Social Software in Education Meredith Farkas Norwich University

Meredith Farkas

Norwich University

Our students have changed radically. Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach . -Mark Prensky, “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants.”

At the same time… The Web has also changed

Web 1.0 Democratized Access to Information

Web 2.0: Democratized Participation

Social Software To be defined as social software, a tool must meet at least two of the following conditions: it allows people to communicate, collaborate and build community online. it can be syndicated, shared, reused or remixed, or it facilitates syndication. it allows people to easily learn from and capitalize on the behavior or knowledge of others.

To be defined as social software, a tool must meet at least two of the following conditions:

it allows people to communicate, collaborate and build community online.

it can be syndicated, shared, reused or remixed, or it facilitates syndication.

it allows people to easily learn from and capitalize on the behavior or knowledge of others.

Characteristics of Social Software

Easy content creation and sharing

Online Collaboration

Conversations

Conversations

Capitalizing on the wisdom of crowds

Transparency

Transparency

Personalization

Portability

Social Software Applications in Education

Blogs How do you define a medium used by teenagers, Nobel Prize-winners, car companies, rock bands and educators?

How do you define a medium used by teenagers, Nobel Prize-winners, car companies, rock bands and educators?

Blogs Frequently updated website where postings are displayed in reverse chronological order. Uses Course management system Faculty communication with students/parents Reflective learning Discussion Language or writing practice Share ideas/get feedback

Frequently updated website where postings are displayed in reverse chronological order.

Uses

Course management system

Faculty communication with students/parents

Reflective learning

Discussion

Language or writing practice

Share ideas/get feedback

Course Management System

Faculty Communication with Students/Parents

Faculty Communication with Students/Parents

Reflective Learning

Reflective Learning

Reflective Learning

Reflective Learning

Discussion

Discussion

Discussion

Language or Writing Practice

Language or Writing Practice

Share Ideas/Get Feedback

Wikis Allow a group of people to develop a website without any web design skills Uses: Courseware Group Projects Collaboratively-developed resource guides

Allow a group of people to develop a website without any web design skills

Uses:

Courseware

Group Projects

Collaboratively-developed resource guides

Courseware

Courseware

Courseware

Group Projects

Collaborative Resource Guides

Social Networking Software Online community with the goal of building identity and publicly articulating one’s social network. Uses: Courseware Feedback mechanism Portal to library/school content

Online community with the goal of building identity and publicly articulating one’s social network.

Uses:

Courseware

Feedback mechanism

Portal to library/school content

Courseware

Feedback Mechanism

Feedback Mechanism

Portal to Library/School Content

Portal to Library/School Content

Portal to Library/School Content

Podcast Audio broadcast in MP3 format syndicated through RSS. Uses: Lectures and guest speakers Student projects News and marketing Language classes

Audio broadcast in MP3 format syndicated through RSS.

Uses:

Lectures and guest speakers

Student projects

News and marketing

Language classes

Lectures and Guest Speakers

Student Projects

Student Projects

News and Marketing

Language Classes

Screencasting Movie taken of one’s desktop. Uses: Recording lectures Commenting on student papers Tutorials

Movie taken of one’s desktop.

Uses:

Recording lectures

Commenting on student papers

Tutorials

Recording Lectures

Comments on Student Papers

Tutorials

Things to Consider

Avoid technolust

Don’t assume all of your students are tech-savvy

Play with technology! Kick the tires!

Don’t be afraid to try things out with your students

Don’t be afraid to let your students “drive”

Consider the maintenance burden and sustainability of any technology

These are just tools!

These are just tools!

Thanks!