So that's what Ning is all about! (Week 6)

The first thing I’m glad to know about Ning is what it actually is and can do! I’d previously heard of the name Ning. However, before reading the article from Educauase “7 Things You Should Know About Ning,” I really didn’t know anything about the online service. Now I get it. In a world where so many people are connected through a handful of popular social networking sites, Ning seems to be an alternative for people who want to veer off the path and create their own place to network.

Most students nowadays have Facebook, Twitter and other accounts where they are constantly posting and reading other’s posts.  Some of it is personal and some of it is not.  “For today’s students, who spend countless hours on Facebook and MySpace, faculty participation on those networks is often seen as an intrusion into a private domain. Ning provides an avenue for instructors to take advantage of social networks in a neutral setting, offering functionality and an experience that are familiar and comfortable to students.”  (Educause 2008)  I see that as one of the biggest benefits of Ning.  Students don’t have to worry about exposing personal thoughts by taking part in an educational social networking scenario.  Ning creates an online setting that is separate and can be dedicated only to the academic topic or course at hand.

I wish I was able to try Ning in my classroom.  Unfortunately, this is one of the sites that is blocked by my school district’s web filter.  I've mentioned in previous blog posts that my school district uses a site called MyBigCampus.  It does offer some social networking, but it’s just not the same as what students like and are used to.  I may try to talk to my district to see if Ning would ever be a possibility.  I understand that districts want to be able to “police” what students do, and I’m not suggesting that Facebook or Twitter be available in school.  Ning, however, could be a potential social site that when used for educational purposes can be monitored by the teacher.

"7 Things You Should Know About Ning."  Educase Learning Initiative (2008).  1-2.  Web.  2 June 2013.  < http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7036.pdf>