 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Using social networking tools in the languages classroom
What is social networking?
Key features
Social networking sites exist to enable file sharing, promote interaction and create online communities of friends or people with shared interests. The best known in the UK and Ireland include Bebo, My Space, Facebook and file-sharing sites like Flickr and Youtube.
As such, they often have similar features as outlined below.
- Users can create their own individual profile page to display personal information and a picture of themselves or their family, pets etc. This is effectively a personal web page housed within the social networking structure.
- Users can upload and share files such as photos, video clips and mp3 sound recordings.
- Users can form communities of friends.
- Nominated friends can view each other's pages.
- Private messages can be left online.
- Moderation of such sites is often limited or based on peer group assessment of what is appropriate and they are often filtered out by Local Authorities.
Social networking sites designed specifically for educational uses, such as Think.com, often have additional features such as those outlined below.
- Password protection.
- Approval of application to join is needed by both the Head teacher and the social networking site provider.
- Teacher moderation of all that students do online.
- Administration by the teacher or nominated person at the school.
- Maximum size of uploads of multimedia resources.
- Templates for educational use.
- Support pages and tutorials.
- Hosting on a remote server.
- An information section for parents.
- A code of conduct relating to inappropriate postings.
- Automatic deletion of unused accounts (with warnings).
Author: John Hopwood : Languages/ICT consultant, Language College, St Julie's Catholic High School for Girls, Woolton, Liverpool.
