Hi again everyone,
I'm not sure what happened...I typed out more feedback on the Edu Challenges section, but Floyd pointed out that I didn't have much to say below.
Basically, this section looks good in terms of content, but I do think it needs some editing, because there's a bit of repetition. For instance, I believe cyber-bullying is discussed twice. You might also consider how this section is organized--some of the Discipline info could fit under Student Behaviors, and vice versa.
Okay, I think that's it. Let me know if there are any questions and sorry for the confusion.
Jeff
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Cool Feedback on Cool Final Draft
Hi everyone,
Here's the feedback on the final draft of your project. I've organized it by section, like last time, with some general comments at the end. You'll have to respond to this feedback fairly quickly, of course, since the final project is due on Thursday, but if you have any questions about these comments, don't hesitate to email me at thibert2@uiuc.edu, and I'll make a point of getting back to you quickly. We hope you find this feedback helpful, and thanks for all the hard work you've been putting in on this project.
By the way, you are all incredibly cool, and not just because of the coolest team name in the history of team names.
All the best,
Jeff
Introduction
You might want to make the connection between the text and the diagram a little more specific. For example, you could say that the blue dots represent the nodes and the lines represent the ties between those nodes. Also, I'm wondering if this diagram is particularly helpful, so you might want to give it a couple more sentences in the Introduction to explain why it makes the idea of social networks clearer.
When you say, "This is..." you might want to be more specific. You could say, "This wiki is..." and you might separate this out, since this is where you move from the general introduction to the concept of social networking to the specific purpose of this project. Also this sentence is a little unclear to me. Are you just examining the communication ties in this project? It seems the focus is more on the social/cultural factors and digital technologies that are contributing to the further development of social networking, and the educational possibilities and challenges of this development. This sentence is serving as a one-sentence summing up of the purpose of the project, so make it as clear as possible, and make it stand out.
Now the second paragraph seems to define a social network again--didn't you do this in the first paragraph? You might want to integrate these. You might add the sentence on what social networking means in a technological sense to the first paragraph, to clarify the kind of social networking you'll be primarily examining in the project.
I like the third paragraph, with the examples of social networks that use technology. (Do be sure that these are explained a bit further later in the wiki.) You might consider adding a paragraph in here that explains why the project is organized in the way it is--"First, we will examine social and cultural changes and contextual factors because..." and so forth. Also, you might emphasize that last sentence, since the thesis of the project is that social networking offers both educational possibilities and challenges for education. (And in fact you might even reveal the overall stance you're taking in the project...you might say something like, social networking offers a number of exciting possibilities for educational practice, but educational policy must change to take these possibilities into account while also recognizing the challenges that social networking presents. This may not be your position, of course, but I imagine you see what I'm getting at.)
Remember, it's helpful if your Intro, aside from generally introducting the concept of social networking, can address three questions: WHAT is the purpose of this project? HOW are you going to organize the project (and why are you organizing it this way)? And WHY are you pursuing this project--what is your thesis--what position are you advancing? You'll then want to reinforce your thesis in the conclusion to the project, where you drive home your point. It helps here to think of this wiki as a long-form group essay (which is how you should be thinking of it), where you're introducing a topic, gathering material, and advancing an argument that should be threaded throughout.
Social and Cultural Changes and Contextual Factors
Changing Communication Style
The content is helpful, but I'm not sure what it's saying about how communication styles have changed. What style of communication is represented by the Internet social networks as opposed to older forms of social networks? It seems that you want to say here that, while social networks have always been around (people have always been social and have always linked up in various networks socially), the communication style that forms those networks has changed; but I'm not sure this point gets across in this section.
Social/Economic/Cultural Patterns
Now this is really a section about 'niche social networks,' not (it seems) about social/economic/cultural patterns. How, then, does this actually reflect changing social/economic/cultural patterns and their influence on the development of social networking technologies?
Emphasis on the Individual, the Collective
This section could use a bit more critique, I think. It seems you're saying that social networking technologies reveal an emphasis on the individual and an emphasis on the collective. What do you think about this? Is Facebook just a site for people to talk about themselves? Is it a site for people to network? Both? Don't be afraid to get critical (in the 'critique' sense of the word).
Ability of Access and Populations
I'm not sure how ability of access and populations (in fact, I'm not clear on what this title means) connects to the security issues you bring up in this section. It's true that educators need to take into account that students will need to know how to use technology, but how does this relate to social networking specifically, and how does it relate to "Legal Restriction, Digital Divide, Technophobia"?
Need for Security
Good information here, though you might expand on that last sentence a bit. Why will there always be that dichotomy? What should we do about it, in your opinion? However, I'm wondering why this section is under social/cultural changes and contextual factors? This seems like it might fit under educational challenges, or perhaps under 'digital technologies and their uses.' Is the need for security on social networking sites connected to a social/cultural change?
Importance in the Everyday
Here I assume you're trying to show how social networking technologies have impacted various sectors of society, like business, medicine, etc. As you point out, though, this gets more attention in the "Uses" section--so do you need it here? Is there a larger social/cultural change that is represented by the uses you're mentioning here? Does it have to be in this section at all? I think if you do believe that these uses connect to larger changes/contexts, then you might want to develop this point more here.
Significance and Self-Perpetuation
I see how this relates--showing how social networking is integrating itself in society--and you may want to say more here. How is this expansion changing society, changing culture, changing the way people communicate?
Some General Comments on This Section
First, I'd suggest that you propose some way of tying the subsections in this section together--you've got some pieces here, but they're not necessarily linked up. You might introduce this section by saying, "There are X key issues to consider regarding social/cultural change and social networking..." or something like that. Something that ties this together, like you would in any essay.
Also, recall that this section of the wiki is dealing with social/cultural changes and context. Generally, throughout this part, I'm not seeing ties made between the information and larger social/cultural changes. Recall that you want to discuss how society and culture have influenced the development of social networking technologies AND how the social networking technologies have led to changes in society and culture. For instance, perhaps Facebook is rooted in a kind of individualism, but where does this individualism come from? Is this part of a social trend? Are societies that are known for being more 'collective' less interested in Facebook? Are sites like Facebook making societies more individualized? Also, why are people turning to social networking sites for communicating with others, rather than focusing on social networks at home, in neighborhoods, at work? Is this indicative of a social/cultural change? There's some good information here, but I'm not sure if it's apparent how it all links to the bigger topic of this section. The individual/collective bit and the self-perpetuation bit seem to be right in this section, but there could be more on how/why the interaction between society/culture and social networking technologies is proceeding in certain ways. I think there's a lot more that could be said here, potentially.
Digital Technologies and Their Uses
The intro is interesting, but it's odd how the section on digital technologies and their uses starts off with an introduction that doesn't mention technology at all, really. This seems like information that might fit better under the social/cultural context section, because digital social networks fit into the more traditional kinds of social networking you're mentioning here. So this introduction doesn't really introduce this specific section, it seems.
Uses of various methods...
This is a brief history of social networking, and technology does come in here at the end; but again, if you're going to give this history in the section called "Digital Technologies and Their Uses," it should be clear how the history connects to this. Perhaps you might say, "Before discussing how digital technologies have been used in social networking, we want to offer a brief history of social networking, so that..." and then explain why the history makes sense here. I can see why a history might be valuable, but be sure that you make that clear to the reader (and also consider whether it makes more sense at this point in the wiki-essay or closer to the beginning, perhaps as a way of establishing context).
Digital technology and how it supports...
This section needs to be cleaned up a bit. Also, what are the digital technologies that led to the rise of digital social networking? It seems that here you might give the contemporary history of social networking--how did Facebook and MySpace get so popular, for example? You might get into this later, but then you could say that here. Also, how did the 'gadgets' REPLACE old systems of communication? Try to be a little more specific here--it seems that you're making some sweeping claims, and it'd help to have a specific idea or two to clarify. (And I'm not sure if old systems have been replaced completely...)
Examples...
