November 17, 2012

INF 506 OLJ 1- Initial reflections - What is social networking?


Social networking is a way of communicating and sharing with others. This technology means that you can connect with groups of people that you do or do not know, who can be in another room in your home or on the other side of the world. You can join groups to share academic knowledge, pursue friendships, share hobbies and interests and just even just relate events of your everyday life. It can take the place of a forum, chat room, posting comments or intellectual property, photos, music clips or any performance. The possibilities and limits are almost beyond the imagination to digital natives, to whom I feel like I am! Over the past few years social networking has grown so that now, people can access social networking groups twenty four hours a day wherever they are, not limited to use on a computer as phones can access the tools to do this also.

The social networking technologies that I use are minimal. I have a Facebook account that I use to connect with friends and family. Whilst I enjoy the chance to chill out and “catch up” with news, I find it can use a lot of time, which I need to balance with the many other priorities and needs that arise as a busy Mum, wife, Teacher Librarian, uni student, chef, taxi driver, house cleaner etc! Before being a student I would also play a few online games, but now don’t find the time. I also follow a few colleagues’ personal blogs which are interesting. I have a selection of Library associations which I belong to and enjoy reading from their websites.

I enrolled in this course because I have what I consider a limited experience and knowledge of social networking. I can see that students use social networking widely and that as professionals, we need to harness this media. I want to be able to use technology to enhance students learning and also my teaching.

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