Social_Networks

Fakebook

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How it is being used : Fakebook is a safe alternative to using facebook in the classroom. It is being used by teachers and students to create imaginary profiles of historical figures. For example, what would George Washington’s facebook page look like? What are some things he may post on his status? It is also being used to examine plot lines and characters of books.

How it could be used in the library: Students could use this to create/develop their own book character, a character based on themselves, or explore how different a story might be if the gender or race of a character was changed.

This would also be a useful tool for teaching “netiquette”. Students could practice writing and responding to each other.

~Jennifer Woodruff

Glogster EDU
= = = = =[] = = = = = = How it is being used : = = = Glogster EDU is a social networking site that allows users to create digital posters (almost like an interactive blog) on different topics, easily incorporate multimedia into the posters, and share their posters with others. Glogster EDU is exclusively for the use of educators and students and provides a safer and more educational-focus to the original Glogster site ([]). Users can create posters on just about any topic and share them publically or keep them private for only select members to view. In addition, members can comment on one another’s Glogs, making it easy for peers and teachers to provide instant feedback, suggestions, and praise. = = = = =How it could be used in the library: =

Librarians can create Glogs for their library that includes announcements, photos, and links. In addition, students can create Glogs on specific topics they’ve researched in the library and on topics that interest them personally. Students can work together to create a series of Glogs that all focus on a similar topic or idea, such as Black History Month. Within their Glogs, they can provide video, links, and images that reflect the theme. Once published, the librarian can share the links to the Glogs on her library website. Then, patrons of the library (of various ages and grades) can explore the Glogs, all learn from and enjoy the Glogs for many weeks (and months!) to come.

Sara Johnson

=** ePals **=

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 * ==== ePals provides a safe and reliable environment for students to communicate, collaborate and publish online. It is a free worldwide blog used for K-12 educators. The website has a student e-mail account in which they can practice effective communication with their peers or even with students all over the world, depending on the privacy level that the teacher sets and monitors. This site has designed activities that help students learn about serious programs such as natural disasters, global warming, water distribution and cultural awareness. Students can upload photos, participate in polls and even create as well as update their own online calendar. ====


 * =====In the ePal program: In2Books, adult "e-mentors" are matched with students. This match reads books from given genres together while exchanging online letters about issues, questions and discussions from the given books. There are online quizzes and contextual vocabulary activities to facilitate reading. Through this ePals activity, students visit the library in order to check books out. The librarian can set up digital picture frames promoting the In2Books books for other students to read. Students can make blogs about their In2Books experience and post the blogs on their school library website so that every student can view what other students are reading, what they are learning from the books, read student-written books reviews, and how students' mentorship experiences are going. This will certainly create even greater enthusiasm and incentive to explore even deeper levels of reading.=====

=Edmodo=

[|www.edmodo.com]

Edmodo is a secure social site which enables teachers to set up their classes and allow students to communicate with each other. Students are provided log in information and may message those within their groups. Parents, using a parental code provided by the teacher, are also allowed to monitor their child's responses and participation in discussions. If your school district is registered as an Edmodo user, you may set up messaging between different campuses which increases students interactions. The site also includes opportunities to set up polls and voting questions. Students may respond and use the data to create charts and graphs or compile answers into a survey results project. The teacher has control over settings and user privileges and can read all students posting.

In a library setting, the librarian can create book clubs and literature circles and allow students to post their discussions. They can also create surveys for students to vote on their favorite part of the story. The librarian can also collaborate with the classroom teacher to create questions for students to respond to encourage inferencing and plot development. Edmodo can also be used by students to "book talk" their favorite authors and stories.

Dolores Perez

=Story Bird=

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Storybird is a Web 2.0 tool that helps visitors compose poems and short stories. They have images to help inspire creativity and a forum for sharing within a class, school or with people outside the community. Storybird is free, protects student information, and allows teachers to set up class spaces. Storybird encourages students to feel confident about their work, and gives them a safe palce to share on the internet.

Using it in a library: Storybird is very easy to use and friendly for users as young as 3rd grade. The sleek interface is appealing for older kids as well. As a librarian, I would use this to get students in 3rd-6th grades writing and thoughtfully critiquing the work of their colleagues. The most obvious application of this tool is developing new poetry or short story samples. Additionally, I would encourage students to free write about topics they are learning or thinking about to help them synthesize what they know.

