Slides for a presentation at MADLaT 2012, Winnipeg, MB on May 4, 2012. Looks at process and self-study of 2 profs & related focus group held by an M.Ed. student.

1. Social Networking for Students
in Higher Education
Mike Nantais
Jackie Kirk
Clark Gawletz

2. Agenda
Introductions
Theoretical basis
Jackie & Mike’s story
Clark’s study
Discussion

3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dkuropatwa/3862101829/

4. What is your connection to social
networking in higher education?
 This is a contest!
 Please tweet your answer (if you can)
using both:
#MADLaT2012 and #SNHE
 Person to hit the mystery number
wins a prize

5. “human learning
presupposes a specific
social nature”
Lev Vygotsky

6. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dkuropatwa/4285018251/

7. We learn through social
interactions in
authentic, situated contexts .
Community of Practice.
(Lave & Wenger)

9. Where we started: Discussion forum in Moodle.

10. We added more tools – most we still use:
But now, we have added …

12. Self-Study in Teacher Education:
Working together to critique our practice and to
try to resolve some of the challenges like:
• Student engagement
• Faculty engagement
• Student ownership
and authentic
participation
• Using social
networking to
improve our
practice

13. Educational design research is the
systematic study of designing,
developing and evaluating
educational programs, processes
and products

14. Six Requirements for
Educational Design
Research

15. Explore significant
educational problems, rather
than conduct research for its
own sake

16. Define a pedagogical
outcome and create
learning environments
that address it.

17. Emphasize content and
pedagogy rather than
technology.

18. Give special attention to
supporting human interactions
and nurturing learning
communities

19. Modify the learning
environments until the
pedagogical outcome is
reached

20. Reflect on the process:
reveal design principles
that can inform future
projects

21. Ning Focus Group

22.  See opinions of other members
and connect with pre-service
teachers
In your opinion, what
are the educational  Able to remain a member even
after graduation
benefits of using Ning  Provides a way to collaborate
for teaching and on ideas and keep in touch
once employed as professional
learning? teachers.
Members can share resources  Others perspective.
PLN - Connect globally not just Collaborate ideas in the group.
locally.  Go beyond class lecture
“User-friendly”. Similar to other
social networking  Post discussion questions for
help and feedback. Find
Extend learning outside of the resources of active
classroom. participation. Diverse opinions.

23. In your opinion, how  Provided an extension of class
discussions to get others
does the use of Ning opinions
enhance the course  Allowed members to gain
you are currently experience leading a specific
online discussion board.
enrolled in?
 Users were able to create a
blog within the site
Beneficial as an assessment tool
Allows for question/answer directed  Created events that others in
to profs and peers the faculty could join or offer
comments
Allows for reflection on one’s own
thinking/learning  Using technology in the
Learning beyond classroom lecture: classroom.
Invited greater detail for exploring  Members can join any group
topics within the course

24.  Navigating was limited,
In your opinion, what
limitations does Ning  very overwhelming at the
beginning. Forced to use this
have as it relates to site-marks. Takes fun out of
it, posts feel “forced”.
your ability to
 Marked for grammar, spelling
succeed in this etc., not content, specifically
impedes the flow of
course? discussion.
 Priority of the Ning is low
compared to other
assignments.
 Minimal professor
feedback, which discourages
participation. Does not draw
attention as a social
networking site.

25.  Difficult process to find
another person’s blog: had to
In your opinion, what type in their name
would you change  One more account and
about Ning? password to remember
 The way it is used: for
Easier accessibility to other users example-marking techniques,
pages participate marks only, keep
assignments to moodle.
Simplify it: many groups are
duplicated or very similar  Open to more than just Ed
Be able to get on Ning without going students and alumni –include
to the BU faculty of education cooperating teachers and
website other school divisions etc.

26.  Should be linked to BU
In your opinion, Ning webmail account.
has the following  Site needs an area to upload
technological Word's/PowerPoint/Excel files
restrictions?  Online file storage is nil.
Cannot post videos and links
are difficult to apply. Does
One more account name/password not flow well, outline set up
hard to follow, hard to search
Look and feel could be fresher
for people.
 You cannot invite people that
are not your friends to your
group without their e-mail
addresses

27.  Overall this was a great way to
Exit Slip: What kind connect to others in other
streams/years.
of format/product
 Orientation would be an
would you like to see excellent time to provide a
as a follow up to this tutorial for students as we felt
we were just thrown in and told
study? to use it. This might encourage
more active participation.
 We would like to see the
findings of this study posted to
name/BU and website. We
would like to see some of our
suggestions put into action.
Feels like a chore.
 If it doesn't change, as a
graduate we cannot see
ourselves using this by choice

29. Thanks for attending!
Now , just for fun …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T37q9Lx6sw
Mike: nantaism@brandonu.ca
Jackie: kirkj@brandonu.ca
Clark: gawletz@brandonu.ca