Can you take up the Ning challenge? In this era of Web 2.0, social networking plays a really big part in our students' lives. How many student do NOT have a social network account - Bebo, My Space, etc? Ning is a free social network but what makes it different from Bebo, et al, is that whoever sets the network up becomes the administrator with total control of the content. As a teacher, you could set up a network for your subject and allow the class to upload photos, videos, blogs, and more relating to the topic in question and having the ability to completely monitor the content.You start by choosing a combination of features (videos, blogs, photos, forums, etc.) from an ever-growing list of options. Then customise how it looks, decide if it's public or private, and add your own logo if you have one. People who join your network will automatically have a customisable profile page and will be able to message and friend each other.
Check this site out as a great example of Ning in action.
How can we apply this to our classroom? How can we use the technology our students use on a daily basis to enhance the teaching and learning of our students? Are you up for the challenge?
Check out these videos showing how to set up a ning network:
