Social+Networking

Social Networking is the grouping of individuals to make a people network, like in the workplace, universities or schools and it is most popular online. When it comes to online social networking, websites function like an online community of internet users. Depending on the website in question, many of these online community members share common interests in hobbies, religion, or politics. Another one of those benefits includes diversity because the internet gives individuals from all around the world access to social networking sites. This means that although you are in Canada, you could develop an online friendship with someone in Europe or South America.
 * What is Social Networking?**

As mentioned, social networking often involves grouping specific individuals or organizations together. This means that anyone can become a member, no matter what their hobbies, beliefs, or views are. However, once you are inside this online community, you can begin to create your own network of friends and eliminate members that do not share common interests or goals.

Watch this short explanation of social networking websites and why they are popular. media type="youtube" key="6a_KF7TYKVc" height="344" width="425" If you like this [|Common Craft Video], you can find others, including: social media twitter

media type="youtube" key="fVXKI506w-E" height="340" width="560" Is social media a fad or is it the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution?
 * The Social Media Revolution** (4:22 min)


 * 1. What is it?**
 * Facebook** is a global social networking website that was founded by Mark Zuckerberg and his college friends at Harvard University. Once you join **Facebook** you can add friends, send them messages and update your personal profile. As well, users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school and region. The website currently has more than 300 million active users worldwide (adapted from - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook).

Social networking sites (SNS) like **Facebook** allow people to share information and create interest groups. Some of the positive features of Facebook are:
 * 2. What are the educational uses of such a site?**
 * allowing staff and students to network with people beyond their local environment and their local time zone
 * help our staff and students to learn how to communicate in an online environment
 * allow students to create online portfolios - which they can use to store their resume and evidence of their work and what they are capable of


 * 3. Is this the best way to communicate with students?**
 * Facebook** is one of the many ways people are now communicating and sharing ideas and information. For example, a class of students with a group page would be a very effective way of communicating easily with a lot of people. When people are 'friends' or follow each other - it is very easy to monitor the progress of what others are doing. This allows you share and use what your 'friends' have already discovered or developed. Depending on the project, a class could invite or include others (for example, experts in an area) to contribute to their learning.

It is important that we as adults participate in these environments to teach our students about SNet-iquette (Social Network ettiquette) and the positive and negative effects of their online behaviour and how they are creating an online 'digital foot print'. (@http://digitaltattoo.ubc.ca/) We should be leading the way in educating people about these things. Therefore, by encouraging staff and students to use these sites as educational tools, we are encouraging the conversations necessary for people to work out what is, and what is not, appropriate in an online environment.
 * 4. Why should I join Facebook or other Social Networking sites?**