help students learn to work together Source: http://tinyurl.com/2cvnr2 National School Boards Association study (July 2007) Among Parents… … who’s right?

76% feel SN could help reading & writing skills

75% feel SN could help self expression

72% feel SN could help students learn to work together

Implications Our challenge: “make formal classes much more natural” (Stager, 2007) Let’s create safe SN environments to: Explore core curriculum content areas Collaborate globally Build 21 st century skills Make learning more like play Learning affordances of SN environments unlike any other

Our challenge: “make formal classes much more natural” (Stager, 2007)

Let’s create safe SN environments to:

Explore core curriculum content areas

Collaborate globally

Build 21 st century skills

Make learning more like play

Learning affordances of SN environments unlike any other

Whyville.net Started in ‘99 with goal of increasing interest in science for middle school girls Partners: Getty, NASA, the School Nutrition Association, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Source: https://webspace.utexas.edu/davisn4/www/whyville/vcreport.htm

Started in ‘99 with goal of increasing interest in science for middle school girls

Partners: Getty, NASA, the School Nutrition Association, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Imbee.com Tween “MySpace” Emphasis on multi-media content & production Direct messaging True social network Substantial parent / teacher involvement Somewhat commercial

Tween “MySpace”

Emphasis on multi-media content & production

Direct messaging

True social network

Substantial parent / teacher involvement

Somewhat commercial

Ning.com Create your own social network Totally free (ad supported) Can be completely private Embraces multi-media content Fully customizable

Create your own social network

Totally free (ad supported)

Can be completely private

Embraces multi-media content

Fully customizable

Some Ideas… Collaborative stories based on in-world characters and adventures Track, value and manage inventory with a spreadsheet Debates with other classes, cultures Conduct science experiments using in-world exercises Explore, model prosocial skills Draw out shy, reticent children Cybersafety skills & education

Collaborative stories based on in-world characters and adventures

Track, value and manage inventory with a spreadsheet

Debates with other classes, cultures

Conduct science experiments using in-world exercises

Explore, model prosocial skills

Draw out shy, reticent children

Cybersafety skills & education

Thank You! Kevin Jarrett Email - kjarrett@ncs-nj.org Blog - http://www.ncs-tech.org