Stephanie Crean __ =Twitter= [|www.twitter.com] Twitter is a social media site where blurbs are limited to 140 characters and what people have to say trumps personal information. It is a great technology to use in an educational setting, especially in post-secondary school in large lecture halls where asking questions is generally difficult. This site [] provides many examples of how Twitter can be used in school. One way in particular is to have a class as an account where during class, students can tweet questions they have and then the professor can answer them. This also makes it easier on students to see what question has already been asked so there is no duplicity.

In a school library, generally those in high school, it could be utilized in the same way as college classes. Even during off-times, students could tweet to the librarian questions about how to find information on a specific subject or whatnot. Katie Schaper

**Ning**

 * [|www.ning.com]**

Ning allows educators to create a customized social network over a specific interest or topic, and it gives students a chance to create their own Ning web page with reliable privacy. Teachers are using Ning to connect with students by providing assignments, information and discussions. They are able to control their master page without making changes to individual class pages. Students are able blog, chat with classmates, view instructors materials and stay active with their learning outside of school. There is also an option that shows class leaders as to create a competitive aspect.

Ning is customizable so the school library can create a Ning page and offer a place for students to come together with the library network. They can post book trailers, book reviews or even share their original work. The librarian can post resources for research and information that students might need for their classes. Parents can also create Ning page to see what is going on in their child's school library.


 * -Amanda Awakuni**


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=imbee = How is it being used? [] is another social networking option for younger users. In fact, it is the only social network, collaboration, and publishing site designed specifically for young users. And, as a NoBullyZone, imbee doesn't tolerate any kind of aggressive or hurtful behavior. They take a stance against cyberbullying, making their learning forum a safe one for students. Imbee also has special options for teachers who want to use the network for classroom networking.
 * = [[image:http://www.wikispaces.com/i/user_none_lg.jpg width="48" height="48" caption="adriwrite" link="http://www.wikispaces.com/user/view/adriwrite"]] ||< [|adriwrite] just now
 * = [[image:http://www.wikispaces.com/i/user_none_lg.jpg width="48" height="48" caption="adriwrite" link="http://www.wikispaces.com/user/view/adriwrite"]] ||< [|adriwrite] just now

How could it be used in the library? Imbee allows students to upload pictures, videos, listen to popular young artists like Selena Gomez, play games, blog. This means the library could offer computers or ipads so that students could use imbee to chat online with the groups they create: holding book talks or book club meetings via imbee rather than a traditional face to face. A librarian could create a group him/herself to promote the use of imbee and book talks on her campus. With proper monitoring of activity, this could be a phenomenal site for education! -Adriana Martinez Lando   ||

**Skype for education**
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Skype for education in the classroom: Through classroom exchange, guest speakers, projects, and much more, teachers are encouraged to collaborate on projects with other educators around the world. Educators also can invite guest speakers to visit the classroom. Children can take field trips without actually leaving the classroom. Teacher can also have video conferences with parents who might not be able to make it to the classroom.

Skype for education in the library: What better way to introduce students to authors than to allow the students to interview their favorite authors. Students can also take field trips to places where stories take place. Students could also read stories to other students around the world or just in the same school district.

One way this technology could be used with pre-k students in the library would be take a field trip to a farm. “Farm animals” is one of the units covered in PreK. It would be better to see what a real farm is like. We read //Woolbur// by Leslie Helakoski. It would have been better to watch a real farmer work with sheep over a video clip.

Diana Colby

 **Wallwisher**
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Wallwisher functions like an online message board. Users can create a wall or message board on a particular topic, or they can add messages or responses to an existing wall in the form of post-its. Post-its are limited to 160 characters, similar to tweets on Twitter. Posts, however, can include images, links, or videos. Access to walls can be public, private, or restricted.
 * __Description:__**

Wallwisher can be used as a reflection page after a lesson. Students would post what they learned or how they foresee using the information gained in the future. Wallwisher could also be used a debate forum to post opinions about a controversial issue or topic in the news.
 * __Classroom use:__**

__**Library use:**__ Librarians can create a Favorites Page where students would add post-its about their favorite books and authors in order to recommend books to their peers. A librarian could also use Wallwisher to create message boards for multiple book clubs based on reading levels. Members could post their opinions about the book for the month or comment on a higher level thinking question posed by the librarian. Additionally, a wall could be created on a specific theme or research topic, and students could post resources (books, articles, website links, videos, etc.) that they feel would be helpful.

-Teena Ramos-