Category Archives: Week 11

A bit about Nings…

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The power is on again at my parents’ and the internet is connected, after several hours this morning involving shopping for a router and trouble shooting the wireless. So, let’s take a few minutes to talk about Nings.

I thought a ning was like a blog, or a wiki, etc. But, in reality, ning is an online service that lets people create their own social networks and join/participate in other networks. Ning is specific to the company – www.ning.com

Anyone can sign up and start a ning. Membership is free (with ads) and you can also upgrade your ning membership to eliminate the ads. Once you set up your profile, you can create a ning. You simply give it a name and a url, decide if it is public or private, and a description of the ning and you are ready to get started. Creating a new ning is seems pretty intuitive

So far the only ning I have joined is the ubc met ning at ubcmet.ning.com. This will allow me to connect with other MET students but also to offer some advice for those new to the MET program which is great. Remember, part of PLNing is paying it forward.

As far as joining existing nings…it’s can feel a bit like crashing a private party…but remember the creator of nings have done so because they WANT to network with other people who share their interests. For example, I went to the englishcompanion.ning.com and selected
SIGN UP. My email address was my login, I created a password, and answered a couple of questions about why I was interested in joining the ning. Then I got a response

HERE’S WHAT YOU WILL SEE WHEN YOU SIGN UP.
“Your membership to English Companion Ning is pending approval.
Hello, Stephanie Myers.  Your profile details must be approved by the Administrator before you can become a member of English Companion Ning. You will receive an email once your profile is approved. (Withdraw Request)”

While you wait you are able to browse the sit.

Here are a couple of useful links to help you get started in finding, joining, and participating in nings.

The 12 Best Ning groups for teachers to join

7 things you should know about…ning 

One last thing, don’t forget YOU can always initiate a Ning too!

G+ Circles

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Sorry for the delayed follow up since my last post. I decided to fly home to visit my family but the day before I arrived Chatham was in the eye of a storm and my parents power has been out ever since. “Welcome home!”  Should be back up tomorrow so I will follow up on Nings then.

For today I am sitting in a Tim Horton’s to update you on G+ Circles. I have to confess that Google Circles could very well be the resolve to my previously mentioned issue with using Facebook as part of my PLN. Essentially, with G+ Circles I can add people to a circle, much like you add friends in Facebook, but instead of having a mass collection of “friends” you can group people. I can have a G+ Circle for work colleagues, alt. educators, friends from MET, etc. My actual “friends” stay in Facebook and my professional friends and colleagues stay in G+ Circles. It has potential. Unfortunately it still means being even more dependent on Google but that may be a non-issue for most. (It’s the whole issue of all of your eggs in one basket – lots of people love this, others wonder what could happen if Google decides to put a price on their services). Something to think about I suppose.

Here is a great video to explain how Google Circles works and how it can resolve the Facebook issue.

So, now that we understand what Google Circles are, I have to confess  I like it! It is another way to connect and collaborate with people – that I know, and those that I don’t know – but who share similar interests.  (It would also be a useful tool to get students working together in groups).

I am including a link to Edwin Watson’s video that explains how to get started with Google+ and set up and use Google Circles. There are also a number of Google Circles already in progress on a variety of educational topics for you to join. Here is the best site I have found for breaking down a large handful of G+ Circles for Educators.  Check it out.

The biggest thing to keep in mind when creating your PLN is that it is just that – PERSONAL – the choices you make are yours. There is no one, cookie-cutter version of a PLN. Take your time, think about what you want to do? Why you want to do it? And how the tools that are out there can make it easier for you to achieve your goals.  (-: