Fwd: Re: [xmca] ning

[Mike Cole <lchcmike@gmail.com>]

>From Jennifer V

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jennifer Vadeboncoeur <vadebonc@interchange.ubc.ca>
Date: Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Subject: Fwd: Re: [xmca] ning
To: mcole@weber.ucsd.edu


 Hi Mike, This isn't getting on xmca for some reason. If you have a moment,
would you please post it for me? I'm off to bed shortly, but will check in
early tomorrow. Very best - jen


Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 21:41:33 -0700
To: "eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity" <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
From: Jennifer Vadeboncoeur <vadebonc@interchange.ubc.ca>
Subject: Re: [xmca] ning
Cc:
Bcc:
X-Attachments:

Other than the instructor and administrator, I think I would call this
"almost totally encapsulated," Mike. There are NING folks that were our back
up when we had problems, for example, who had access to the site. Is this
what you are referring to in relation to IRB?


One issue that did surface was that teacher candidates wanted to post videos
of themselves working with small groups of students or teaching. Sometimes
these videos were made in school, and the teacher education office consents
had already been negotiated. The camera is supposed to remain on the teacher
candidate. Other times, the videos were made more informally in after school
programs and tutoring groups. We decided not to allow this, simply because
we couldn't control how the videos were created. We knew that the videos
created with consent would be included in e-portfolios that teacher
candidates were allowed to share publicly later. We did allow them to share
videos of themselves, the more social, community building side of this
process. Not everyone did, but some students did.


Overall, the teacher candidates managed themselves well, and considered this
to be a professional site for social networking. I was surprised, however,
when a teacher candidate used a photo taken of a woman's back, bathing suit
on, on a nude beach of a male nude in the distance as her icon (I think  the
student was female, I can't quite remember). I asked that it be removed
asap, and it was.


Perhaps, more of an issue are the issues of etiquette and respect as well.
There is potential for inappropriate comments, bullying even, I am sure. So
far we haven't found any instances of these other than the photo I
mentioned.


Let me know what you think. Have other folks met with any issues around IRB
or etiquette?


Best - jennifer




I can see the educational uses for college courses which are not the object
of research. I am raising the question about use of purposes of research
because this is where IRB issues arise. We have been avoiding googlegroups,
facebook, etc., for IRB reasons. Glynda Hull's use of a special
facebook-like medium that is totally incapsulated is a response to these
concerns. They may not be a problem in many places or for many purposes. i
am being cautious.
mike


On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 8:34 AM, Jennifer Vadeboncoeur <
vadebonc@interchange.ubc.ca> wrote:

>
> Hi Folks,
>
> We use NING in two large courses in the teacher education program, one for
> elementary and one for secondary teacher candidates. There are
approximately
> 280-320 students in each course. They meet in a large lecture hall for one
> hour of lecture, followed by two hours of discussion in "small" break-out
> groups of about 30-34 teacher candidates.
>
> We use NING for several purposes: 1) to post writing assignments, for
> example responses to weekly inquiry questions, 2) to enable additional

  > conversation outside of class, 3) to communicate general information
across

> all sections of the course, 4) and most important, to build community
among
> the teacher candidates and with the instructors. We use the "forum,"
rather
> than the blog, and create weekly forums to organize postings.
>
> I am interested in the extent to which this technology, coupled with the
> course structure, enables continued professional relationships once
teacher
> candidates complete their degree/certification and begin their first
> teaching positions. Many of our teacher candidates teach across Canada and
> the US, and internationally as well.
>
> While NING is quite like other social networking sites, when we began
using

> it several years ago it was the only one that allowed us to form closed
> community groups that were protected by an administrator function that
> allowed us control over who could enter. We did not want to use a
completely
> open site. Teacher candidates can post pictures, videos, their teaching
> activities and professional contributions, and have conversations that we

> did not want to give public access to. We have continued to use it because
> it also allows us to use a French template for the sections of our courses
> that are conducted in French.
>
> For us, NING is incredibly useful. It is easy to use and continues to
> evolve and offer new options as well. So far, so good.
>
> Best - jennifer
>
>
>
>  Here's one example, although you need to be a member to use it:
>> http://www.ncte.org/community
>>
>> Peter Smagorinsky
>> Professor of English Education and Program Coordinator
>> The University of Georgia
>> 125 Aderhold Hall
>> Athens, GA 30602
>> smago@uga.edu
>> http://www.coe.uga.edu/lle/faculty/smagorinsky/index.html
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu [mailto:xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu] On
>> Behalf Of Helen Grimmett
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 8:17 PM
>> To: xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
>> Subject: [xmca] Re: technology for Classroom use
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I've recently heard about something called a "ning", which from what I
>> can gather seems to be a way to set up your own small scale networking
>> site (like a mini facebook) for your own circle of users. It seems to me
>> this might be an ideal way for classrooms (or groups of classrooms or
>> teachers) to explore this technology and be able to share their work
>> without worrying about what else they might come into contact with on
>> facebook, myspace or youtube etc.
>>
>> I haven't investigated it fully yet, but am wondering if it might be the
>> sort of thing that will be useful for my research project on
>> professional learning. Perhaps someone else has some more infromation
>> about nings?
>>
>> Helen Grimmett
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
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>>
>
>
> --
> ______________________________
>
> Jennifer A. Vadeboncoeur, Ph.D.
> Associate Professor
> The University of British Columbia
> Faculty of Education
> 2125 Main Mall
> Library Block 272B
> Vancouver BC V6T-1Z4
>
> phone: 1.604.822.9099
> fax: 1.604.822.3302
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> xmca mailing list
> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
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>
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-- 



______________________________

Jennifer A. Vadeboncoeur, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
The University of British Columbia
Faculty of Education
2125 Main Mall
Library Block 272B
Vancouver BC V6T-1Z4

phone: 1.604.822.9099
fax: 1.604.822.3302



-- 

 ______________________________

Jennifer A. Vadeboncoeur, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
The University of British Columbia
Faculty of Education
2125 Main Mall
Library Block 272B
Vancouver BC V6T-1Z4

phone: 1.604.822.9099
fax: 1.604.822.3302
_______________________________________________
xmca mailing list
xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca