This post, the final of a three-part series about “getting connected” through social networks, will focus on what for many is THE social network: Ning. For those new to Ning and/or the concept of social networking, this short screencast provides a nice overview:

Like Twitter and del.icio.us, Ning can connect you with other professionals and promote the exchange of ideas and resources. However, whereas the effectiveness of Twitter and del.icio.us networks largely depend upon making connections with “the right people”, Ning is largely about finding “the right networks”.

There are presently more than 120,000 Ning networks. Once you create a Ning ID, you can request to join any network(s) that match your interests. In addition to being a member of several MICDS networks, I also belong to a number of other Ning sites:

You’ll notice, not surprisingly, that these Ning networks are all related to my professional practice. Looking for something different? The Social Networks in Education Wiki has a comprehensive list of Ning-based sites, organized by focus area; a very handy resource indeed.

Once you select and join a network or two, you can begin the process of creating your page, reading and responding to discussions, joining groups, and making “friends”.

A Classroom Example

Ning networks vary slightly in form and function, but most include a fairly standard set of tools. Since Classroom 2.0 was featured in the screencast (and host Elizabeth Davis is one of my Twitter and Ning friends), I am going to use it to highlight some Ning basics.

The Main page is where you’ll find an introduction to the network and its various components. If you find the “everything all in one place” approach a bit overwhelming, you can use the tabbed navigation to see specific parts of the site. After you’ve had a chance to explore a bit, I suggest you visit the My Page section, update your profile, and adjust your privacy settings.

Your personal Ning page contains your profile, latest activity, a comment wall where people can leave comments, and a list of your friends. As I mentioned when discussing Twitter, it is important to complete your profile so that you can connect with like-minded individuals. It should be noted that by default anyone can view your photos, videos and blog posts. The My Settings link will allow you to restrict access to these resources as well as set your email notification preferences.

Discussion topics (which I feel are the real attraction of Ning for teachers) are located within Groups and the Forum. Forum discussions appear on the Main Page, and although Classroom 2.0 does organize them into categories, they are more “general” in nature. Groups are organized around specific topics and group member share that common interest. For example, I belong to Digital Citizenship 2.0, one of more than the 150+ groups available. Can’t find just the right group? As a member of the network, you can start your own.

While finding the right network is important, what makes a network “right” is its membership. You can read posts without ever joining a group, learn from others without adding any “friends”, but a successful Ning network requires that people respond and connect. If you see an interesting discussion topic, take a moment and leave a comment. Explore the Members area and find people you can learn with and from; make your social network social.

Get Started

To learn more about Ning, I would encourage you to contact me, explore Classroom 2.0 or any of the other networks I’ve mentioned, visit Ning’s online help, or read Elizabeth Davis’ recent blog post, “Doing the Ning Thing.” Using social networks to “get connected” really is easy and definitely time well spent.

Posted: 01|13|08 at 10:25 pm. Filed under: Professional Development, Social Networks.
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