The appeal of social networking for today’s generation is the instant access. You are able to see how someone is doing or meet someone with a click of a button. It’s easy to keep in touch with friends and family that you normally wouldn’t see often. Also, the ability to be able to network with people who have the same interest as yourself by joining a “group” makes it fun to be able to share interest different people all over the country you normally wouldn’t meet.
Social Networking can affect learning negatively and positively. The idea that children are able to explore and be able to meet other students across the country is important. The traditional “pen pal” has now been replaced by being a “friend” or “avatar”. Children do not have to wait on the “snail mail” to communicate with students. The access is instant. The children will be able to talk to one another and get the information they need faster.
Some of the negative affects is children can be lured into meeting people or joining group they shouldn’t. It’s important that children understand the boundaries of meeting people and the type of “groups” they should be looking for. Also, by being able to talk instantaneously it will be easy for children to get off topic and not stick to educational materials. When using this for education children will need to learn the proper etiquette and when what questions and information is appropriate. Some of the features and games on some of networks will make it easy for children to become off task.
The potential benefits of virtual worlds are children will be able to have access to see and do activities they normally wouldn’t be able to do because of restraints. In a poorer school virtual worlds would create a great platform for them to be able to discover different things. They will be able to see and do things they never would be able to do in real life. This will get them a taste of a different life and may even push them to strive to want to explore the world more. They will be able to step out of their normal boundaries and have access to meet children who they can learn from or help.
A challenge with the virtual world is the learning curve. Not all children will be able to understand or comprehend the idea. I’m a college graduate and had several issues understanding Second Life. I didn’t find it very easy to learn. With harder networks the teacher would have to teach the students how to use the site first before they can even start exploring. This may become difficult if all the students don’t become interactive with the program. This can cause students to go on the site and do other things beside the assignment. Then it may be hard to test how much knowledge the students learn. And then we will have to ask ourselves whose fault is it if a student doesn’t understand the network.
I found that social networks like Facebook are very useful to be able to keep up with friends and family. I find I’m talking and being more engaged with some of my family members who I don’t get to see that often due to Facebook. It’s also helps me keep in touch with friends I went to school with. However, a network like Second Life is one that I found a waste of time. It’s too much detail with the appearance, gestures, ect. I like being “myself” and not someone else. Sometimes the features can take away from the actual point of the site. Beside the use of this class I don’t see myself ever using something like Second Life again.
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