SNS Ethnography: by Traci Prater Monday, May 5 2008 

Social Networking Site tnprater1006 3:13 am

As the semester draws to a close, one looks back at the main focus of the class which was to look at education, technology and culture.  As I stated in a previous post, education is the key that unlocks the door, technology is the door and culture is actually what is behind the door.  So in our culture, what is actually behind our door?  This question is complex in that many opportunities exist behind the door of our culture and technology plays an integral part.

According to Danah Boyd (http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/boyd.ellison.html) social networking sites are an important part of our culture because since the start of Facebook, MySpace and others, millions of individuals have made this type of technology part of their everyday lives.  Technology is supposed to make our lives much easier and well organized but why are people in today’s society having trouble taking time out of their “busy” schedules to stop by and chat with an “old” friend.  The answer could be that people don’t have to “stop by” to know what is going on in someone’s life.  It is very easy to catch up with old friends or meet new friends without leaving the comfort of your own home.

Due to the creation of social networking sites, individuals can be in better control of the individuals they meet and the people they allow into their lives.  It creates an open environment where people can accept and reject individuals without the guilt.  This type of social setting allows individuals to be paired up based on interest and it protects you from being aggregated by those that you don’t want in your life (we all have some of those).  It allows one to be social when and where they choose to be social!

I actually joined several social networking sites while I was preparing to write this ethnography.  Some of those sites included Twitter, Dogster.com, MySpace, Classroom 2.0 and I am pretty sure I joined a few others that I can’t think of right now.  And the main concept that was apparent in each of the sites, was the fact that each site is based the interest of the individual. Those who choose to be part of an SNS are looking for the same thing and that is information based on their requirements and interest.  SNS’s are like being at a party; individuals get involved in conversations in which there is common interest.  If you join into a conversation and it doesn’t interest you, basically you excuse yourself and move on to something you are interested in.  Social Networking Sites are the same concept except you are not face to face and you don’t have to excuse yourself; you slip out the cyber door and know one ever knows you’re gone.

Social networking sites are going to become an important part of the educational process but it may take some time to know exactly where they are going to “fit in”.  Some teachers will be better at utilizing they types of sites than others based on their own knowledge base.  As I stated before, I teach computers and have access to a lab full of computer daily.  So for me to incorporate social networking sites into my lesson will not be that complicated.  As previously stated, I am currently working on a unit that will not only include SNS’s but it will also include the use of blogs as an online journal.  Technology is an important part of our educational system and our culture and individuals better be ready to step up to the plate and hit a home run!

 

SNS Butterfly Saturday, May 3 2008 

Social Networking Site tnprater1006 12:28 pm

For anyone who knows me, they will quickly discover that I suffer from adult ADD.  I have the attention span of a flea (actually, I believe a flea has more!).  So when I began my journey looking into social networking sites, I started with Facebook.  I have a former student that joined the army and has been stationed in Washington State.  In his trip from Georgia to Washington, he took pictures and wanted to share them with me and this was done through facebook.  After I viewed the pictures, I quickly became bored and moved on to Twitter.  Jsarnett said it best when he stated that “Twitter was the elevator of small talk that took you to the real party in the penthouse” (that wasn’t exactly what was said, but it comes pretty close).  I still continuewith Twitter because it’s 140 character limit helps with my ADD (and since I really hate to read, it was very nice that I didn’t have a lot to have to focus on) but as I am known to do; I quickly became bored with what they were saying and doing on Twitter and I happened on to a new site: www.dogster.com where I could highlight my wonderful new dog “Abby”.  This site lasted for a few days until I really didn’t get much action from the others that were participating in the site (I think it was designed to sale things to you for your dog).  And finally, came Classroom 2.0 which had probably been the most beneficial site for me as an educator because of the people you meet and the resources you are provided.