I think this is all quite good, though as I read it, I'm thinking that this is the kind of thing I'd expect under social/cultural changes and context, because you're basically saying how these particular practices/contexts have been changed by social networking technologies. Perhaps your first major section and your second major section could be integrated or reorganized a bit. Up to you. Some of the information here could be a bit more specific--when did MySpace start, who started it, do you have a quote for the specific purpose behind starting MySpace? The games that involve social networking go far beyond dungeons and dragons, though that's a helpful example.
Effectiveness of...
Do you mean 'effects of' here?
It seems that this could be a bit more developed...it might be interesting to give a few specific examples of how technology has opened up a social network...you could talk about how technologies like Facebook and MySpace have changed the way that people form social networks, for instance. Remember, we're not just talking about communication here but also the way people form social networks. How have technologies affected the way that people are social? (Again, this might make more sense in the changes/context section.)
Problems with digital technology...
It strikes me that this could be more developed (remember that security section from earlier...). Could you give specific examples here of security problems? How is this being dealt with? Maybe you'll explain this more as an 'educational challenge,' but then you should say that. Also, could there be problems with how digi tech changes the way that people are interact? Could anyone consider it a problem that people are networking more online than in person? Is this even really happening? These are the kinds of issues you might raise here...
Educational Opportunities and Possibilities with Social Networking
First off, what's the difference between an opportunity and a possibility?
Edu Opps
Literacy skills are social skills, you say. Are they JUST social skills? General statements like this may or may not be true, but you've got to be sure to support them well. It would seem that social networking, too, would allow people to be responsible for one another's learning, rather than just their own. Aren't people already responsible (to an extent) for their own learning? Is responsibility an edu opp just brought on by soc net? You might expand on what Patarakin says...HOW does soc net assist with teaching those skills?
We have privacy/security raised again here...now is this an edu opp? Is this an edu challenge? If security has already been discussed, do we need it again here? Maybe you're talking about security in an edu context specifically, but then I'm not sure why this fits under opportunities.
I think the connecting classrooms section is good--a clear example of ways in which social networking can offer edu opportunities. The collaborative projects section is good, too (though the web-based data sharing section is slim). You might consider doing more brainstorming about opportunities. Do you think there are any other opps? Could facebook be used in a certain way, for instance? And what about your experiences with this class? Did you see the use of blogs/wikis as an opportunity, a challenge? Don't forget to be critical throughout.
The possibilities you mention here seem like they could also be called opportunities. I'm not sure why these are separated out. If you have a reason, cool, just be sure to explain it (here, again, is why an intro at the beginning of each section could help).
The future tech advances section is interesting, though not specifically educational. Perhaps you could blend this in with the hypothesis section, or perhaps it would fit better in the section where you're talking about the history/contemporary situation of social networking.
I like the idea of the hypothesis section, though I think a lot of what you say here was mentioned earlier, in the sections on specific technologies and the edu opportunities they provide. The hypothesis could be integrated throughout this opp/poss section--I would think a hypothesis would offer a number of possibilities, for instance.
Educational Challenges with Social Networking
Access
This is a great summary of digital divide/access/equity issues, but you might want to connect this more specifically to social networking, or you might even just link to the wiki for the Digital Divide group, where the issue's explained in more detail. Access is a key issue--I'm not arguing that--clearly any possibilities that soc net offers for education are irrelevant if schools don't have the computers to access that technology. But you should probably connect what you've got here more explicitly to social networking.
References
General Comments
Be sure that you think of the whole wiki as a long essay, and the sections within the wiki as mini-essays that, together, comprise the longer essay. Maybe you could think of them as chapters. So, just like you presumably would in an essay, you should be sure that you have clear topic statements, theses, etc. Be sure that each section and subsection has a clear and distinct point that it's trying to make (there should be a reason that you've chosen to make this its own section rather than folding it into other sections) that also contributes to the larger point of the wiki-essay. Don't be afraid to have an editor or two go through the project and adjust people's writing, or add clarifying sentences here and there, to give the project a prominent structure and a smooth flow, so that it really does read like a long essay. This would be an especially helpful thing to do between now and Thursday, since it's unlikely that you'll have much time to add new content (i.e., do more research) between now and then. We're using a wiki format here precisely because it easily allows for collaboration, so take advantage of that.
Be sure that the title of a subsection/section matches up with what's going on in that section. At points, the section titles are pretty broad, while the actual content of the section is pretty specific. So be sure that the content of a section is clearly tied to what that section is supposed to be about (based on the title). And don't be afraid to change titles, of course, if you have to. You don't have to stick to the original outline if it doesn't seem appropriate anymore.
While you should, I think, have one or two people focus on Editing the whole wiki-essay, be sure that all of you actually read this through to see how it flows, and send each other feedback. You may already be doing this, of course, but I think the feedback you could give to one another (especially in light of what you've just read here) would be just as helpful as the feedback we've given above.
Here's the feedback on the final draft of your project. I've organized it by section, like last time, with some general comments at the end. You'll have to respond to this feedback fairly quickly, of course, since the final project is due on Thursday, but if you have any questions about these comments, don't hesitate to email me at thibert2@uiuc.edu, and I'll make a point of getting back to you quickly. We hope you find this feedback helpful, and thanks for all the hard work you've been putting in on this project.
By the way, you are all incredibly cool, and not just because of the coolest team name in the history of team names.
All the best,
Jeff
Introduction
You might want to make the connection between the text and the diagram a little more specific. For example, you could say that the blue dots represent the nodes and the lines represent the ties between those nodes. Also, I'm wondering if this diagram is particularly helpful, so you might want to give it a couple more sentences in the Introduction to explain why it makes the idea of social networks clearer.
When you say, "This is..." you might want to be more specific. You could say, "This wiki is..." and you might separate this out, since this is where you move from the general introduction to the concept of social networking to the specific purpose of this project. Also this sentence is a little unclear to me. Are you just examining the communication ties in this project? It seems the focus is more on the social/cultural factors and digital technologies that are contributing to the further development of social networking, and the educational possibilities and challenges of this development. This sentence is serving as a one-sentence summing up of the purpose of the project, so make it as clear as possible, and make it stand out.
Now the second paragraph seems to define a social network again--didn't you do this in the first paragraph? You might want to integrate these. You might add the sentence on what social networking means in a technological sense to the first paragraph, to clarify the kind of social networking you'll be primarily examining in the project.
I like the third paragraph, with the examples of social networks that use technology. (Do be sure that these are explained a bit further later in the wiki.) You might consider adding a paragraph in here that explains why the project is organized in the way it is--"First, we will examine social and cultural changes and contextual factors because..." and so forth. Also, you might emphasize that last sentence, since the thesis of the project is that social networking offers both educational possibilities and challenges for education. (And in fact you might even reveal the overall stance you're taking in the project...you might say something like, social networking offers a number of exciting possibilities for educational practice, but educational policy must change to take these possibilities into account while also recognizing the challenges that social networking presents. This may not be your position, of course, but I imagine you see what I'm getting at.)
Remember, it's helpful if your Intro, aside from generally introducting the concept of social networking, can address three questions: WHAT is the purpose of this project? HOW are you going to organize the project (and why are you organizing it this way)? And WHY are you pursuing this project--what is your thesis--what position are you advancing? You'll then want to reinforce your thesis in the conclusion to the project, where you drive home your point. It helps here to think of this wiki as a long-form group essay (which is how you should be thinking of it), where you're introducing a topic, gathering material, and advancing an argument that should be threaded throughout.
Social and Cultural Changes and Contextual Factors
Changing Communication Style
The content is helpful, but I'm not sure what it's saying about how communication styles have changed. What style of communication is represented by the Internet social networks as opposed to older forms of social networks? It seems that you want to say here that, while social networks have always been around (people have always been social and have always linked up in various networks socially), the communication style that forms those networks has changed; but I'm not sure this point gets across in this section.
Social/Economic/Cultural Patterns
Now this is really a section about 'niche social networks,' not (it seems) about social/economic/cultural patterns. How, then, does this actually reflect changing social/economic/cultural patterns and their influence on the development of social networking technologies?
