Social_Networking

= Thing 7: Social Networking with LinkedIn =

What is Social Networking?
Social networking continues to morph into various formats. When MySpace first came out it was a place for local bands to share and advertise themselves and their music (I was a member of Myspace at this time down at IU, Bloomington.). It continued to transform into a place for people to connect and reconnect with friends and make new ones. Facebook began as an exclusive social networking site for the Ivy League schools, transformed into a network open to students from all colleges, and is now open to anyone over 13.

Very often people don't know what the end product of a social network will be, and they transform as the people voice their desires.

Social Networking takes on many forms. Microblogging (such as Twitter), in which individuals can give status updates of what they are doing at any given moment from a computer or cell phone with Internet access (You may have found students doing this in class.). Sites like Facebook allow users to create entire profiles about themselves, share photos, email, chat, play games, and any number of other activities while keeping up with the people they have on their friend's list. There are also many other sites that contain one of these features or all of them. The possibilites continue to expand.

The following video is another Plain English version of what social networking is.

"Social Networking in Plain English" Click Here if you have trouble seeing the video here.

media type="youtube" key="6a_KF7TYKVc?fs=1" height="385" width="480"

LinkedIn
For this Thing I have decided to have you try LinkedIn. Unlike other social networks it does not usually have blocks on it from filtering systems. The reason is that LinkedIn is focused on networking for professional growth. It allows individuals to keep abreast of the industry they are interested in and create professional profiles that they can share with current colleagues and friends. In this way LinkedIn is being used to network for job-seekers and to allow them to keep abreast of developments in their field.

I strongly encourage you to create a profile with LinkedIn to see how it can be put to work for you and students in your classes. For those of you that already have accounts with LinkedIn or another social network simply share the experience in your next blog. If you do not feel uncomfortable then provide us with a link to your profile, but do not feel obligated to do this. I understand that very often we like to keep certain things for family and friends' eyes only, and we respect your desire for privacy. The only requirement to accomplishing this 'thing' is to share your experience through your blog.

Click Here to go to LinkedIn and create an account.

Click Here to view my LinkedIn profile.

Check out the "What is LinkedIn?" video from YouTube media type="youtube" key="IzT3JVUGUzM?fs=1" height="385" width="640"

=__A Briefing of Thing Seven: __= After finishing Thing Seven you should have:


 * Created a LinkedIn account or plan on discussing another social network that you are already a member of.

Click Here to move onto the list of blogs and share this experience on your blog. Discuss how social networking can benefit educators, and problems you see with it.