Collaborate, Connect, Contribute

Why should we participate in social networks?

I stumbled upon a post on The Innovative Educator this morning that I thought was timely for us on OETN. (The Innovative Educator is written by Lisa Nielsen, manager of professional development for the Office of Instructional Technology in New York City).

Lisa lists "Four Reasons Innovative Educators Should Participate in Social Networks." Here are her reasons - read the complete post here.
1) Connecting to Digital Natives
2) Modeling for Digital Natives
3) Interacting with Digital Natives
4) Developing your Personal Learning Network
5) Share your own reason

For me, the most valuable part of participating on Social Networks like OETN and Classroom 2.0 has been #4 - expanding my personal learning network. I've found it very helpful to post questions about topics I'm working on and get feedback and ideas from a community of educators interested in the same questions.

How about you... what are your reasons for participating in OETN? How can we help this space thrive so those goals are met?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nitin Julka on June 26, 2008 at 5:49pm: I think the strength of social networks lies in connecting people #1.

In the old age, connections fade away. There is no easy way to stay in touch with people you meet one time at a conference.

In a connected digital "Web 2.0" age, you can meet someone one day, follow their lives, and engage in meaningful dialogue, thereby enhancing the connection after that first meeting.

My goal is to stay connected with passionate education technologists around the globe...and I believe that Classroom 2.0, OETN, Twitter, and Blogs are critical to helping achieve this goal.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dr. Cheryl L. Ward on July 7, 2008 at 9:43am: Connections to new people, new ideas, new places is certainly a draw to social networks! The collective minds of many to glean info and resources from that one person never has the time to explore. I just spent an hour on The Innovative Educator site and collected lots for my Emerging Technology class!

It is impossible to expose my students to everything out there in technology so they must do their own exploring. Providing these networks helps them follow their own paths and everyone brings back contributions to the collective mind of the class. It takes a while to help students understand that they cannot get all their content from the professor anymore! I can provide the connections for them, but in order to keep up with technology and educational innnovation, THEY have to make the effort to expand their horizons in paths that interest them.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nitin Julka on July 7, 2008 at 10:11am: This post also has some great ideas on the topic!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by elizabeth simeral on March 27, 2009 at 5:40pm: I like the ideas presented by Abby, Dr. Ward, and Nitin, so I won't repeat them. I think we now have people who are Internet potatoes instead of couch potatoes, since you can socialize, browse, and do work all at one location without ever leaving your chair (um, couch). Just poking some fun at our expense.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Natalie Kulcsar on August 18, 2009 at 5:14pm: Internet Potatoes.. nice one.

I am split between two types of social networking.
1. Purely Social - facebook, myspace, twitter -- I actually use these socail networks to socialize! I fall within the generation that sprouted with myspace during the highschool years. I see it as strictly a way to see friends and family.
2. Educationally Driven -- Oh what was my life like before blogs or wikis? I have spent the last two years lurking. Now it's time to really get down to business and see what it is all about.; ▶ Reply to This