I was recently asked to discuss my expectations of educational social networks in my educational technology class. My first instinct was to use a reliable search engine to look for definitions of said networks. According to aptly named website http://www.educationalnetworking.com/ , the term “educational networking” is simply the use of social network technologies or tools for educational purposes. In fact, to detract from the negative connotations that ‘social networking’ carries, the site suggests that ‘educational networking’ be the catchphrase to more objectively discuss the “pedagogical value” of such tools.
With an acceptable definition in hand, or rather, mind, determining my expectations proved a more difficult task. Admittedly, my first foray into social networking was hijacking my poor husband’s facebook account. It wasn’t intentional. I merely started posting pictures of our three-year-old on the wall so that off-island relatives could glimpse his growth. It’s since morphed into my facebook page under the pseudonym that is actually my husband’s name.
Oddly enough, I realized that it was this process of appropriation, or rather annexation that should be applied to educational (social) networks. To that end, I began my hunt for blogs, articles, websites, professional learning networks (PLN) and the like to ascertain as much information as I could possibly use in growing my practice as a secondary education teacher of career and technical education courses.
My interaction, to date, has been rather one-sided. I’ve created a blog, a microblog, joined a handful of PLNs, groups within said PLNs, posted comments and queries, but have been met with silence, thus far. Thank goodness, I’ve thick skin. I do recognize that I'm a novice in this arena. And I realize that if I am true believer of life-long learning, I will keep plugging along. I will post when I’ve something worthwhile to say, I will follow people and groups of interest, I will try to keep abreast of worthwhile information. I will be the 21st century learner that I strive to have my high-school students embrace. And while it started off as professional exploration, I know that my educational networks tout the 3Rs: relationship (-building), rigor and relevance inside the classroom and out.
