Social Software Research Paper
Tech Heroes in Training Group
CEP 817, Spring 2013
February 23, 2013
As
Web 2.0 technologies have taken over the Internet, there has been an
explosion of new web-based services that have emerged. Many of these
services are centered upon the idea of keeping people connected with one
another, using forums and posts as their communication hub. While many
of these web-based services exist today, only a few have the elite
distinction of being used at a world-wide level. Two examples of these
services are Facebook and LinkedIn. As of December 2012, Facebook has
1.6 billion active monthly users and 618 million active daily users
(Tam, 2013). LinkedIn, while smaller in comparison to Facebook, still
has an impressive number of 200 million current users worldwide (Lomas,
2013). These social networking services are starting to invade the
classroom as educators are currently looking for new methods of engaging
students, gathering information, and staying connected to their
communities.
According to Techopedia,
“social software is a category of software systems that primarily
functions to allow user collaboration and communication. Examples of
social software include: instant messaging, email, internet forums, chat
rooms, wikis (web pages allowing editing by viewers), web blogs, social
network services (participants that communicate about shared interests,
such as hobbies or causes).” Facebook and LinkedIn both contain many
of the aforementioned features. Individuals as well as businesses can
use either format to connect to potential employees/employers,
customers/businesses and develop their sphere of influence through
networking on the sites.
From
a software perspective, it is interesting to note that Facebook “opened
up its developers' platform to allow third-party developers to build
applications and widgets that, once approved, could be distributed
through the Facebook community.”(WhatsIt) According to Josh Bersin, a Forbes contributor, “Facebook is really a platform, not an application.
While LinkedIn is being run like a data-driven application, Facebook is
really a sharing platform from which many companies can build
applications.” Although both are classified as social software, this is
an important distinction between what they are and what they are
intended to accomplish from a business perspective.
Facebook isn’t
an independent software program and utilizes many types of software to
bring all of its features to its users. Some of the various programs
used behind the scenes to keep it running are: Memcached (to connect web
and SQL servers), HipHop for PHP (changes PHP to C++ code), Haystack
(assists in photo storage/retrieval), BigPipe (creates “pagelets” to
increase page performance), Cassandra (assists in Inbox searching),
Scribe(logging system), Hadoop (for data analysis), Thrift (helps all
the various programming languages communicate), Varnish (HTTP
accelerator), etc. Similarly, LinkedIn requires
many various software programs to bring its services to its users.
LinkedIn uses: Zoie (search indexing), Bobo (works with Zoie as a search
library), Hadoop (for data analysis and computation), Voldemort (data
storage system), Espresso (data servicing) and many others.
The
Facebook and LinkedIn social networking services are currently being
used in a variety of ways. Generally speaking, they are designed to
keep people connected with one another. However, the most common uses
of these two social networking services contrast one another. Most of
the users on Facebook, use it to stay connected with current family and
friends, including linking up with individuals from the user’s past.
Users post status updates on what is going on in their personal lives,
create photo/video albums to share with their “friends”, and can “like”
and comment on other user’s posts. Some users will also use the program
to install apps and play online games while passing the time. Users
can also follow groups of their favorite entertainers and interests
(Leon, n.d.).
LinkedIn is used differently in that it is primarily used to
create networks with other professionals in certain career tracks and
interests. LinkedIn strives to serve as a way to meet new people that
may help someone in finding a new job or gathering new professional
sources of information. LinkedIn has an area to post your resume and
groups to join to stay connected to discussions in professional
communities, which can include areas to gain advice for changing
careers. In addition, there is a job search function built into the
service so the users can stay up-to-date on the latest job openings in
their area or field of expertise. Many of the users within a LinkedIn
network have never met each other face-to-face, but all have similar
interests. This specializes LinkedIn as a business networking network
(Babauta, 2007).
The
power of social media technologies is held within their massive reach
and networking powers. However the profiles, photo albums and pages can
feel stagnant at times. This drawback of Facebook has been transformed
through creative expression and collaboration. The most basic of
Facebook, the profile page, has evolved from a personal place of
expression to an area for businesses to attract new clientele with eye
catching and modern views of the company’s products and services by
adapting the photo album layouts. Businesses can now “tag” their
products as a means of featuring them in an up-to-the-minute report of
daily activity instead of being viewed postdated on their page,
eliminating the stagnant environment.