Emphasis on the Individual, the Collective
This section could use a bit more critique, I think. It seems you're saying that social networking technologies reveal an emphasis on the individual and an emphasis on the collective. What do you think about this? Is Facebook just a site for people to talk about themselves? Is it a site for people to network? Both? Don't be afraid to get critical (in the 'critique' sense of the word).
Ability of Access and Populations
I'm not sure how ability of access and populations (in fact, I'm not clear on what this title means) connects to the security issues you bring up in this section. It's true that educators need to take into account that students will need to know how to use technology, but how does this relate to social networking specifically, and how does it relate to "Legal Restriction, Digital Divide, Technophobia"?
Need for Security
Good information here, though you might expand on that last sentence a bit. Why will there always be that dichotomy? What should we do about it, in your opinion? However, I'm wondering why this section is under social/cultural changes and contextual factors? This seems like it might fit under educational challenges, or perhaps under 'digital technologies and their uses.' Is the need for security on social networking sites connected to a social/cultural change?
Importance in the Everyday
Here I assume you're trying to show how social networking technologies have impacted various sectors of society, like business, medicine, etc. As you point out, though, this gets more attention in the "Uses" section--so do you need it here? Is there a larger social/cultural change that is represented by the uses you're mentioning here? Does it have to be in this section at all? I think if you do believe that these uses connect to larger changes/contexts, then you might want to develop this point more here.
Significance and Self-Perpetuation
I see how this relates--showing how social networking is integrating itself in society--and you may want to say more here. How is this expansion changing society, changing culture, changing the way people communicate?
Some General Comments on This Section
First, I'd suggest that you propose some way of tying the subsections in this section together--you've got some pieces here, but they're not necessarily linked up. You might introduce this section by saying, "There are X key issues to consider regarding social/cultural change and social networking..." or something like that. Something that ties this together, like you would in any essay.
Also, recall that this section of the wiki is dealing with social/cultural changes and context. Generally, throughout this part, I'm not seeing ties made between the information and larger social/cultural changes. Recall that you want to discuss how society and culture have influenced the development of social networking technologies AND how the social networking technologies have led to changes in society and culture. For instance, perhaps Facebook is rooted in a kind of individualism, but where does this individualism come from? Is this part of a social trend? Are societies that are known for being more 'collective' less interested in Facebook? Are sites like Facebook making societies more individualized? Also, why are people turning to social networking sites for communicating with others, rather than focusing on social networks at home, in neighborhoods, at work? Is this indicative of a social/cultural change? There's some good information here, but I'm not sure if it's apparent how it all links to the bigger topic of this section. The individual/collective bit and the self-perpetuation bit seem to be right in this section, but there could be more on how/why the interaction between society/culture and social networking technologies is proceeding in certain ways. I think there's a lot more that could be said here, potentially.
Digital Technologies and Their Uses
The intro is interesting, but it's odd how the section on digital technologies and their uses starts off with an introduction that doesn't mention technology at all, really. This seems like information that might fit better under the social/cultural context section, because digital social networks fit into the more traditional kinds of social networking you're mentioning here. So this introduction doesn't really introduce this specific section, it seems.
Uses of various methods...
This is a brief history of social networking, and technology does come in here at the end; but again, if you're going to give this history in the section called "Digital Technologies and Their Uses," it should be clear how the history connects to this. Perhaps you might say, "Before discussing how digital technologies have been used in social networking, we want to offer a brief history of social networking, so that..." and then explain why the history makes sense here. I can see why a history might be valuable, but be sure that you make that clear to the reader (and also consider whether it makes more sense at this point in the wiki-essay or closer to the beginning, perhaps as a way of establishing context).
Digital technology and how it supports...
This section needs to be cleaned up a bit. Also, what are the digital technologies that led to the rise of digital social networking? It seems that here you might give the contemporary history of social networking--how did Facebook and MySpace get so popular, for example? You might get into this later, but then you could say that here. Also, how did the 'gadgets' REPLACE old systems of communication? Try to be a little more specific here--it seems that you're making some sweeping claims, and it'd help to have a specific idea or two to clarify. (And I'm not sure if old systems have been replaced completely...)
Examples...
I think this is all quite good, though as I read it, I'm thinking that this is the kind of thing I'd expect under social/cultural changes and context, because you're basically saying how these particular practices/contexts have been changed by social networking technologies. Perhaps your first major section and your second major section could be integrated or reorganized a bit. Up to you. Some of the information here could be a bit more specific--when did MySpace start, who started it, do you have a quote for the specific purpose behind starting MySpace? The games that involve social networking go far beyond dungeons and dragons, though that's a helpful example.
Effectiveness of...
Do you mean 'effects of' here?
It seems that this could be a bit more developed...it might be interesting to give a few specific examples of how technology has opened up a social network...you could talk about how technologies like Facebook and MySpace have changed the way that people form social networks, for instance. Remember, we're not just talking about communication here but also the way people form social networks. How have technologies affected the way that people are social? (Again, this might make more sense in the changes/context section.)
Problems with digital technology...
It strikes me that this could be more developed (remember that security section from earlier...). Could you give specific examples here of security problems? How is this being dealt with? Maybe you'll explain this more as an 'educational challenge,' but then you should say that. Also, could there be problems with how digi tech changes the way that people are interact? Could anyone consider it a problem that people are networking more online than in person? Is this even really happening? These are the kinds of issues you might raise here...
Educational Opportunities and Possibilities with Social Networking
First off, what's the difference between an opportunity and a possibility?
Edu Opps
Literacy skills are social skills, you say. Are they JUST social skills? General statements like this may or may not be true, but you've got to be sure to support them well. It would seem that social networking, too, would allow people to be responsible for one another's learning, rather than just their own. Aren't people already responsible (to an extent) for their own learning? Is responsibility an edu opp just brought on by soc net? You might expand on what Patarakin says...HOW does soc net assist with teaching those skills?
We have privacy/security raised again here...now is this an edu opp? Is this an edu challenge? If security has already been discussed, do we need it again here? Maybe you're talking about security in an edu context specifically, but then I'm not sure why this fits under opportunities.
I think the connecting classrooms section is good--a clear example of ways in which social networking can offer edu opportunities. The collaborative projects section is good, too (though the web-based data sharing section is slim). You might consider doing more brainstorming about opportunities. Do you think there are any other opps? Could facebook be used in a certain way, for instance? And what about your experiences with this class? Did you see the use of blogs/wikis as an opportunity, a challenge? Don't forget to be critical throughout.
The possibilities you mention here seem like they could also be called opportunities. I'm not sure why these are separated out. If you have a reason, cool, just be sure to explain it (here, again, is why an intro at the beginning of each section could help).
The future tech advances section is interesting, though not specifically educational. Perhaps you could blend this in with the hypothesis section, or perhaps it would fit better in the section where you're talking about the history/contemporary situation of social networking.
I like the idea of the hypothesis section, though I think a lot of what you say here was mentioned earlier, in the sections on specific technologies and the edu opportunities they provide. The hypothesis could be integrated throughout this opp/poss section--I would think a hypothesis would offer a number of possibilities, for instance.
Educational Challenges with Social Networking
Access
This is a great summary of digital divide/access/equity issues, but you might want to connect this more specifically to social networking, or you might even just link to the wiki for the Digital Divide group, where the issue's explained in more detail. Access is a key issue--I'm not arguing that--clearly any possibilities that soc net offers for education are irrelevant if schools don't have the computers to access that technology. But you should probably connect what you've got here more explicitly to social networking.
References
General Comments
Be sure that you think of the whole wiki as a long essay, and the sections within the wiki as mini-essays that, together, comprise the longer essay. Maybe you could think of them as chapters. So, just like you presumably would in an essay, you should be sure that you have clear topic statements, theses, etc. Be sure that each section and subsection has a clear and distinct point that it's trying to make (there should be a reason that you've chosen to make this its own section rather than folding it into other sections) that also contributes to the larger point of the wiki-essay. Don't be afraid to have an editor or two go through the project and adjust people's writing, or add clarifying sentences here and there, to give the project a prominent structure and a smooth flow, so that it really does read like a long essay. This would be an especially helpful thing to do between now and Thursday, since it's unlikely that you'll have much time to add new content (i.e., do more research) between now and then. We're using a wiki format here precisely because it easily allows for collaboration, so take advantage of that.
