Social Software
in
Education and Life
Heather M. Ross

This presentation goes with the wiki
Social Software in Education and Life
http://socialsoftwareineducationandlife.pbwiki.com/

What is Social Networking?
• Connecting with others
• Sharing knowledge and ideas
• Collaboration

Some Examples

Online Communities
Connect with:
• old friends
• coworkers
• neighbours and other community
members
• others who share your interests
• your children?

Blogs
• Education
• News
• Entertainment
• Hobbies
• Other
Interests

Blogging
• Can be hosted by others or on your
own server space
• Share what interests you
• Think carefully about what you want to
share

Podcasts

Podcasting
• Think of it as a spoken blog
• Free and commercial tools available
• “Look Mom, I’m in iTunes”

RSS
• Updates come to you
• No additional clutter in your e-mail
• Share good stuff that you find

Flickr
• Free and paid
service
• Share pictures with
everyone or just
friends and family
• Great source for
finding needed
pictures (Creative
Commons)

Social Bookmarking
• Bookmarks portable instead of stuck in
your browser
• Share good finds with others
• See what your friends and others have
shared

Wikis
• Collaborative
online workspace
• Many uses
(education,
entertainment,
hobbies, etc.)
• Wikipedia

Web Awareness
• Think before you post. Once it’s online,
it’s there forever
• Read user agreements carefully
• Determine if a Web site is a valid
resource
• Teach your children about these things
• Know what your children are doing