This aspect of Facebook provides a living, breathing aspect to a
once digital landscape. One example that is eye catching and provides a
viewer with a relatable feeling is travel website Gadling. On their Facebook page,
each of their travel bloggers is added to the company’s photo album
with on location shots that add depth and character to the company’s
image as well as adding credibility to their bloggers by illustrating
them in action, participating in the very activities their readers love –
traveling. Many other companies are diving into the photo album
feature as a means of creating a connection with their clientele as well
as breathing life into their digital Facebook footprint.Another creative use of Facebook is the group function that allows for people to “gather” due to similar likes. Teachers with excess materials have found an inventive way to clear clutter or accumulate more using the open, Facebook Group: Teaching Resources for Sale/Swap Australia. The group’s function is to move materials from one teacher to the next. For the live art company Assault Events, when attempting a 6 person event entitled Alibi, simply becoming Facebook “friends” allowed the collaborators, whom lived throughout the British Isle the opportunity to network and develop despite distance.
If Facebook was created with personal social interaction in mind, LinkedIn has been creative to provide those same Facebook users with a solely professional, yet social, web presence. With that premise in mind, true creativity can be limited however that does not mean nonexistent. The goal of a users LinkedIn page is inherently different from that of the casual Facebook profile, however adding personal touches such as Amazon Reading List can inspire a new network within your industry. More simple touches would require a thesaurus in order to describe one’s personal talents and accomplishment. Tracey Gold, a social media blogger, attended a workshop by Colleen McKenna a LinkedIn trainer, reports that by using LinkedIn as the tool that was designed to be using tips provided by McKenna can help you to creatively and successful network with others in your profession.
Facebook is more than a way to socialize and connect with others. The site can be an incredible learning tool. Teachers
can utilize Facebook for class projects, for enhancing communication,
and for engaging students in a manner that might not be entirely
possible in traditional classroom settings.
While
there is a debate and different school/district policies about
friending students on Facebook, but done responsibly, there are
advantages. Facebook allows teachers to get to know students in a
different light which can transfer into the classroom. Friending
Facebook can also help create an open and supportive environment using
features such as chat for homework help. Friending also allows the
student/teacher relationship to continue even years later after the
class is over. To friend safely involves customizing privacy settings
on what can be seen and posted by others or setting up a separate
account for professional use.
Even
better than friending students online is setting up a fan page which
allow for distribution of announcements, blog posts, events,
assignments, links and videos into the “live streams” of those that
“fan” your page. Fan pages can be preferred over using your personal
profile because there is no need for parents or students to be your
friends to get the updates. Fan pages can also be used to develop an
online community around your class or school. Here a couple of examples
of fan pages that you can explore. A teacher page Mr. Edelman’s Teacher Page or by class Ms. Adams Class Page Mr. Whalberg’s Science Class, an
organization page such as the one that a student went on to win an
award for her school by creating a vibrant, interactive Facebook Page
for the New Canaan High School Library that features events, photos and videos from her students. You can also create pages as
a repository of links and information to help people all over the
world learn to speak English, the British Council established a Facebook
Page called TeachingEnglish that
acts as an interactive repository of information and resources
providing “everything busy teachers need” to teach English at home or
abroad. The TeachingEnglish writers — all current or former teachers —
provide teaching materials, articles, and a community where educators
can come together and share ideas and strategies about teaching English
to a global audience. As you can see, there are many different avenues
that fan pages can lead you to while using facebook in the classroom.
Another
feature that can be used as a tool in the classroom, is a recent change
to Facebook which allows for the creation of group pages on which
educators can add members to add content. Like fan pages, group pages
allow for publishing to users’ live streams, inclusion of discussion
forums and comments, and the sharing of photos videos, and events.
Advantages are allowing messaging between group members, editing group
documents wiki style, and group chat all at once. The owner, however,
does lose some control of content, and use of third party widgets for
promotion outside of facebook. You can view an examples of a group
page by clicking on the following link - Fontana’s class.
Facebook
can also be a tool that can be used for professional development.
