2.  Social Networking: Learning Theory in Action
By: Ruth Reynard
 Beyond Social Networking: Building Toward
Learning Communities
By: Ruth Reynard
 Social Networking in Schools: Incentives for
Participation
By: Patricia Deubel

3. In Ruth Reynard’s article, she addresses
whether social networking is productive in
the classroom and what benefit it has.
She presents the idea that this type of
interaction between peers is already
taking places, but it is happening in a
more passive way. She encourages
educators to use social networking to
engage their students. The graph
displayed is an example of how involved
the youth of this country is in social
networking already. Reynard suggests
that as educators we direct their interests
in networking toward an educational
benefit. Since this is a tool most students
already know how to use, she proposes
that it will be easier to peak their interest
in educational subject matters.
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4. Reynard also suggests that there is a high difficult y for teachers in
creative ways to use social networking in the classroom. This should not be
something you throw into you lesson just to say you used it. There should be
meaning and purpose to integrating it into your lesson. She also says, “The
challenge then becomes how to encourage more students to use the tools
actively rather than passively—the user controlling the tool rather than the
tool dictating the user’s activity” (¶ 7).
Reynard mentions allowing the students to be
creative in their uses for social networking and work
collaboratively. She feels that if use properly social
networking can be a great benefit to allow the
students another avenue in education. She
says, “Students who use networking tools more
collaboratively, creatively, and with actual project
outcomes in mind—the uses of the tools can
change according to the intentions of the user and
more complex and learning- related skills can be
developed, if the purposes change” (¶ 6).
Overall, Reynard feels that social networking has
great benefits in the classroom, but it is very
important that the teacher implements its use
properly and that it contains educational value.

5. In Reynard’s article, I was moved toward believing that social
networking can be used properly in the classroom. Before reading
this article I did not see how it could be done efficiently without
allowing it to become a game for the students. Not I see how this
can be done. Next, I found the thought about students already
being familiar with this tool to be eye opening. I think using a tool
that students are practiced in can be a great way to get them
involved and interested. I had not thought of this before. I have
had the thought that much of the technology we have now can be
a waste in the classroom, because so many teachers do not know
how to use it, but now I see that as a teacher I need to learn how to
use it because it can be a very effective tool. I was also amazed by
all the different uses of social networking mentioned in Reynard’s
article. There are many more uses that I ever imagined. As I
reflected on what the article has addressed, I realized that there are
many tools accessible by teachers and I would like to be one that
put those tools to use.

6. In this article, Reynard addresses the
importance of maintaining a constant
presence over your students while they are
using certain tools, keeping them
engaged in the activity at hand, using a
variety of tools, and focusing the tools to
build knowledge and explore new ideas.
She also mentions that as a teacher
having your own social networking
space, but that you should refrain from
sharing that space with your students
unless it is directly related to learning and
education, because some students may
find that “creepy”. Reynard also mentions
that social networking is a common place
more many more than just younger
children. The graph to the right
demonstrates its popular use among all
ages.

7. Reynard continues to talk about the importance of social networking
should be used to build confidence in students to share their work and it
should create knowledge construction. Reynard says, “While good teaching
and learning rests on effective relationships (Cummins, 2000), in an active
learning community, those relationships should evolve into actual idea
exchange and knowledge construction.” (¶ 2). She promotes the idea that
social networking a way to have students share their ideas with each other
without having to be in front and possibly be embarrassed. While she thinks
this tools is effective and should be used in the classroom, she also stressed
the importance of maintaining supervision over your students while they are
using these tools. They should not be used for idle things. When used in the
classroom these tools should be promoting learning and education.
Another thing mentioned in Reynard’s article is the
idea that social networking allows the teacher to be
more organized and in control over the educations of
their students. By allowing students to use social
networking, a teacher can see their ideas and
problems.
Overall, Reynard talks about the wide use of social
networking for all ages and the positive and negative
uses for it in the classroom.

8. When reading this article, I started thinking about how important it is
to be a teacher and supervisor at the same time. Especially when
implementing things with technology it is very easy for students to get
distracted and loose focus of their task. This article just reminded me of
the multi-tasker I will have to be when I start teaching. After reading this
article, I definitely see the benefit of using social networking in the
classroom, but I also see that it have to be in a controlled environment.
Students left to their own will find ways to waste time.
This article also opened my eyes to see how much of the world uses
social networking on daily basis. It is not only kids. It is adults and senior
citizens. Everyone has a hand in the emerging technology. Learning to
use these types of technology helps you become a multi- tasker.
Students of all ages are capable of keeping up with several networks at
a time. They can have a blog, facebook, twitter, wiki, etc. Social
networking in reality is a way to get studetns interested and wanting to
participate. When used properly these tools can be a help for students
and teachers.

9. In Patricia Deubel’s article, she confronts the government with evidence to
support using social networking in the classroom. Up until now, the
government has voted down the use of social networking being promoted in
the classroom because of online safety for the students. Deubel argues that
there are many sites and project based web pages that could be beneficial
in the classroom. She argues that they are not searching to find the
evidence they need. Instead they just keep putting it off. She mentions
several websites created specifically for classroom use. Here are some
examples mentioned in this article:

10. Deubel suggests that the government needs an incentive to
promote social networking in the classroom. In her article, she is
presenting evidence to support the positive use of this kind of
technology in schools. She mentions that using this type of
technology would further students learning potential and cause
them to be more active learners. She says, “If we want social
networking to make a difference in instruction and learning, the
medium should also be used for its publishing and production
aspects, reaching higher levels of collaboration and creativity, and
for enabling learners to network with experts in various fields” (¶ 10).
Overall, Deubel believes that government should be promoting
social networking in the classroom because it would cause our
students to be more interested in their studies and show higher
academic achievement.

11. In Deubel’s article, I began to realized how many tools there really
are for educational purposes. There are so many resources at our
finger tips. I was thinking about how many privileges we have
today that those before us never had. For a while I look at some
technology as a waste of time and more trouble than it was
worth, but now I see how useful it can be when used properly.
Another thing that stood out to me as I read this was the the
government is not really promoting certain forms of technology.
While I understand they have legal issues to considers, this
surprised me. I was really interested in the multiple resources
presented in this article. As I looked each one up, I found things
that I already know will be used in my classroom. I decided that
social networking will be used in my classroom.

12. In conclusion, I have learned a lot about social
networking and the benefits it can have in
education. I have been introduced to many
different sites and resources available to teachers
that will help grab students attention and construct
knowledge at the same time. Overall, social
networking is a very useful tool and can be
implemented in many ways. Although using these
tools takes some extra work on the teachers part, I
feel it will be worth it in the end.