Educational Networks

Educational Networks Ellen Zimmerman EDLD 5362 Week 2 Assignment

What is it? • education |ˌejəˈkā sh ən|noun – (educational)the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, esp. at a school or university : a new system of public education. • network |ˈnetˌwərk|noun – (networking) interact with other people to exchange information and develop contacts, esp. to further one's career : the skills of networking, bargaining, and negotiation.

So Basically… • Educational networking is receiving and giving instruction to others to exchange information for educational purposes. verses • Social networking which is more intended for just relating to people and entertainment.

Possible Classroom Networks • Elgg Powered, The Schools United • Free Online Networking For Schools – Worldwide • Facebook, Teaching Students Critical Thinking • Facebook group of educators interested in sharing ideas for lessons and students achievement. • Facebook, Don Quijote • Facebook group for the Spanish language.

The Schools United • Very interesting site with members from all over the world. • You can sign up to contact a school. • “Protected” or “safe” environment for teacher cooperation.

Possible Uses for this Network • The Schools United network offers options work with students in other countries. • Foreign language teachers can contact each other to collaborate on lessons. • Social studies students can share photos from across the world. • Math in everyday uses can be shared in different daily activity settings.

Possible Uses for this Network (cont.) • Home Economics classes can share recipes, diet information and cost of living data. • Art classes can share local art and building structure.

Teaching Students Critical Thinking • Facebook organization of educators who want to share lessons and links to improve students learning. • Opportunities for discussion with others with the same interests.

Possible Uses for this Network • Educators from all levels can share lesson ideas, discuss educational and general curriculum information and generate new ideas. • Classroom teachers can join and share within a school on a open network of participants. • There are also links for additional resources posted on the site.

Don Quijote • Network for students and teachers to share the Spanish language and resources. • Educators can communicate with others in a wide range of locations. • Students can get helpful resources and share communication with students in other parts of the world. • Facebook also allows audio and video to practice communication in another language.

Summary • Sites like these offer many tools I can use to help teachers develop creative, educational lessons. • Interesting resources like these will help to give hesitant educators the desire to venture into technology.

Bonus • I enjoyed this lesson so much I posted about it on “Ellen’s Corner” at http://sos.tcea.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=115&Itemid=312

References • http://www.educationalnetworking.com/ • Ince, D. "Corporation for Research and Educational Networking." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Retrieved January 24, 2010 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-CrprtnfrRsrchnddctnlNtwrk.html • ”education, n." Oxford English Dictionary Additions Series. 1997. OED Online. Oxford University Press. 23 Jan. 2010 <http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/00130764>. • ”network, n." Oxford English Dictionary Additions Series. 1997. OED Online. Oxford University Press. 23 Jan. 2010 <http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/00130764>. • Hargedorn, S. (2009). Classroom Web 2.0. http://www.classroom20.com/

Educational Networks