Professionally, there are many ways in which I use social networking on a regular basis. One way is to stay connected to other teachers. For example, through joining the MAET group on Facebook, I am able to receive updates regarding the program and can remain in contact with others in the group. I have also used social networking for job searching. Since I have spent time in various classrooms, I have found that staying connected to these contacts allows me to quickly find out about job opportunities in the education field. Lastly, I am also a part of a group centered on technology. My colleagues and I work together to update one another on new technologies that can be incorporated into the classroom, and I have found this to be a great way to work with others to improve my own teaching.
Personally, I tend to use social networking to keep in touch with friends and family members. Social networking is a great way to remain in contact with others, post updates about our daily lives, and have discussions with people we may not otherwise see every day. In addition, I have used social networking to join groups that I am personally interested in. An example of this would be the book club that I am a part of through Facebook. This group allows me to discuss what books I am currently reading, questions I may have, and make connections with others. There are many ways that social networking can be used, and these are just a few of the ways in which I use it in my daily life. I would argue that many of my peers use social networking for the same reasons as me. Although I would argue that many use it purely for personal reasons to stay in contact with friends and family, I know that a lot of my peers also use it for either job searching or discussing ways to improve in their education with others, as well as for many other reasons.
As a first grade teacher, I do not feel that many of my students are currently using social networking (unless they are looking at a Facebook or blog belonging to a family member). I would like to introduce my students to Skype, and give them the opportunity to talk with students around the country (or world!) about various topics. This would be a networking site that I could set up for them and the students could run the session. For older students, I am very interested in the idea of keeping students updates on academic and sporting events through social networking. As an educator, I envision students in the future using social networking to complete projects with students who attend a different school. This allows them to better understand the world around them, and realize that there are more individuals in the world who share the same interests as them. If I were teaching an older group of students, I would love to have them use social networking for various activities such as book club groups. This would allow them to work together while interacting with technology. I do feel that with all of the new technologies that are constantly being introduced, the sky is the limit for educators willing to integrate social networking. I understand that some may be a bit apprehensive to include these types of technologies, and though I may agree in some aspects, I also feel that it is important that the students learn to adapt and interact with the technologies available to them.