Be sure that the title of a subsection/section matches up with what's going on in that section. At points, the section titles are pretty broad, while the actual content of the section is pretty specific. So be sure that the content of a section is clearly tied to what that section is supposed to be about (based on the title). And don't be afraid to change titles, of course, if you have to. You don't have to stick to the original outline if it doesn't seem appropriate anymore.
While you should, I think, have one or two people focus on Editing the whole wiki-essay, be sure that all of you actually read this through to see how it flows, and send each other feedback. You may already be doing this, of course, but I think the feedback you could give to one another (especially in light of what you've just read here) would be just as helpful as the feedback we've given above.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Dear Feedback Givers
Dear Feedback Givers,
Please tell us our wiki is the best ever and needs absolutely no changes. Feel free to mention how cool we are as well.
Love,
The Autobots
(Social Networking Team)
ps
please note our coolness of having a team name
Please tell us our wiki is the best ever and needs absolutely no changes. Feel free to mention how cool we are as well.
Love,
The Autobots
(Social Networking Team)
ps
please note our coolness of having a team name
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
First Draft Feedback
Hello Social Networkers,
Below you'll find feedback on the first draft of your final project. Our hope is that you will use this feedback as you continue working on your project, as your first draft becomes a final draft, due Monday, July 30. For this final draft, your project should be mostly (if not entirely) complete, since you will only have a couple of days to use final draft feedback to submit your final project by Thursday, August 2. So this next week is of particular importance for your project.
I'll organize these comments, based on my input and Nick's input, around the five broad sections of your project (Introduction; Social and Cultural Changes and Contextual Factors; Digital Technologies and Their Uses; Educational Opportunities and Possibilities with Social Networking; and Educational Challenges with Social Networking). I will also have a section for general comments pertaining to the project as a whole. If you have any questions or comments about this feedback, you can leave comments on your blog under this entry, or you can email me at thibert2@uiuc.edu.
I hope you find this feedback helpful!
Jeff (and Nick)
The Evaluation Questions:
1. What are the wider social and cultural changes that are entailed by this trend? In other words, these trends don’t emerge in a vacuum, and they often reflect other social and cultural changes as well. What are some of the major contextual factors giving rise to this trend?
2. How are new digital technologies, and their uses, affecting and affected by this trend?
3. What are the educational opportunities and challenges arising from these developments?
Nick's Input...Much of this is mirrored in what I've said below, but to save time, rather than try to integrate his comments into mine, I'm just going to put them up front:
“Contextual Factors” -- just a list, please say more.
“Pre-Technology Age” has there ever been a (human) pre-technology age or just DIFFERENT technologies? (cave paintings, etc)
Other social factors – mobility, changes in neighborhoods. See Putnam, “Bowling Alone.” Are people HUNGRY for something online SN provides?
“Early Technology Age”—order of these sections?
Some of these sections are just lists of technologies/methods, describing what they are, but not how they are being used and the difference they make.
This is also a concern with the Educational Opportunities and Possibilities section. This is a key section, please say more.
Educational challenges. Better, but needs more. What about effects on privacy – or more precisely, changing views in what is or should be “private”? Young people particularly are putting all sorts of things out there, without worry – that adults would never do. Is this a positive change, a danger, or both?
Introduction
I assume this will be filled out nearer to the end of the project. (I often write my introduction last as well.) I'd suggest that you use the introduction, when it's completed, to do three things: 1) Concisely introduce the concept of social networking--give a brief definition. 2) Explain why the wiki is organized the way it is. What are the main questions you're addressing? What is each section going to do? 3) Offer a 'thesis' for your project. What general stance are you taking towards social networking here? What argumentative thread is woven throughout the project? Overall, try to use the introduction so that the reader has a clear idea of what you're trying to do, how you're trying to do it, and what point you're trying to make. This will frame your project and give you a chance to provide some cohesion for a fairly large amount of information.
Social and Cultural Changes and Contextual Factors
--Is changing communication style what you want to lead with here? You might choose to describe these Changes and Factors from least important to most important, or from most important to least important, but there should be a plan for how you present them. Also, consider giving each section of your wiki an introduction, since each section is so complex. (See my comments for the General Introduction--you can offer a what/how/what point for each section of your wiki.)
--How do you think the importance of visual/iconic representation connects to social networking? Could social networking not take place in the absence of images?
--I'd say that emphasis on individuality is a social/economic/cultural pattern. Would you? Here's a place where you might fold one section into another, or do a bit of reorganization.
--Note that in this first completed section, "Emphasis on Individuality," you start talking about social networking without really having introduced it (I assume this will happen in the Introduction). Also, and this holds throughout the wiki, when you say something like "personal profile"--when you're using terms the meaning of which might not be immediately clear to a reader approaching this topic for the first time--you might offer an example (or a LINK to an example--one of the benefits of wikis) of what you mean.
--The information you give in the "Individuality" section is well-cited. I like how you have links to the actual sources--I'd consider doing this throughout the wiki, since (again) this is one of the benefits of using a wiki format here.
--Are there alternative views on the points made in the "Individuality" section? Might you challenge some of the claims here? For example, Boyd makes a sort of dichotomy between Facebook users and MySpace users, but I know a lot of people who are on both, especially since Facebook has expanded its reach beyond colleges to include high schools and geographical networks. You no longer have to be in school to be on Facebook. Do you think Boyd is right here? Also, more generally, while social networking sites might result from an emphasis on individuality, the 'networking' element implies that people are trying to get connected. Most people I know who use these sites use them to connect (or reconnect) to others. People initially meet in person, but then develop a relationship over MySpace. Or people use MySpace to search for old high school friends. Or they use these sites to find people with similar interests and tastes. People might be making their profiles to showcase their individuality, of course, but there's also a community element here, so it seems we could just as easily give "Emphasis on Community-Building" as a factor. Perhaps increased individuality in some aspects of life has led people to turn to the internet to form the community they aren't finding in their neighborhoods, or at their workplaces.
--I might not go into as much detail about each section as I just did, but I hope you see what I'm getting at here. It's important to offer a critical evaluation of the information you're presenting. We're not just compiling sources here, like a sort of literature review, though this is part of it. We're seeing what's out there about social networking and then reflecting on that information to come to some kind of position on the topic. So you might present information that supports individuality, information that supports community-building (even if this comes from your own thinking on the topic), and then the position you take based on that information.
--The Access section is not yet complete. This is certainly a factor, but does it make sense for it to come right after individuality and right before security? Remember that there should be a 'flow' to the wiki--you should be able to explain (probably in an introduction) why you've set it up the way you have. Perhaps you choose to set it up with no 'flow' at all in some sections, but this should be a considered choice that you can explain.
--In the Security section, you've got a good overview here...you might say more, though, about what those measures you present at the end are trying to do. What kinds of laws are being enacted? What kind of education is being tried? Are there legal issues here? (One of the articles we're reading for class talks a bit about this.)
--Throughout, it's important to remember that MySpace and Facebook are not the only kinds of social networking. I think you recognize this, but other sources of social networking might include games, virtual environments like Second Life, discussion forums, blogs, wikis, web-rings, sites organized around a topic that allow for comments, etc. Almost anything that links people together could be a form of social networking. MySpace and Facebook are excellent (and well-known) examples, but the theme of social networking extends broadly.
--Here you've got a section on "Contextual Factors Which Give Rise to This Trend." I think "Individuality" could fit under here, too. So this whole section might use some reorganizing. I also notice, below, you've got information on past forms of social networking--it seems that this could be part of social/cultural changes. You might assign one or two team members to go through the wiki as a whole--to try to look at it as a single document--since this might open up your perspectives a bit, especially if you've largely been focusing on your own sections.
--The individuality section here is a good example of the kind of societal/cultural factor you should be focusing on. What changes in society have led to changes in how we do social networking? Have changes in social networking altered the way society functions? How have people (and technology) changed social networking and how have social networking technologies changed people?
