socialmedialinks

=Educational Social Networking=

In addition to Facebook, consider these other sites. There is an extended review for two recommended sites: Edmodo & Ning


"Edmodo is a free and secure social learning network for teachers, students and schools. Edmodo provides classrooms a safe and easy way to connect and collaborate, offering a real-time platform to exchange ideas, share content, and access homework, grades and school notices. Accessible online and from any mobile device via free smart phone applications, Edmodo has grown from a teacher tool into a district-wide resource as word of the free online service spreads through schools around the world." from Edmodo.com
 * Overview**:media type="custom" key="9866951" align="right"


 * Features**:
 * **Posts** - Teachers can post notes, assignments, alerts and polls to the class page for all students or individual students to view.
 * **Groups** - Classes can be separated into groups to limit student interaction between classes by having class codes.
 * **Calendar** - Assignments are automatically posted to the class calendar.
 * **Gradebook** - The gradebook allows the teacher to post assignment grades that visible to individual students.
 * **Library** - Teachers can store files and documents for students to acccess from anywhere.
 * **Notifications** - Students can be notified of teacher and other student posts, assignments, and alerts via email, text message to cell phone, or using a public web page. There is also a well designed application for the iOS and Android mobile devices.


 * Resources**:
 * [|Edmodo Help]
 * Edmodo Teacher Guide
 * iPhone & iPad App
 * Android Marketplace App



**Ning** is a web based social networking Internet site with many of the web features of other open social networking sites, such as Facebook. A Ning site allows members to join and add friends, while posting updates and photographs and participating in group discussions and chats.The main differences between Ning and other, more widely used, social networking sites is that the creator of the Ning has much more control over the members and settings within the Ning. The Ning interface is fairly easy to manipulate, which allows for a person with average to below-average computer skills to feel comfortable navigating the features.
 * Overview:media type="custom" key="9866985" align="right"**

Ning had been free to use in the past, but has recently moved to a pay model. However, Pearson Education will sponsor Ning Mini sites to make them available to teachers for free. The Ning Mini sites do not allow for use of all of their features, but does provide the same control of permissions and users.

**Features**:
 * ** Forum ** - Also known as a discussion board, allow for topics to be posted and for members to post responses that can be displayed in threaded views.
 * ** Events ** - Ning events can be posted for the group and invitations can be sent out to members and non-members to promote activities.
 * ** Notes ** - Simple notes can be posted as announcements or links to resources for all members to view.
 * ** Videos ** – YouTube videos can be embedded on pages
 * ** RSS Feeds ** - An RSS allows for news articles, blog posts, etc. to be automatically posted as they are updated from other web sources.
 * ** Groups ** - Within a Ning, groups can be created to further divide interest groups.
 * ** Chat ** - A synchronous chat box for members to communicate in real time
 * ** Widgets ** – For example, a widget from "Poll Daddy" could be included that has a question for visitors to answer and can be useful for collecting information or quick responses.

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 * Resources**
 * About Ning
 * Ning Mini for Educators

Other Recommended Classroom Educational Social Networking Sites:
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 * Diipo - New, but similar to Ning with more of an Educational Focus
 * Shelfari - Great resource for creating forums for book reviews and discussions
 * Keystone Commons - A site for Pennsylvania Educators and Students only
 * [|Glogster] - Users create "glogs" or graphical blogs for free (teacher account with 50 students)

Social Networking for Teachers and Faculties:

 * Yammer
 * Socialwok

Resources for Middle School or Elementary-age students:

 * [|My Fake Wall]
 * **Top Ten Social Networks for Kids from Common Sense Media**

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