Social networking, as I understand it, is the ability of a group of people with like interests to meet together to discuss various topics and share ideas. Social networking has been around for years in such websites as MySpace and Facebook. Essentially, by writing our comments in this blog and sharing them with others, we are performing the rites of social networking within the specialized environment of our class.
Theoretically, social networking is an excellent platflorm for the exchange of information, thoughts, and personal profiles. However, as with any internet medium, there are problems associated with social networking as well. Since social networking is usually open to a world population, the dangers of undesirable members whose goal is not to interact with others but to steal people's privacy if ever present. The news is full of stories about runaway teens convinced by an internet predator to meet secretively with them in a prearranged time and place. The anonymity of the who exactly is posting can be chillingly scary. Identifies can be easily misrepresentated or at times even faked.
However,in regard to social networking and the library, I have found some really useful information. Sites such a Librarything and Shelfari allow users to create and publish collections of books that they have read and enjoyed. Readers with common interests can meet and discuss books that they have read. Reviews of books can be posted for everyone to read before they buy. These features are great for fostering a love for books and reading. OPAC, the library search engine, should also contain some of these features whether they are limited to a particular school, county, or state. What a fantastic way for young people to read and share books. Safeguards would have to be built in, of course, to protect the innocent, but I feel that social newworking about books has great potential.
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4 comments:
It is very scary to know that people have the ability to use the internet and social networking to cause harm to others. But, it can also be a good thing too. It's like a double edged sword, I guess. I appreciate the social networking sites like librarything and how they can be used positively in the educational setting. And you're right, It is a great way to review books. If I had only known about the site years ago, I might not have so many unread (or should I say partially read ) books on the shelves at my house. I believe that there should be some sort of controls and restrictions on social networking within the school.
Your points regarding the use of Librarything and Shelfari to allow users to create collections of books that they have read and to allow readers with common interests to meet and discuss books sounds like a real no-brainer positive for the library. Such a resource would definitely encourage and promote readers to interact with one another.
On the other side, though, like you, I am very much concerned about the dangers of social networks that students may potentially face. I wonder if there is a way to limit users to help protect them. It would be cool if students within a school could first communicate with one another and then build upon that, once the kinks were worked out, so to speak.
I think that your list of issues and problems with social networking is valid and should be given attention when thinking about social network sites for classroom use. There should be clear rules and expectations of usage for students and educators. As suggested in the blog we looked at this week, students and teachers should have separate profiles for real life and for academic purposes.
I agree, it can be scary to think of the disadvantages of social networking. However, we all tend to focus on the one or two stories on the news and could blow the actual danger out of proportion. One of the articles I read in preparation for this assignment said that networking students did not encounter any more "danger" than they do in every day life-words or images they see on TV--in news or programs they usually watch.
I think there are some tremendous benefits to students if we can be bold and give social networking a try.
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