--Overall, this section does need some work. This is just an initial draft, so that's fine, and I understand that at least one team member has been delayed in completing his/her section, but do take my above comments into account as you continue working. Pay special attention to how you're going to organize this section, and if it might make more sense to organize it differently or combine it with other sections.
Digital Technologies and Their Uses
--So this section is on digital technologies and their uses, but then we start off with pre-technology, and other technologies that we probably wouldn't call digital. You're giving more of a history of social networking than a description of how digital technologies are being employed in social networking. This is fine, of course--there's value in a historical perspective here--but here's another point where some re-organizing might be in order.
--As I'm reading this, I see that this history might make more sense at the beginning of the wiki, perhaps after the introduction? This would make the point straightaway that people have socially networking forever, really, but what's changing is that digital technologies are now being used for it. The question then becomes, "How is the use of digital technology affecting the way in which contemporary humanity networks socially?" Going through this history also gives you a chance to be pretty clear on what you actually mean by 'social networking.' That we're not just talking about MySpace here.
--Note that the recreational activities and organizations sections are very similar. Here's another point where one or two "Big Picture" people might contribute to the cohesion of the project.
--I'm not sure how the organizations sections fits into the flow here. You seem to be organizing around the development of technology--pre-technology, to early technology, etc. But organizations span all these eras. You might use the organizations as a framing device--how have various organizations socially networked in different eras? Or you might have one section for Kinds of social networking and one section for Sites of social networking. Give this some thought. For a project of this scope, organization is probably just as important as content. You might have brilliant content (and I think you do here), but if it's not organized well, it'll get lost in a mass of information. We might think of knowledge as organized information, and wisdom as knowledge in a critical perspective. We're aiming for wisdom on social networking here.
--Now we're getting into digital technology...this section should be fairly well developed, since this is describing the technologies we're most interested in for this project. You probably don't need to say what computers are--we're most interested in how computers have been used (since the 'beginning') for social networking. We jump right to blogs, email, and so forth, but online bulletin boards were perhaps the earliest use of computers for social networking, as were early online games. A more comprehensive history of how digital technology has contributed to social networking (and how a drive for social networking led to new technologies) might be in order here.
--What's interesting to me is that you actually don't have a section here devoted to MySpace and/or Facebook. I think you definitely need something here, since these are the most prominent and well recognized examples of social networking today. Most people wanting to know more about social networking are going to want to know more about these sites. Also, throughout this section, if you're talking about something available on the internet (e.g., Second Life, Wii, Facebook), consider linking directly to those sites, so that the user can jump right to an example of what you're talking about. Again, this is one of the strengths of using a wiki over paper. Here's yet another spot where "Big Picture" team members could come in handy--they could scour the wiki for things that might deserve links. The more I go through this, the more I think assigning one or two people to 'manage' the wiki would make sense. (Sometimes organizational schemes or divisions of labor don't become clear until you're already engaged in a project.)
--You say the biggest problem is security. What about problems with identity, with virtuality, etc.? Security is certainly an issue, but I wonder if it's really the biggest problem. (And of course, security was mentioned earlier--another spot where sections might be combined.)
--Here you seem to be talking largely about how technology was used for social networking...is there a vice versa here? Has a need for social networking led to new technologies? And how have elements of society been using these technologies? (Businesses, churches, academia, etc.) There's an interaction effect between society and technology, and I'm not sure this is represented fully here.
--This section works as a history, but see my comments above. I think some important social networking sources are being glossed over and some of this information might best appear summarized in an introduction. There's no one way to do this, but consider what makes sense.
Educational Opportunities and Possibilities with Social Networking
--As a general statement, I wonder if you might combine the opportunities and challenges sections. I say this because for many of the issues you raise present both opportunities AND challenges. There's an upside to distance learning, and a downside, I'd say. For instance, distance learning might lead to increased access, but it might also lead to less effective teaching, if not done well. Also, perhaps social networking allows people to connect across city, country, continent; but is this really the same as connecting in person? I'm just trying to give a sense here of how you might structure these issues as offering both opportunities and challenges. You can play the opps and challenges against one another and then point out where you stand.
--Might help to have some examples under the "Connecting Classrooms" section. Why is this an example of social networking?
--The distance learning section is helpful, but be clear why this is social networking. How is social networking used within distance learning programs? Is social networking an explicit emphasis in distance learning? You might have some personal experiences to share here.
--This section is reading more like a "how communication technologies can be used in education" than "how social networking technologies can be used in education." IM and chat and video conferencing are certainly aspects of social networking, but these alone do not build a network. Expand this a bit--how could Facebook offer educational opportunities? How could discussion forums offer educational opportunities? How could online games offer educational opportunities?
--Do try to give examples of how these technologies have been used, if you can find them.
--Podcasts certainly offer edu. opps. How do they contribute to social networking? How do they link students into a network? Remember to connect things to the theme.
--Collaborative projects seem like a key way that social networking could be used in education--it'd be a good way to link people up to work on projects, for instance. I'd say more about this, if you can.
--Blogs, wikis--try to say more here, since these have more distinctly social networking aspects. Remember that we're talking about technologies that are SOCIAL and that NETWORK people. IM is social, but does it contribute to a network? The internet is a network, but is it always social? Again, answer these sorts of questions as you wish, but make sure that you're clear about what counts as social networking.
--How are Edu Opportunities different from Edu Possibilities here?
--How are iPods part of social networking? PDAs? Are they being used in social networking? The cell phones I can see, sort of, but this isn't explained fully.
--The MySpace.com section might be expanded--even if you can't find examples of how these have been used educationally, do some brainstorming.
--Ebay is an interesting idea--but how is this social networking? Be clear.
--The hypothesis section is interesting, and you might expand on this.
Educational Challenges with Social Networking
--Your challenges section focuses on access, discipline, and behavior.
--Access is certainly a challenge, though this seems to extend all across technology, and so you have to be clear how it particularly effects social networking technologies. The access issue is presented pretty generally here (and remember that we have a whole group devoted to Access issues). So you might say something like, "The educational opportunities are potentially great, but they would require every student being able to access social networking sites, which is unlikely due to funding inequities." The challenges section should look at what challenges specifically arise from Social Networking technologies.
--The Discipline section is good--it focused specifically on social networking. You might now evaluate the way discipline is being handled. What would you recommend for disciplinary issues related to social networking? What would you do when students posted disparaging information about teachers, administrators (or one another) on social networking sites?
--Should school computers be used to access social networking sites? I don't see this addressed specifically, but this is a major issue, since legislation has been proposed that ties federal school funding to the banning of access to social networking sites in schools.
--The behavior section is interesting, though I'm not sure why this is a specifically educational challenge. Might expand this more, or place it under cultural/social context.
--Cyber-bullying makes sense here...might develop this more.
--Addiction...again, not necessarily specifically educational, but I can see why it's here. You mention this test, but what do you mean by addiction? Why is that a bad thing (usually addiction is a bad thing)?
General Comments
--Your wiki is hyper-organized. I wouldn't necessarily say this is a bad thing, but: 1) Consider paring down the outline that appears at the top--you may not need so many sub-sections there. 2) Consider whether some of these sections could be folded into one another, or why a section is broken down the way it is. For instance, why is 'changing communication style' broken into 'importance of the visual/iconic' and 'social/economic/cultural patterns'? The second subtopic here is quite broad, and could the importance of the visual be a social/cultural pattern? The organizational choices are yours to make, of course, but be sure that there's a clear rhyme and reason for the scheme you choose.
--I see that some of the sub-sections aren't 'filled out' yet. Will you fill these out in the final version? Do you need all these sub-sections? Be sure that there's enough to say under each sub-section to warrant its inclusion as a separate section.
--Generally, there's not yet a lot of critical reflection here. You've compiled a good amount of information, but be sure that you're offering alternative perspectives on that information, including your own.
--Consider my suggestion about "Big Picture" team members. I say plenty about this above, so I'll say no more here.
