The Ning social network we used in our BYU Comms230 class this semester was a useful tool that was wholeheartedly embraced and endorsed by class members. Powerful, intuitive social media tools aren’t just for marketing. They represent and facilitate fundamental shifts in human interaction—shifts that can improve university learning.
>>> 43 out of 43 students said such a network would be helpful in ALL of their classes.
>>> The following few quotes represent hundreds of positive comments from class members:
“The network took class discussions and extended them into online conversations.”
“Seeing my classmates’ work sparked my own ideas.”
“The professor has talked a lot this semester about building a personal online brand. Blogging has helped me do that.”
“I got many more insights through sharing ideas on blog posts.”
“The network unified our class and facilitated communication.”
“I was motivated to submit higher quality work because I knew my peers would see it.”
“It’s simple. I don’t have to print assignments. I can get things done from anywhere. It’s quick. The communication is instant.”
“Everything I need for class is in one spot—the calendar, syllabus, class video stream, lecture slides, and quick ability to contact classmates, the professor, and the TA.”
“My questions are answered and my comments acknowledged much quicker than in regular classes.”
“Blogging forced me to think. I wasn’t just memorizing material.”
“Blogging has helped me feel like I have a jump on the industry because I’m actually in it.”
“It was really motivating to me to make my blog posts good so that others would respond to them.”
“Comments left on the posts unified the class, and we were able to bounce ideas off each other.”
“Blogging made me think, and put those thoughts into words. When you have to explain yourself to others it makes you dig deeper and find out why you think that way.”
“Yes. I recommend it for other classes. The world is more technologically savvy. Students must be too.”
“Blackboard is functional, but the Ning network is fun and so much more interactive.”
You can read the full post by clicking >HERE.
You can visit the class network by clicking >HERE.
Comments
Quick question: How did you get Twitter embedded on your homepage?
Pedro
8 week online course. 4 Credit Art/Humanities requirement.
I initiated the required 'Team' element...conducted 100% in Ning.
I think well constructed but we will see... by virtue of their posted individual team response summary statements. These were my pioneers. I have 2 other classes currently using Ning for team projects that are in progress. Will share when data submerges.........I would love to take my entire class out of Blackboard and into Ning where I would do more than just flex the 'collaborative' feature. I am of course bound by certain limitations by the college I teach for. To my knowledge I am the only one using Ning. Hard to tell since I am 100% virtual since moving west to CA 4 yrs ago from NJ. I have a little bit of free rein-flex being an adjunct of good position for the past 10 years.
-
1
-
2
-
3
of 3 Next