I am currently in the process of developing a new multimedia class next year in which I am creating an on-line classroom environment for my students (http://www.magoffin.kyschools.us/mcctc/Webquest/Around%20World.htm).  The goals for this class has been inspired from many of my classes in the Educational Technology program in that I plan on having my students utilize blogs, social networking sites, technology tools such as: video cameras, digital cameras, movie making software, etc. for the purpose of interacting with others around the globe.

The class is multimedia but the unit will be “Learning Around the World”.  Students will be required to learn about a county of their choice through the eyes of another individual in which they choose to be their Global Pen Pal.  I am currenly looking into K-12 safe SNS designed for this purpose.  The students will create a blog for the purpose of keeping an on-line journal of the information they receive from their Global Pen Pal.  This will allow the sharing of the information to their peers.  At the end of the year, the students will apply the knowledge they have received in mulimedia and create a movie and/or presentation on all the pictures and information about the country of their choice.  This lesson can not be achieved without the help of the many different technology communication tools that exist today!

 

Comment from Jsarnett on Twitter: Wednesday, Apr 30 2008 

Social Networking Site tnprater1006 11:51 am

I think that Jsarnett “hits the nail on the head” in his comment:

Jsarnett’s Weblog: The more time I spend on Twitter, the more I begin to understand that it is much different than the other SNSs like MySpace and Facebook.  Twitter is not so in depth as these other sites.  Twitter is more of a place to stop and chat a bit on you way to somewhere else……image MySpace or Facebook being a party on the penthouse floor of the building….then Twitter is the elevator….complete with small talk and some occasional obligatory music to cover the silence. 

I find it interesting that one can only type 140 characters in Twitter which causes one to be short and directly to the point of what one is doing and/or thinking.  I do however like “small talk” because it makes for short reading but one of the biggest problems that I find is that if you aren’t on Twitter daily you can get lost very quickly in conversations (you are no longer in the “know”).

 

Badges to Webpages Tuesday, Apr 22 2008 

Social Networking Site tnprater1006 1:56 pm

I know that I am probably behind the times but I love the badges that you can add to your custom webpages.  For example, if you want to visit my on-line classroom I have created, (http://www.magoffin.kyschools.us/mcctc/Webquest/Mrs_Praters_Homepage.htm) you will see the two badges I have added from dogster.com and Classroom 2.0.  These badges take you directly to the SNS’s you are involved with.  A really neat trick – the HTML code is written for you so you just copy and paste it into your webpage. :)

 

Classroom 2.0 – A New SNS Adventure! Tuesday, Apr 22 2008 

Social Networking Site tnprater1006 1:15 pm

I always suspected that I suffer from adult ADD and after researching social networking sites, it is apparent that I have difficulty sticking with one thing two long.  So in that being said, I am on to a new SNS called Classroom 2.0 which is a social networking site designed for educators of all kinds.  As I have stated in the past, what makes a SNS successful for me is the information in which I can retreive from it.

Last night, I created a home page (http://www.classroom20.com/profile/TraciPrater) and began yet another exploration through the world of social networking sites.  I actually stumbled upon this site with help of Dr. Lowell when I ask the question: Do you know a good global blog site designed for K-12 students to communicate with other K-12 students around the globe for the purpose of getting information about the area in which others live?  Dr. Lowell responded by asking me who was logged into CR20, maybe they could help!  Now I am sure that sometime during this class, Dr. Lowell has mentioned Classroom 2.0 but me being the absent minded professor (ha ha); I apparently missed the memo.  Since I created my page, I have already had a few responses from those that I have added as friends and also met a nice professor at Eastern Michigan University that teaches technology.  I am not sure where this path will lead but I am excited in walking down the trail to find out!

 

SNS 101 Monday, Apr 14 2008 

Social Networking Site tnprater1006 4:57 pm

I have just investigated www.dogster.com and I am really pleased with this SNS.  I have not been really pleased with Twitter because I don’t have time to see what others are doing on a continious basis.  I also find it difficult to determine who you are compatiable with without conducting in-depth research.  I also am not sure what type of relationships one could actually build on Twitter.