--You've clearly put some work in here, so good job. Do pay attention to the comments I made throughout, as I think they'll be helpful. If I could boil down all my comments to a few, here's what I'd say:
1. Make sure the wiki works as a 'big picture.' Carefully consider organization.
2. Make sure that you are focusing on the theme of social networking and not just talking about technology generally. You may have to talk about technology generally, of course, to make your points, but the focus here should always be on social networking.
3. The educational sections need some work, I think. They really are the most important part of the project.
4. Throughout, there needs to be more of your group in the project. You've compiled information; now comment on it. In the educational sections, how would YOU change educational policy to take social networking into account? How would you control the challenges that come with social networking? What are some specific ways you could see using social networking in educational settings? Read the evaluation document again (should be accessible on your Moodle) and be sure that you're doing everything on there.
--This is a good step in the process, but some sections need to be more developed, organization should be considered, and we need more of a critical edge here. Keep up the good work!
Below you'll find feedback on the first draft of your final project. Our hope is that you will use this feedback as you continue working on your project, as your first draft becomes a final draft, due Monday, July 30. For this final draft, your project should be mostly (if not entirely) complete, since you will only have a couple of days to use final draft feedback to submit your final project by Thursday, August 2. So this next week is of particular importance for your project.
I'll organize these comments, based on my input and Nick's input, around the five broad sections of your project (Introduction; Social and Cultural Changes and Contextual Factors; Digital Technologies and Their Uses; Educational Opportunities and Possibilities with Social Networking; and Educational Challenges with Social Networking). I will also have a section for general comments pertaining to the project as a whole. If you have any questions or comments about this feedback, you can leave comments on your blog under this entry, or you can email me at thibert2@uiuc.edu.
I hope you find this feedback helpful!
Jeff (and Nick)
The Evaluation Questions:
1. What are the wider social and cultural changes that are entailed by this trend? In other words, these trends don’t emerge in a vacuum, and they often reflect other social and cultural changes as well. What are some of the major contextual factors giving rise to this trend?
2. How are new digital technologies, and their uses, affecting and affected by this trend?
3. What are the educational opportunities and challenges arising from these developments?
Nick's Input...Much of this is mirrored in what I've said below, but to save time, rather than try to integrate his comments into mine, I'm just going to put them up front:
“Contextual Factors” -- just a list, please say more.
“Pre-Technology Age” has there ever been a (human) pre-technology age or just DIFFERENT technologies? (cave paintings, etc)
Other social factors – mobility, changes in neighborhoods. See Putnam, “Bowling Alone.” Are people HUNGRY for something online SN provides?
“Early Technology Age”—order of these sections?
Some of these sections are just lists of technologies/methods, describing what they are, but not how they are being used and the difference they make.
This is also a concern with the Educational Opportunities and Possibilities section. This is a key section, please say more.
Educational challenges. Better, but needs more. What about effects on privacy – or more precisely, changing views in what is or should be “private”? Young people particularly are putting all sorts of things out there, without worry – that adults would never do. Is this a positive change, a danger, or both?
Introduction
I assume this will be filled out nearer to the end of the project. (I often write my introduction last as well.) I'd suggest that you use the introduction, when it's completed, to do three things: 1) Concisely introduce the concept of social networking--give a brief definition. 2) Explain why the wiki is organized the way it is. What are the main questions you're addressing? What is each section going to do? 3) Offer a 'thesis' for your project. What general stance are you taking towards social networking here? What argumentative thread is woven throughout the project? Overall, try to use the introduction so that the reader has a clear idea of what you're trying to do, how you're trying to do it, and what point you're trying to make. This will frame your project and give you a chance to provide some cohesion for a fairly large amount of information.
Social and Cultural Changes and Contextual Factors
--Is changing communication style what you want to lead with here? You might choose to describe these Changes and Factors from least important to most important, or from most important to least important, but there should be a plan for how you present them. Also, consider giving each section of your wiki an introduction, since each section is so complex. (See my comments for the General Introduction--you can offer a what/how/what point for each section of your wiki.)
--How do you think the importance of visual/iconic representation connects to social networking? Could social networking not take place in the absence of images?
--I'd say that emphasis on individuality is a social/economic/cultural pattern. Would you? Here's a place where you might fold one section into another, or do a bit of reorganization.
--Note that in this first completed section, "Emphasis on Individuality," you start talking about social networking without really having introduced it (I assume this will happen in the Introduction). Also, and this holds throughout the wiki, when you say something like "personal profile"--when you're using terms the meaning of which might not be immediately clear to a reader approaching this topic for the first time--you might offer an example (or a LINK to an example--one of the benefits of wikis) of what you mean.
--The information you give in the "Individuality" section is well-cited. I like how you have links to the actual sources--I'd consider doing this throughout the wiki, since (again) this is one of the benefits of using a wiki format here.
--Are there alternative views on the points made in the "Individuality" section? Might you challenge some of the claims here? For example, Boyd makes a sort of dichotomy between Facebook users and MySpace users, but I know a lot of people who are on both, especially since Facebook has expanded its reach beyond colleges to include high schools and geographical networks. You no longer have to be in school to be on Facebook. Do you think Boyd is right here? Also, more generally, while social networking sites might result from an emphasis on individuality, the 'networking' element implies that people are trying to get connected. Most people I know who use these sites use them to connect (or reconnect) to others. People initially meet in person, but then develop a relationship over MySpace. Or people use MySpace to search for old high school friends. Or they use these sites to find people with similar interests and tastes. People might be making their profiles to showcase their individuality, of course, but there's also a community element here, so it seems we could just as easily give "Emphasis on Community-Building" as a factor. Perhaps increased individuality in some aspects of life has led people to turn to the internet to form the community they aren't finding in their neighborhoods, or at their workplaces.
--I might not go into as much detail about each section as I just did, but I hope you see what I'm getting at here. It's important to offer a critical evaluation of the information you're presenting. We're not just compiling sources here, like a sort of literature review, though this is part of it. We're seeing what's out there about social networking and then reflecting on that information to come to some kind of position on the topic. So you might present information that supports individuality, information that supports community-building (even if this comes from your own thinking on the topic), and then the position you take based on that information.
--The Access section is not yet complete. This is certainly a factor, but does it make sense for it to come right after individuality and right before security? Remember that there should be a 'flow' to the wiki--you should be able to explain (probably in an introduction) why you've set it up the way you have. Perhaps you choose to set it up with no 'flow' at all in some sections, but this should be a considered choice that you can explain.
--In the Security section, you've got a good overview here...you might say more, though, about what those measures you present at the end are trying to do. What kinds of laws are being enacted? What kind of education is being tried? Are there legal issues here? (One of the articles we're reading for class talks a bit about this.)
--Throughout, it's important to remember that MySpace and Facebook are not the only kinds of social networking. I think you recognize this, but other sources of social networking might include games, virtual environments like Second Life, discussion forums, blogs, wikis, web-rings, sites organized around a topic that allow for comments, etc. Almost anything that links people together could be a form of social networking. MySpace and Facebook are excellent (and well-known) examples, but the theme of social networking extends broadly.
--Here you've got a section on "Contextual Factors Which Give Rise to This Trend." I think "Individuality" could fit under here, too. So this whole section might use some reorganizing. I also notice, below, you've got information on past forms of social networking--it seems that this could be part of social/cultural changes. You might assign one or two team members to go through the wiki as a whole--to try to look at it as a single document--since this might open up your perspectives a bit, especially if you've largely been focusing on your own sections.
--The individuality section here is a good example of the kind of societal/cultural factor you should be focusing on. What changes in society have led to changes in how we do social networking? Have changes in social networking altered the way society functions? How have people (and technology) changed social networking and how have social networking technologies changed people?
--Overall, this section does need some work. This is just an initial draft, so that's fine, and I understand that at least one team member has been delayed in completing his/her section, but do take my above comments into account as you continue working. Pay special attention to how you're going to organize this section, and if it might make more sense to organize it differently or combine it with other sections.
