Making Curriculum Pop

Hello! I'm appealing to the collective wisdom here. Can anyone recommend meaningful ways to teach kids about social networks from a deconstruction/analysis point of view? (I'm working on a 6th-grade unit.) I think it would be worthwhile to spend some time just talking about what these are, which ones are most common out there, why we're on certain ones, etc., but I really want to go more into critical thinking about why or why not to use them, how they can be really effective, how they can be destructive, etc. I'd love any input or lessons you've already taught. Thanks!

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Kelly,
Can you provide more detail?
Pam Goble
I just want to help the kids think more carefully and analytically about these kinds of networks. I'm not aiming for teaching them HOW to use them necessarily. Does that make sense?
Hi Kelly,

You might want to check out an article in this months Journal titled "Facebook Training Wheels" it's all about a social networking site called Saywire.com, that is being incorporated into schools, also it addresses some theory about social networking. Another site they mention is yoursphere.com.

Also if you really want some serious theory/understanding of how kids learn through networks, you should check out the work of George Siemens, he coined a new "ISM" called "Connectivism" which is a theory about learning that draws on networks, social networking, and social constructivism among other things. This interview discusses what connectivism is and where it came from, as well as its unique features and applications to education. It's very good, I think it will be well worth your time!


Hilary
Woops! I forgot to give you the link to the Journal article. Here it is:

http://www.thejournal.com/articles/24239_1

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