Mission Possible #8: Ning Social Network as a LMS

Posted by: soul4real

Your Mission, should you chose to accept it, is to explore Ning social networks.

Ning is an online platform for users to create their own social websites and social networks. Your social network can be for anything and anyone, even your classes. So why would anyone want to create their own social network when we already have Facebook and MySpace? Simple. It’s yours, and you can invite only the people you want to join and make it look and function the way you want it to. This is perfect for a classroom. First, we have to be conscious about FERPA regulations, so with your own social network in Ning, you can keep it private or make it public. Secondly, students are already using Facebook and MySpace, and many don’t want to mix business with pleasure. And as an instructor, I’m not too anxious about seeing photos of my students indulging in their pleasures. A Ning social network helps make it clear that this is class, but adds the features that help build community in the class.

Below is a presentation on how I use Ning as a LMS replacement for my hybrid and online courses at South Mountain CC.  Check it out.

There are many great features built into Ning that make it a great site for online courses. A few of my favorites are the built in chat that is displayed at the bottom of each page. Students can see when others are present and interact with them if they choose. And the ability to embed widgets on any page and add your own tabs is great. My motivation for using a social network like Ning in my classes was spurred on by my desire to create community among students in my distance ed courses. Here’s another presentation I created on using Ning for that purpose.

Building Community with Ning

View more presentations from Alisa Cooper.

So now it is your turn.

How to:

Go to http://classroom20.com

Check out one of the largest Ning sites out there. Classroom20.com, the social network for those interested in Web 2.0 and collaborative technologies in education. Register as the site by clicking the Sign Up button at the top of the page.

Then visit the MaricopaTech group on the Classroom 2.0 Ning site by clicking this link: http://www.classroom20.com/group/maricopatech. Join the group and add us as your friends, so we can keep in touch.

Last 3 posts by soul4real

April 14, 2009 · Filed Under Missions, Uncategorized, Web 2.0, video

Author's web site: http://maricopatech.blogspot.com

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3 Responses to “Mission Possible #8: Ning Social Network as a LMS”

  1. Todd Conaway on April 14th, 2009 1:20 pm

    Nice work on Ning. Way to go with both Slideshare and VoiceThread. As usual, well crafted and timely.

  2. soul4real on April 14th, 2009 10:14 pm

    Thanks Todd. Hope to see you at the Maricopa Tech conference next month at GCC.

  3. MIchelle Macfarlane on May 2nd, 2009 3:24 am

    NIng is an incredible instructional tool. It has resulted in more personalized interactions between students in my online and face to face courses and so much more! I am doing a presentation on building community using Ning at the Sloan C Emerging Technology Applications conference in San Francisco in June…here is the info:

    Social Networking to Build Community with Ning
    Session 7, Room: D, 4:00p.m. – 4:50p.m.
    Michelle Macfarlane, Sierra College
    Abstract: Social networking sites are a part of most students’ everyday lives. They provide a vehicle for communication as well as self-expression. This presentation illustrates how Ning, a closed, customizable social networking tool, can be used to enhance the learning experience of students and build classroom community.

    I know you are a a Track Chair. I hope to meet you at the conference.

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