Digital Technologies and Their Uses
--So this section is on digital technologies and their uses, but then we start off with pre-technology, and other technologies that we probably wouldn't call digital. You're giving more of a history of social networking than a description of how digital technologies are being employed in social networking. This is fine, of course--there's value in a historical perspective here--but here's another point where some re-organizing might be in order.
--As I'm reading this, I see that this history might make more sense at the beginning of the wiki, perhaps after the introduction? This would make the point straightaway that people have socially networking forever, really, but what's changing is that digital technologies are now being used for it. The question then becomes, "How is the use of digital technology affecting the way in which contemporary humanity networks socially?" Going through this history also gives you a chance to be pretty clear on what you actually mean by 'social networking.' That we're not just talking about MySpace here.
--Note that the recreational activities and organizations sections are very similar. Here's another point where one or two "Big Picture" people might contribute to the cohesion of the project.
--I'm not sure how the organizations sections fits into the flow here. You seem to be organizing around the development of technology--pre-technology, to early technology, etc. But organizations span all these eras. You might use the organizations as a framing device--how have various organizations socially networked in different eras? Or you might have one section for Kinds of social networking and one section for Sites of social networking. Give this some thought. For a project of this scope, organization is probably just as important as content. You might have brilliant content (and I think you do here), but if it's not organized well, it'll get lost in a mass of information. We might think of knowledge as organized information, and wisdom as knowledge in a critical perspective. We're aiming for wisdom on social networking here.
--Now we're getting into digital technology...this section should be fairly well developed, since this is describing the technologies we're most interested in for this project. You probably don't need to say what computers are--we're most interested in how computers have been used (since the 'beginning') for social networking. We jump right to blogs, email, and so forth, but online bulletin boards were perhaps the earliest use of computers for social networking, as were early online games. A more comprehensive history of how digital technology has contributed to social networking (and how a drive for social networking led to new technologies) might be in order here.
--What's interesting to me is that you actually don't have a section here devoted to MySpace and/or Facebook. I think you definitely need something here, since these are the most prominent and well recognized examples of social networking today. Most people wanting to know more about social networking are going to want to know more about these sites. Also, throughout this section, if you're talking about something available on the internet (e.g., Second Life, Wii, Facebook), consider linking directly to those sites, so that the user can jump right to an example of what you're talking about. Again, this is one of the strengths of using a wiki over paper. Here's yet another spot where "Big Picture" team members could come in handy--they could scour the wiki for things that might deserve links. The more I go through this, the more I think assigning one or two people to 'manage' the wiki would make sense. (Sometimes organizational schemes or divisions of labor don't become clear until you're already engaged in a project.)
--You say the biggest problem is security. What about problems with identity, with virtuality, etc.? Security is certainly an issue, but I wonder if it's really the biggest problem. (And of course, security was mentioned earlier--another spot where sections might be combined.)
--Here you seem to be talking largely about how technology was used for social networking...is there a vice versa here? Has a need for social networking led to new technologies? And how have elements of society been using these technologies? (Businesses, churches, academia, etc.) There's an interaction effect between society and technology, and I'm not sure this is represented fully here.
--This section works as a history, but see my comments above. I think some important social networking sources are being glossed over and some of this information might best appear summarized in an introduction. There's no one way to do this, but consider what makes sense.
Educational Opportunities and Possibilities with Social Networking
--As a general statement, I wonder if you might combine the opportunities and challenges sections. I say this because for many of the issues you raise present both opportunities AND challenges. There's an upside to distance learning, and a downside, I'd say. For instance, distance learning might lead to increased access, but it might also lead to less effective teaching, if not done well. Also, perhaps social networking allows people to connect across city, country, continent; but is this really the same as connecting in person? I'm just trying to give a sense here of how you might structure these issues as offering both opportunities and challenges. You can play the opps and challenges against one another and then point out where you stand.
--Might help to have some examples under the "Connecting Classrooms" section. Why is this an example of social networking?
--The distance learning section is helpful, but be clear why this is social networking. How is social networking used within distance learning programs? Is social networking an explicit emphasis in distance learning? You might have some personal experiences to share here.
--This section is reading more like a "how communication technologies can be used in education" than "how social networking technologies can be used in education." IM and chat and video conferencing are certainly aspects of social networking, but these alone do not build a network. Expand this a bit--how could Facebook offer educational opportunities? How could discussion forums offer educational opportunities? How could online games offer educational opportunities?
--Do try to give examples of how these technologies have been used, if you can find them.
--Podcasts certainly offer edu. opps. How do they contribute to social networking? How do they link students into a network? Remember to connect things to the theme.
--Collaborative projects seem like a key way that social networking could be used in education--it'd be a good way to link people up to work on projects, for instance. I'd say more about this, if you can.
--Blogs, wikis--try to say more here, since these have more distinctly social networking aspects. Remember that we're talking about technologies that are SOCIAL and that NETWORK people. IM is social, but does it contribute to a network? The internet is a network, but is it always social? Again, answer these sorts of questions as you wish, but make sure that you're clear about what counts as social networking.
--How are Edu Opportunities different from Edu Possibilities here?
--How are iPods part of social networking? PDAs? Are they being used in social networking? The cell phones I can see, sort of, but this isn't explained fully.
--The MySpace.com section might be expanded--even if you can't find examples of how these have been used educationally, do some brainstorming.
--Ebay is an interesting idea--but how is this social networking? Be clear.
--The hypothesis section is interesting, and you might expand on this.
Educational Challenges with Social Networking
--Your challenges section focuses on access, discipline, and behavior.
--Access is certainly a challenge, though this seems to extend all across technology, and so you have to be clear how it particularly effects social networking technologies. The access issue is presented pretty generally here (and remember that we have a whole group devoted to Access issues). So you might say something like, "The educational opportunities are potentially great, but they would require every student being able to access social networking sites, which is unlikely due to funding inequities." The challenges section should look at what challenges specifically arise from Social Networking technologies.
--The Discipline section is good--it focused specifically on social networking. You might now evaluate the way discipline is being handled. What would you recommend for disciplinary issues related to social networking? What would you do when students posted disparaging information about teachers, administrators (or one another) on social networking sites?
--Should school computers be used to access social networking sites? I don't see this addressed specifically, but this is a major issue, since legislation has been proposed that ties federal school funding to the banning of access to social networking sites in schools.
--The behavior section is interesting, though I'm not sure why this is a specifically educational challenge. Might expand this more, or place it under cultural/social context.
--Cyber-bullying makes sense here...might develop this more.
--Addiction...again, not necessarily specifically educational, but I can see why it's here. You mention this test, but what do you mean by addiction? Why is that a bad thing (usually addiction is a bad thing)?
General Comments
--Your wiki is hyper-organized. I wouldn't necessarily say this is a bad thing, but: 1) Consider paring down the outline that appears at the top--you may not need so many sub-sections there. 2) Consider whether some of these sections could be folded into one another, or why a section is broken down the way it is. For instance, why is 'changing communication style' broken into 'importance of the visual/iconic' and 'social/economic/cultural patterns'? The second subtopic here is quite broad, and could the importance of the visual be a social/cultural pattern? The organizational choices are yours to make, of course, but be sure that there's a clear rhyme and reason for the scheme you choose.
--I see that some of the sub-sections aren't 'filled out' yet. Will you fill these out in the final version? Do you need all these sub-sections? Be sure that there's enough to say under each sub-section to warrant its inclusion as a separate section.
--Generally, there's not yet a lot of critical reflection here. You've compiled a good amount of information, but be sure that you're offering alternative perspectives on that information, including your own.
--Consider my suggestion about "Big Picture" team members. I say plenty about this above, so I'll say no more here.
--You've clearly put some work in here, so good job. Do pay attention to the comments I made throughout, as I think they'll be helpful. If I could boil down all my comments to a few, here's what I'd say:
1. Make sure the wiki works as a 'big picture.' Carefully consider organization.
2. Make sure that you are focusing on the theme of social networking and not just talking about technology generally. You may have to talk about technology generally, of course, to make your points, but the focus here should always be on social networking.
