Journal 8: Tapping the Wealth of Social Network for Professional Development

Greenhow, C. (2008). Tapping the wealth of social networks for professional development. Learning & Leading with Technology, 36(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3620082009/JuneJulyNo8/36810g.pdf

This article underlines the highlights of social networking sites for both students and teachers: immediate connections and being "one step of separation from public figures." Greenhow makes a point to emphasize the fact that research on educators' uses of these tools are just beginning. Teachers can use the sites to share issues in the classroom (and throughout their schools and districts), anecdotes, and advice. Students may use them for encouragement, support and "peer validation." We all know that some students are not necessarily motivated by grades, but this type of affirmation from their peers can assist in allowing a student to pursue a specific interest, even if it is academic.

How else can educators use these tools?

They can follow students' progress as well as academic publications and scholars. There are various educational publications that offer accompanying networking sites and links. And tools like Classroom 2.0 provide a constant stream of new ideas and forums that offer teachers a chance to learn about not just up-to-date technologies, but also curriculum ideas and interpersonal relations.

How is it that these services benefit student-teacher and student-student relationships?

Greenhow notes that "such social networking services allow many-to-many broadcasting, previously only afforded to the privileged few, so that classroom ideas, questions, or puzzles...can be quickly circulated through a vast network, putting others' problem-solving skills and political acumen to work for you."