Educators can link to other professionals through Facebook pages or
groups. Great examples are groups and organizations such as International Society for Technology in Education, ASCD, and National Association of Education of Young People (NAEYC), and Edutopia. There are helpful media pages such as Education Week as well as resource sharing such as Free Technology for Teachers. Connect a Million Minds, Time
Warner Cable's $100 million community commitment to connect youth to
ideas, people and opportunities that will inspire them to become the
problem solvers of tomorrow. Another use of Facebook pages are linked
to Twitter conversations such as #EdChat.
LinkedIn
can also be a useful resource in the classroom. Although there are
many social networks for educators, LinkedIn can be the go-to one-stop
shop for professional interactions online. LinkedIn first and foremost
is a public résumé that is easily findable via Google or LinkedIn’s
built-in search engine for employers looking for potential hires. The
Jobs menu on LinkedIn also has a handy set of tools for educators
looking for jobs, though, including searchable postings and a premium
paid service to make yourself more visible to the right people. LinkedIn
can also streamline the process of soliciting letters of recommendation
from colleagues.
Since
LinkedIn users are searchable via name, position and institution,
seeking out new potential contacts as well as former colleagues and
reaching out to them with questions about experience about curriculum or
lesson topics can be a breeze. LinkedIn
can be an invaluable tool for keeping one’s contact list up-to-date.
Many educators use LinkedIn to promote a project, blog, or side venture
that might interest others in the field. The service can also be a
great place to get feedback and let colleagues see what others are doing
in and outside the classroom.
LinkedIn
also offers the educator the ability to create groups. Their systems
for setting up groups are wonderful. Each one can be public or private
and hosts space for ongoing discussion threads. Kharback (2012)
provides a nice list of different groups for educators. Like Facebook
pages, these groups specialize in interest but provide discussion
threads, resources sharing, and job postings, Ed Tech Start Ups, EduBloggers, Education Revolution, International Society for Technology In Education, Technology Integration in Education There are groups for specific interests such as iTeach English for TEFL, TESL, TESOL online teachers. Other sites for connecting and sharing are Teacher's Lounge for K-12 teachers who would like to network with other teachers from all around the globe and Discovery Education Network connected with Discovery Communications and its sister website for the educational community.
Works Cited Page
Babauta, Leo (2007). 20 Ways to Use LinkedIn Productivity. Retrieved from:
Burt, Ronnie (2011). The why and how of using facebook for educators--no need to be friends at all! Retrieved from http://theedublogger.com/2011/05/11/the-why-and-how-of-using-
facebook-for-educators-no-need-to-be-friends-at-all/
Gold, Tracey (2012) How to Use LinkedIn Powerfully: 10 Tips to Know Retrieved from facebook-for-educators-no-need-to-be-friends-at-all/
Kharbach, Med (2012). Social networking pt. 3: Teachers guide to the use of LinkedIn. Retrieved from http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/05/social-networking-part-3-
teachers-guide.html
Leon, Jay (n.d.) Five Uses of Facebook. Retrieved from:teachers-guide.html
Lomas, Natasha (2013). LinkedIn Hts 200 Million Registered Users Worldwide - Adding New Users at a Rate of Two Per Second. Retrieved from:
Power, Don (2012). 3 creative ways educators use Facebook. Retrieved from http://sproutsocial.com/insights/2012/02/facebook-education/
Schembar, Marian (2011) Five Creative Uses of Facebook Photo Albums Retrieved fromSmith, Dr. Sophy (2009) The Creative Uses of Facebook as a Collaborative Tool Retrieved from
Tam, D. (2013). Facebook by the Numbers: 1.06 Billion Monthly Active Users. Retrieved from:
Teaching Resources Sale/Swap Australia Retrieved from
Venable, Melissa (2009). 100 ways you should be using Facebook in the classroom. Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=23927330784&b&
ref=pd_r#/apps/application.php?id=23927330784&v=wall&ref=pd_r
ref=pd_r#/apps/application.php?id=23927330784&v=wall&ref=pd_r
Warmoth, Brian (2012). 7 ways that teachers can use LinkedIn to get ahead. Retrieved from http://www.educationdive.com/news/7-ways-that-teachers-can-use-linkedin-to-get-ahead/30364/
Contributors:
Rachael Hiliker
Shannon Rush
Trisha Keenoy
George Mcdowell
Ramiro Carbajal
Shannon Rush
Trisha Keenoy
George Mcdowell
Ramiro Carbajal
No comments:
Post a Comment