3. The educational sections need some work, I think. They really are the most important part of the project.
4. Throughout, there needs to be more of your group in the project. You've compiled information; now comment on it. In the educational sections, how would YOU change educational policy to take social networking into account? How would you control the challenges that come with social networking? What are some specific ways you could see using social networking in educational settings? Read the evaluation document again (should be accessible on your Moodle) and be sure that you're doing everything on there.
--This is a good step in the process, but some sections need to be more developed, organization should be considered, and we need more of a critical edge here. Keep up the good work!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Announcement
Hello all,
I just wanted to let you know that one of your team members, Christa Stiening, is unable to contribute temporarily due to an accident this past weekend. She will be working to do her part when she has recovered, and this won't affect anyone's grade negatively.
Take care, everyone,
Jeff
I just wanted to let you know that one of your team members, Christa Stiening, is unable to contribute temporarily due to an accident this past weekend. She will be working to do her part when she has recovered, and this won't affect anyone's grade negatively.
Take care, everyone,
Jeff
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Social Networking Wiki Outline Feedback
Hi everyone. I have compiled this feedback from my own comments and those of Prof. Burbules. While the two of us have written out these comments, it should be noted that the evaluation of the projects is being done as a joint effort, with all the co-instructors involved. Now, the point here is to offer some suggestions for how you might proceed with your project, based on what you all have presented in the outline. Overall, what you have here looks great. You’re off to a wonderful start. The below feedback should, however, give you a better sense of what we’ll be looking for when it comes to the final product. If you have any questions or comments about the feedback, don’t hesitate to email me at thibert2@uiuc.edu, or just leave a comment on this blog. We’ll look forward to seeing your first draft on Monday!
All the best,
Jeff
Social/Cultural Context:
• Be sure to talk here about how the ‘new wave’ of social networking (sites like Facebook or MySpace would be included here) emerged. I think you’ve got a good set of topics here, though.
• One more thing: pay attention to the sequencing of your topics. It would probably make sense to put the most important topics first. So, for instance, do you think that “Need for Security” is the most important social and cultural change? You might decide that it is, of course, but in general, do keep sequencing in mind throughout the project.
How technology affects and is affected by society and culture:
• I like that you’re noting how social networking is not really a new thing. We’ve used technologies to connect socially for quite some time. You might use this to discuss how some of the issues raised by social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace are not so new (although some of the issues undoubtedly are).
• Be sure to look at social networking on a global context—does it look different in China than in America? Are there issues raised in China that aren’t as important in America?
• The games section here is especially relevant for students today—you might want to focus on this especially.
Educational Opportunities/Challenges:
• You’ve got a great set of topics to explore here. As you compile information on these topics, think about how you might implement social networking in an educational setting, if you would at all. Also, the issue of ‘cyber-sharing’: consider the line between sharing and cheating. This may be a thorny area, but it’s an important one to negotiate. This is a good example of how a technology can provide an opportunity but offer a challenge at the same time.
General Comments:
• Quite an outline you have here—very detailed. This should make the next stages of the project a bit easier for you all, since it’s clear how you’re going to be approaching the ‘three questions’ mentioned in our evaluation document.
• It might help to flesh out this outline with some brief comments on what exactly the divisions mean, and a few major sources that you’ll be using. Of course, this is what you’ll be doing as you work towards the first draft of the wiki, so focusing just on the organization and breakdown of the project is a fine move for now.
• It’s hard for me to get a sense from the outline of what kind of information you’ve come across so far, though it’s clear that you’ve done research, else you wouldn’t be able to break the topics down so well. As you flesh out the outline, do keep in mind that the wiki will be serving both as a sort of information clearinghouse on the topic of social networking—it’ll be a primer on the topic as well as an excellent entry point for research—and as a ‘position’ paper—you’ll be presenting your own stances on the issues that you raise. For instance, you’ll want to compile the information that’s out there on the educational opportunities and challenges associated with social networking, but you’ll also want to be clear about what you think the opportunities and challenges are. Would you implement social networking in educational settings? Given the opportunities and challenges you’ve researched, how exactly would social networking best be used for educational purposes?
• This is a good start. As you flesh out the outline, keep the following in mind: be sure to keep tabs on what the other group members are doing to see if there are points of overlap, points where efforts might be combined; the wiki doesn’t have to be ‘finalized’ until the end, so you might consider including information in the wiki about who is working on what, what information still needs to be added, helpful resources, and suggestions; think of the wiki as potentially someone’s first exposure to the topic of social networking, while also being a resource for someone who has had more exposure to the concept. You’re serving a wide audience here, so you’ll need to cover the basics while also getting into the more complex issues.
All the best,
Jeff
Social/Cultural Context:
• Be sure to talk here about how the ‘new wave’ of social networking (sites like Facebook or MySpace would be included here) emerged. I think you’ve got a good set of topics here, though.
• One more thing: pay attention to the sequencing of your topics. It would probably make sense to put the most important topics first. So, for instance, do you think that “Need for Security” is the most important social and cultural change? You might decide that it is, of course, but in general, do keep sequencing in mind throughout the project.
How technology affects and is affected by society and culture:
• I like that you’re noting how social networking is not really a new thing. We’ve used technologies to connect socially for quite some time. You might use this to discuss how some of the issues raised by social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace are not so new (although some of the issues undoubtedly are).
• Be sure to look at social networking on a global context—does it look different in China than in America? Are there issues raised in China that aren’t as important in America?
• The games section here is especially relevant for students today—you might want to focus on this especially.
Educational Opportunities/Challenges:
• You’ve got a great set of topics to explore here. As you compile information on these topics, think about how you might implement social networking in an educational setting, if you would at all. Also, the issue of ‘cyber-sharing’: consider the line between sharing and cheating. This may be a thorny area, but it’s an important one to negotiate. This is a good example of how a technology can provide an opportunity but offer a challenge at the same time.
General Comments:
• Quite an outline you have here—very detailed. This should make the next stages of the project a bit easier for you all, since it’s clear how you’re going to be approaching the ‘three questions’ mentioned in our evaluation document.
• It might help to flesh out this outline with some brief comments on what exactly the divisions mean, and a few major sources that you’ll be using. Of course, this is what you’ll be doing as you work towards the first draft of the wiki, so focusing just on the organization and breakdown of the project is a fine move for now.
• It’s hard for me to get a sense from the outline of what kind of information you’ve come across so far, though it’s clear that you’ve done research, else you wouldn’t be able to break the topics down so well. As you flesh out the outline, do keep in mind that the wiki will be serving both as a sort of information clearinghouse on the topic of social networking—it’ll be a primer on the topic as well as an excellent entry point for research—and as a ‘position’ paper—you’ll be presenting your own stances on the issues that you raise. For instance, you’ll want to compile the information that’s out there on the educational opportunities and challenges associated with social networking, but you’ll also want to be clear about what you think the opportunities and challenges are. Would you implement social networking in educational settings? Given the opportunities and challenges you’ve researched, how exactly would social networking best be used for educational purposes?
• This is a good start. As you flesh out the outline, keep the following in mind: be sure to keep tabs on what the other group members are doing to see if there are points of overlap, points where efforts might be combined; the wiki doesn’t have to be ‘finalized’ until the end, so you might consider including information in the wiki about who is working on what, what information still needs to be added, helpful resources, and suggestions; think of the wiki as potentially someone’s first exposure to the topic of social networking, while also being a resource for someone who has had more exposure to the concept. You’re serving a wide audience here, so you’ll need to cover the basics while also getting into the more complex issues.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Educational Challenges Potential Outline
I. Equitable Access
A. School Finances
1. cost of technology
2. responsibility of cost
B. Management
1. tech support
2. knowledge of applications
C. Access
1. equal access to technology
2. availability in schools
II. Discipline
A. Legal Issues
1. creating policy
2. ability to discipline for outside of school infractions
using with athletic/extra-curricular conduct codes
B. Social Networking in the Classroom
1. cyber-sharing
2. filtering
3. use as an educational tool
4. accuracy of information
5. informal learning
III. Student Behaviors
A. Personal Information
B. Cyber-bullying
C. Addiction
D. Dangerous Groups
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
