Social Networking and Second Life

The appeal of social networking for today’s generation is just that… it is social, which is appealing! Even though you maybe sitting at a desk somewhat isolated, you are not technically alone, you are interacting with individuals on line. It is a social meet over shared interests. You can keep up with what friends and new acquaintances are doing. There are “shared” feeling in activities. It provides self-expression while you connect and build community.

Social networking can positively affect learning with providing more self-expression in writing and creating in general. It can provide connections and help build community in shared education. It is a free “network” to others of interest. Negative effects on learning might be the actual motivation to learn instead of just “play”. Also some might post information that might be used against them. And there is little or privacy.

Second Life gives learners the opportunities to experiment with business models, test strategies and learn effective tactics. It can provide support to instructional goals and the instructor does not even have to be present for the students to participate in the learning projects. With the collaboration that can occur, creating new knowledge and utilizing collective intelligence is possible. Second Life, however, may also provide an environment that is too distracting and learners are pulled “off task”. It also has a higher learning curve for students and instructors alike. There have also been groups that have been “cyber bullies” on SL and there have even been worms and corrupt areas. This could also be used as a real life lesson.

I had joined FB for school and didn’t participate at all for the first 3 or 4 months. I then “decorated” my site just because more colleges started to visit. I got into it and then I have just gotten somewhat bored. Being that I started back to school just this past fall, I was more surprised to see so many students checking face book accounts in class, during lectures. I wondered what things Face book could it be used for that I felt were constructive. I have befriended the Toledo Ballet, the Toledo Museum of ART and the Museum Glass pavilion. This keeps me up with their happenings and I hope to find others that I feel are worthwhile. I do see value for individuals that have family and friends that are at a distance. They can post photos and messages and have an instant connection, which I think is pretty great for someone who is a long way from home.