WEEK 1: Social Networking

Welcome to Week 1 of  Work Literacy for Learning Professionals!
Sponsored by Work Literacy and the eLearning Guild, this course runs from September 29 through November 7, 2008. The goals of the event are to:

* Introduce you to new tools and methods for work and learning
* Discuss implications of these tools for learning professionals
*Prepare you to participate in DevLearn in new ways as an attendee or as a spectator.

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This module is a particularly meaty one, so based on your feedback and ideas, we've created several assignments around key topics.

Before we get started, a few logistical/practical issues:

• This is a course to help you develop your own skills in using various Web 2.0 tools. It's been our experience that to use these tools effectively with learners, you must first master their use for your own learning. Therefore we suggest that you take the time to explore these networks for yourself and to think through the issues that come up for you in using them.
  

• We've set up several levels of participation with ideas for activities in each of the forums. It's up to you how much you do and how you proceed through the topics. We don't want anyone to feel undue pressure--this is meant to give you an opportunity to explore.
  

• We are building this plane while we're flying it, so please feel free to share your feedback and ideas on how we can improve the modules. This is an experiment for us in using Ning for this kind of learning, so we need your help in making that process as effective for you as possible.

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HOW CAN I GET STARTED?

Within each of the modules, we've listed some specific activities for each level of participation. But you may be looking for some ways to get started. If so, try these:

• Spectators--Read any or all of the forum discussions listed in the module section below.

• Joiners/Collectors--Ask a question or share your experiences in any of the module topics listed below.

• Creators--Start a new forum topic to explore another aspect of social networking or share a video, graphic or article that will help us in one of the existing topical areas. If you start a new forum topic, tag it with "week 1" and "socialnetworking."
  

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THE MODULES
(Note that each topic is in its own Forum discussion)

Introduction to Week 1

Introduction to Social Networking

Introduction to LinkedIn

Introduction to Facebook

Introduction to Ning

Using Social Networks for Personal Professional Development

Using Social Networks with Learners

Social Networking and Privacy

Managing Your Networks and "Time Suck"

WEEK 1 SUMMARY--Share What You Learned During the Week on Social Networking

Added:
LinkedIn Tips and Tricks--trying to capture all of the ways to use LinkedIn in an easier-to-review location.

Three New Ning Networks to Check Out

Social Networking Wiki

Social Networking in Secondary Schools--a forum set up to discuss how social networks work in K-12 systems.