Wednesday, February 10, 2010

What's a Ning? Why Use One?

The Ning in Education site provides a good overview of using Nings in the educational setting. Browse around, and let us know what you find of value, and what your initial impressions are of using Nings for professional development purposes. Remember our Class Ning at Computers in the Classroom has a Forum devoted to discipline-specific Nings. I also suggest browsing around the Classroom 2.0 ning. Yes, at times, the array of resources online can make you dizzy, but they can also put at your fingertips valuable resources for teaching and contribute to your development as a self-reflective practitioner. Of course, you need not agree, but what are your impressions for now of Nings for professional development? If you find Nings you want to share with others, visit Class Ning at Computers in the Classroom and add a Forum or Blog about the Ning.

5 comments:

Jacquelyne B. said...

I'm upset that ning will charge for use. When you showed me this site, I was amazed with the possibilities. It would be fantastic to see these in school districts. I could totally see this being used in a History class. I could post a video from Youtube and then have students comment on the video right on the site.

Jenny G said...

I did not realize that ning charged for use, either, Jacquelyne. I did see this application in action, however, in a neighboring social studies class during student teaching. The class created a community assuming the identities of members of the constitutional convention. The student engagement factor was phenomenal! Students were required to create their bios in keeping with historical accuracy, then to answer certain questions about the constitution, etc. They really took on the personae of their "characters" and delved into the issues. Some students mentioned how much it made them think. One actually said that she was able to clarify her own personal position on certain issues having had to "play" a character, and speak in a voice which truly conflicted with her own core values. This ning thing definitely has higher order thinking potential!

Bill C said...

This really seems like the wave of the future! Takes thinking out of the box to the next level

Jenny C said...

This is my first experience with Ning! It is powerful technology that I can see so many kids fully engaged in. I like it for many reasons, but mostly because it does promote higher think potential. I agree with Jenny G. Also, it's a great voice for kids who are shy in class. They can feel comfortable to speak their minds without feeling like they are on the spot in a classroom setting. I can't wait to share it with my co-workers!

Cristin V said...

This looks really cool. I love what one teacher said about creating a "profile" for famous people in history, and having students post questions they would have asked them or comments about their life achievements. At my school, it is blocked for "social networking." It's a shame because this seems like such a cool way to get kids involved. I think a lot of students would be excited that something similar to Facebook (which so many are using) is part of school. I agree with one of the comments that said it was a great way for shy students to voice their opinion without feeling embarrassed about speaking in front of their classmates. What a great outlet for student opinions and contributions!

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