Network ComparisonWeek 2 Assignment – EDLD 5362 ET8012

Laura J. Lopez

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Network ComparisonIntroduction & Background

• In an effort to help support and promote the acquisition of skills necessary to perform optimally within each job category, the Southwest Independent School District’s Technology Department has designed a Professional Educator Proficiency Program that is aligned to all SWISD’s Board Priority Goals (Southwest ISD Technology Department, 2009).

• The program is divided into 4 levels which include six basic proficiency areas. The skills and requirements of each level provide the necessary foundations for successful progression through the program (Southwest ISD Technology Department, 2009).

• As a Campus Instructional Technologist in SWISD, I am assigned to Scobee Middle School where it is my job to assist all professional educators on the campus in successful progression through our Professional Educator Proficiency Program.

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• Scobee M.S. is in its third year of the program and is currently working on finalizing our focus on Level 2 -Technology Productivity in May of this year.

• In an effort to offer ongoing support to teachers with Level 2, as well as support their transition to Level 3 -Technology Enrichment, the purpose of this presentation is to introduce some of the online resources that are available and can offer continuous support to educators.

• The two resources highlighted here are a few popular networks that offer a variety of quality, up-to-date suggestions, tip & tricks, lesson plans, and the opportunity to collaborate with other educators around the world.

1. Diigo

2. Ning

Network ComparisonIntroduction & Background

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• Diigo - abbreviation for Digest of Internet Information, Groups and Other stuff.

• A Social Information Network (SIN) that offers two services in one (Diigo Inc., 2010).

1. A research and collaborative research tool

2. A knowledge-sharing community and social content site

Network ComparisonAbout Diigo

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• Personal Research Tool (Diigo Inc., 2010):– Provides a Browser add-on to improve research

productivity– Allows highlighting portions of web pages– Can attach sticky notes to specific parts of web

pages– Highlighting and Sticky Notes are superimposed

on original page– All saved on Diigo servers, creating a personal

digest of the web• Accessible from any PC or even iPhone

Network ComparisonAbout Diigo

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• Collaborative Research Platform (Diigo Inc., 2010):– Share findings easily with friends and colleagues– Create groups to pool relevant resources, findings,

and thoughts• Project Team• Club• Class

Network ComparisonAbout Diigo

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• Social Content Site (Diigo Inc., 2010):– Allows for a collectively created repository of

quality content, filtered and annotated by the community on almost any subject

– Find and subscribe to most recent or popular bookmarks

– Recommends news and resources personalized to your interests

– Shows who else has bookmarked a web page• Shows other similar pages and sites others may have

bookmarked• Social browsing experience and a great way to find related

content

Network ComparisonAbout Diigo

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• Knowledge-Sharing Community (Diigo Inc., 2010):– New way to connect and keep in touch with friends

and colleagues with similar interests– Search for people by tags or sites to find others

who share specific interests• Add others as friends, send messages, invite them to

a group, or add them to a watch list• Categories of possible interest to Educators:

– Computer & Internet (881)– School & Education (1323)– Science (185)– Education – K12 (242)

Network ComparisonAbout Diigo

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• Ning is a social platform for the world’s interests and passions online. With Ning, you can make your brand social, amplify a cause your passionate about, or simply forge strong relationships with like-minded people (Ning, Inc., 2010).

Network ComparisonAbout Ning

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• Offers numerous features:– Branding & Visual Design Freedom– Unique Member Profiles– Moderation & Privacy– Invite & Share– Latest Activity– RSS Feeds in and RSS Out– Photos & Videos– Chat– Groups– Discussion Forum– Blogs for every member– Events– Ning Apps (additional features)

Network ComparisonAbout Ning

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Available Educational Networks

Network ComparisonAbout Ning

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Each Network has many groups within it.

Example: These groups are part “Classroom 2.0”

Network ComparisonAbout Ning

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• Differences: Look and feel, features, capabilities, groups, and information

• Both are Social Information Networks (SINs)• Both serve as collaborative, knowledge-sharing

communities, and social content sites• Together a user has access to a wealth of information

to help gain ideas, stay up-to-date on new technologies, and learn of effective implementation strategies in the classroom

• A means of ongoing and individualized professional development

Network ComparisonDiigo and Ning

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Works Cited• Diigo Inc. (2010). Diigo. Retrieved January 24, 2010, from Diigo:

http://www.diigo.com/index• Ning, Inc. (2010). Ning. Retrieved January 24, 2010, from Ning:

http://about.ning.com/index.php• Scobee Middle School. (2009, November 16). Instructional and Operational

Support Staff. Retrieved January 24, 2010, from Campus Instructional Technologist: http://sco.swisd.net/support/cit

• Southwest ISD Technology Department. (2009, October 13). Instructional Technology Department. Retrieved January 24, 2010, from Technology Proficiency Programs: http://district.swisd.net/Technology/Instructional_Technology/Techprof

• Southwest ISD Technology Department. (2009, October 13). Instructional Technology Department. Retrieved January 24, 2010, from Professional Educator Technology Proficiency Program: http://district.swisd.net/Technology/Instructional_Technology/edu_tprof

• Southwest ISD Technology Department. (2009, October 13). Instructional Technology Department. Retrieved January 24, 2010, from Proficiency Program Completion Process: http://district.swisd.net/Technology/Instructional_Technology/comp_process