I went ahead and created a profile for my dog Abby on www.dogster.com and thus far, I have really enjoyed reading about the animals and what thier owners have to say about them.  I think that I am discovering the key to a SNS and that is a SNS will only be successful if you have stuff in common with the individuals involved.  Much like face to face friendships; you wouldn’t want to be friends with someone you have nothing in common with – what would you have to talk about?

 

Pets Need Pals Too – Prevention.com Monday, Apr 14 2008 

Social Networking Site tnprater1006 10:49 am

As one looks a social networking sites, I really never consider having a SNS for your pet.  In the article, Pets Need Pals Too – Prevention.com the author discusses a site known as http://www.dogster.com/ which is designed to help pet owners find friends for their furry companions.  After reading the article, the author demonstrates that the site is also effective in helping the owner locate friends with common interest.  As if we didn’t know that that is what the site was designed for.  I think I would freak if I came in and saw my wonderful Abbey (Golden Retreiver) sitting in the computer chair surfing dogster.com! :)

 

Twitter – What are you meant to do? Saturday, Apr 5 2008 

Social Networking Site tnprater1006 2:55 am

I am having some problems with my SNS!  I have been following individuals but what does one do if you want to make a specific comment to an individual you are following? I guess, I am searching for a converstaion type medium between those that I am following.  If they make a comment, do I just respond by typing in and updating my own twitter account?  This could get very complicated – very quick!  For example, I have been visiting other peoples sites looking for interesting individuals to follow but I would like to introduce my self and possibly ask some questions – is this possible through Twitter?  Some knight in Shining Armor come to my rescue!

 

Social Networking Site Sunday, Mar 30 2008 

Social Networking Site tnprater1006 2:25 am

The SNS that I decided to go with is Twitter!  From what I can gather so far is that you make short comments about what you are doing throughout your day and read short comments about what others are doing.  I have been trying to locate others on Twitter but I have not been very successful.  I saw where Jsarnett posted that he was also having the same type of problems.  I thought that by using someone’s e-mail address that you should be able to find them but this is not the case.  I am going to have to do a little more investigating into this matter.  Also, I don’t really like the fact that you can only use so many characters – I guess this is to keep long winded people like me from rambling on and on! :)

 

Danah Boyd’s Interview Regarding Social Networking Sites Monday, Feb 18 2008 

Social Networking Site tnprater1006 1:11 pm

I am the type of individual that likes to see a face with a name so I really enjoyed the interview that was conducted with Danah Boyd regarding Social Networking Sites.  SNS’s seem to be a hot topic with different generations of people, mainly due to the perceptions that are held by each generation.  For example, the youth view SNS’s as a wonderful way to express their individuality in a safe and secure environment.  Parents and grandparents on the other hand view them as a way to have access to their children and grandchildren and educators just aren’t sure exactly what role they play in the educational setting.  As we all heard, there has been major controversy regarding the safety of sites such as Facebook and MySpace along with issues that could be addressed to ensure security among social networking sites.

After watching the interview with Ms. Boyd, I began to develop a better understanding of the appeal for SNS’s among the youthful generation.  Ms. Boyd points out that there are three core properties assoicated with social networking sites.  The first being the profile which is the way an individual states who they are (the digital body),  the second core is friends; this demonstrates who an individual “hangs out with” (imanaged audience) and thirdly, is the comments which allows an individual to display their relationships with others (public interaction).  She also explained that SNS’s is the fludity of the youthful generation in that it is the main way of communication among this group.  For example, my generation utilized the telephone and notes as a way of communication among each other but this generation has the ability to put themselves out there in a more public format.  The public format seems to be a major concern of those that are not familiar with how SNS’s work but as research is conducted into this matter, I believe that minds could be put to ease as one would find that youths usually mingle with individuals they already know and are not exposed to outside individuals unless they choose that particular path! :)