Ning in the classroom

[Mike Leishman]

This thing called Ning has got me thinking.

Last year I introduced my students in Interactive Media to Bloggs and used Tumblr (http://www.tumblr.com/) because it easily let my students add not only text but photos, quotes, links, chat, audio and video. As well I could follow them and they could follow me. I also used RSS feeds to my pageflakes account to aggregate this into one window. See my Tumbr blog here http://mikeleishman.tumblr.com/. One problem was that their blogs were public and so we had to take precautions with photos and names.

Recently I was reading that Ning now provides add free accounts for use by teachers in their classrooms (http://www.stevehargadon.com/2007/11/big-news-from-ning-ad-free-stu...) so I have set up a private, invite only and add free Ning site for my Year 12 Interactive Media class to use this year (http://12imedia.ning.com/) and intend my class to use it as part of their learning and documentation process. Students will be able to collaborate, communicate and interact within a safe and monitored environment that they can connect to from anywhere and at anytime but is private to them and I decide who can join.

Since setting the Ning up, I have extended the invitation to our year 10 Multimedia class and teacher in the hope that the year 12 and year 10 students will also interact and grow with each other.

I will keep you posted.

Mike Leishman

[Simon Brodie]

I tried a few online setups with my yr 6 class last year, in fact we set up a wikispace for all four of our yr 6 classes. Wasn't a huge success, in part due to limitations of package and also some abuse by students. We found it very hard to change individual students permissions etc. Will be interested to see how the ning goes. Of course having older, wiser students may also help limit the "damage" that some may do.

Simon

[Mike Leishman]

Just as a matter of interest, I have made this ning private which means that no one except members can see the content.

I have done this so as they can put personal information onto it without fear of stangers getting hold of their details.

I have also done this because I would like the kids to know that only my HOD, me, the teacher of Multimedia (y10) and the kids from both classes will be able to see the posts and other information.

Early days.

[Rod Blitvich]

Mike
I'm interested! I've tried a few online community things with my Human Biol 12s over the last few years.
I can't view your http://12imedia.ning.com/ site.
Please are you able to give me a visitor login?
ta
Blitto

[Jean Anning]

I'm very interested to see how it all develops Mike. It's great to have a controlled space for kids. Makes me wish I was back in the classroom.
Jean