Tag Archives: MET

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!

Let my PLN journey begin!

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I blog... Prior to undertaking this blog I did some research on what constitutes effective blogging.  Problogger identifies 10 Tips for writing an effective blog post. I will try to stick to their recommendations as much as possible.

Who?  My name is Stephanie Myers and I am enrolled in the MET Program at UBC. I am also an alternative high school teacher working in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.   Also, Diane Janes, my supervising faculty member, has generously agreed to support and guide me through this journey. I am incredibly fortunate to have along for the journey.

What? ETEC 580 is a course offered through the Master of Educational Technology (MET) Program at UBC. Although you won’t see it in the course offerings – it is available as a means of developing your own course while enrolled in the MET program. This blog constitutes part of my 580 course. Feel free to check out my full proposal below.

When? Summer Session, May 13-August 9, 2013.

Where? I have no idea where this journey will take me; I simply know that it will inevitably lead somewhere, as journeys always do.  My hope is at the end of week 13  I will have expanded and solidified my own PLN.

Why? As I near the end of my three years in the MET Program I recognize that I have had the incredible opportunity to connect, collaborate, and communicate with people from diverse fields of study, from around the globe. This connectedness has led to a radical transformation, not only in who I am as an educator and in my approach to teaching and learning but in my day-to-day teaching practice as well.

The world wide web and web 2.0 tools have become an integral part of my classroom and have enhanced the learning experiences for me and my students.It is because of the ongoing communication with my MET peers, readings, research, and projects, that I have grown and I do not want that growth to cease when I graduate from the MET program in August.

So, as I type this, I realize I have just thirteen weeks, 91 days, roughly 2180 hours, to create a meaningful and sustainable network, a network that will take me beyond the MET Program.

I hope you will join me!