Starting a Ning network for my faculty and staff

I just created a Ning social network for the faculty and staff at my school. So far 20 teachers (out of about 120) have signed up. I'm not sure if I should be encouraged or disappointed about that...

I think the big challenge is to show teachers that the network is a valuable and productive use of their time. If I don't do that quickly it is going to fade away. People are starting to post some pictures and I've started a discussion about how to use the network.

Do you have other ideas about how I can kick start my network to get it going. I know from my experience here, that once a critical mass of people really start using the space it will start to sustain itself. Any suggestions for how to get it going would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
-Liz

Tags: socialnetworking

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nancy Bosch on October 26, 2007 at 4:14pm

I serve students in 10 different schools so I know a lot of teachers. I just can't imagine them saying what they really feel in a public forum. I can see the benefit of social networking in a school though. Teachers could post ideas about various curriculum issues, how-to, etc. Also veteran teachers could offer advice to new teachers. Hopefully the schools that use social networking as a tool are successful.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Amber D. Evans on December 3, 2007 at 8:56am

To me, it sounds as though you're interested in creating a community of practice. I'm not sure if you have already read the attached file, but I found it very useful for whenever I'm trying to encourage my faculty and course attendees to continue learning outside of workshops and classrooms. Especially when using social networks or LMS to get them all in one place.

It's titled, "Seven Principles for Cultivating Communities of Practice," (HBSWK Pub. Date: Mar 25, 2002.)
Synopsis: Although communities of practice develop organically, a carefully crafted design can drive their evolution. In this excerpt from a new book, the authors detail seven design principles. The payoff? Knowledge management that works.
by Etienne Wenger, Richard McDermott, and William M. Snyder

Attachments:

7Principles_CoP.pdf, 248 KB

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Laurie Korte on December 31, 2007 at 7:00am

I was thinking about this idea as well. Trying to figure out a way to lure them into it. Thanks for bringing this topic up.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Cyndi Danner-Kuhn on June 8, 2008 at 4:18pm

You are such a wealth of information and resources. I have no doubt you will succeed.

Maybe start posting a resource or how-to they can't live without each week. Get them hooked on going there to find out what new thing you added.

Then ask them to each add one resource. Maybe that will jump start the sharing. I would start with something like Clusty for dong searches or Citation Machine for citing sources. They will have to see the need to use the tool in their own classrooms. Maybe a YouTube or TeacherTube video like A vision of Students today.

I will be interested in how it goes. I am trying to do this at the university level. It is a challenge to say the least. Those that are excited about learning new stuff and it seems those excited about technology get hooked first (like you and me). But, if you find the trick to get all of them involved, I would love to know. I do think in a short time 20 out of 120 is not too darn bad. "Yippy Skippy" for you!!!!

l would love to have your input in my college class again his summer. All teachers are invited of course, maybe show it to your teachers, I bet they would like to help future teachers.... http://tecs390summer2008.ning.com

thanks
Cyndi

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David Colon on June 10, 2008 at 11:46am

This is a really interesting thread. My school has started its own social network for faculty and it's been a slow but steady development. We've got about half of our faculty and staff signed up, but most people don't post. As the site develops, though, we are trying to give people reasons to participate. We're doing some professional development projects that will be based on the site and will give people from across school divisions the chance to use our ning. We're also entering another round of strategic planning and the site should be a great way for people to communicate ideas and problem solve.

All in all, this discussion thread is heartening to me -- I'm apparently not alone in bumping along on the road to web 2.0.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bonnie Werner on June 10, 2008 at 7:30pm

I'm brand new to this site. Could you explain to me, what is a Ning?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Barbara Wright on July 15, 2008 at 11:52am

Bonnie,
this site is a ning. Its a social networking site that was set up for teachers like you to share all kinds of ideas. Most people are talking about the use of web2.0 tools in schools, hence the name, classroom20, but a ning site like this one could really be used by anyone, for pretty much any purpose(not just education). The sites are free to start your own, so maybe you would like to try it with your fellow teachers in your very spread out district. I tried to start one in my district, but my district is one square mile, and only has two schools, and we get together just about weekly, so it really didn't get used as much as I would have hoped.
Classroom20.com, however, is thriving and growing very strongly.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sherry Booth on November 5, 2008 at 2:11pm

Hi Liz,
I'm a graduate student at NCSU and I'm very intrigued by social networking. I'm focusing a current research project on social networking and, in particular, looking at factors/strategies that promote participation or collaboration. In browsing around the Classroom 2.0 Ning, I came across this threaded discussion that you initiated over a year ago. I'm curious how your network is going now and what strategies you found to be most effective in getting people to participate?
Thanks,
Sherry

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Davis on November 5, 2008 at 5:36pm

Hi Sherry,
I am at a new school this year and am planning to introduce a ning network here, but haven't yet done so. I will be trying it out soon. I'll try to check back with you and let you know how it goes, or get back in touch with me if you don't hear from me (comment on my page or add another reply to this discussion). There may also be other people out there who are now doing this successfully. Try starting a discussion and asking.

I have had a lot of success using closed private nings in classrooms - particularly English classes. The teachers have loved using it for book discussions.

Sorry not to be of more help.
-Liz

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sherry Booth on November 5, 2008 at 5:48pm

Thanks Liz!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Connie Weber on November 5, 2008 at 5:53pm

Hi Sherry,
You could check out http://firesidelearning.ning.com
We've got some good collegial learning going on there. Networks take a good deal of nurturing. Steve and I are doing presentations on networking for professional development this week at the Independent Schools conference.
Liz--how's the new school going? Want to say that your Power of Educational Technology Blog is vastly inspiring to so many of us-- I know that my colleague, Rob, runs down the hall at school to say, "Hey, Liz has another blog entry--check it out!

So, thanks! And thanks to Sherry for starting up the question--

Connie
Connie

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Davis on November 6, 2008 at 5:29am

Connie you are too nice. Isn't Carol Dweck speaking at the Independent School Conference? You will have to report back on what you learn. The school psychologist at my school, Michael Thompson, will also be speaking. He is going to talk about teens and technology (I'm going to help him out with that a little). Always nice to check in with you.
-Liz