Social Networking What's the hype?

The hype is we are communicating. We are teaching and learning by sharing information across the fence, street, counties, border, and seas via the internet. We can no longer live in our own little box while the world carries on. I remember my grandmothers saying as do many of you out there “it takes a village to raise a child”. We are no longer children. We are adults with voices to be heard. We are in the village of technology. This village of people is privy to many opinions, resource, and a variety of life experiences, which allows, humans to continue with our lifelong learning. Siemens (2005) wrote forty to fifty years ago “the life of knowledge was measured in decades. Information growth was slow” (p.1). Today, social networking technology, have transformed data development exponentially.

Social networking sites like CaringBridge is a free website that allows families and friends to “connect with other during a serious health event, care and recovery” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites). We no longer have to feel that we carry the burdens of illness alone. We can reach out and connect with others in the same situation. The CaringBridge social networking site allows users to create their own site within its community to share their stories. They can create a blog, read others blogs and articles on various health struggles and recovery. There is even an area to donate and volunteer your services. I find it would be a good learning tools for students going into the health field. Students get to connect with the people whom they will be serving. This will certainly help students to connect to the human side of their classroom learning. For more information, please log on to this link, via https://www.caringbridge.org/createwebsite

Another social networking site that is certainly helpful to the health community is YouTube. YouTube is a place where you not only can create and post personal videos but watch and comment on others. Anyone with a google account can give or receive feedback via making a comment on your video. As we all know, many new talents have risen to fame from YouTube discovery. The tube boasts hundreds of video range from the funny to serious. This is a good educational tool in the dental hygiene field. Educators and students alike use it to give need mouth care education. Instruction can range from brushing and flossing teeth to oral cancer screening.

 

 

 

What the hype in social networking?  It is the people making connection, exchanging ideas and information that further each other’s growth.   

References:

Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology & Distance Learning, (2)1. Retrieved from http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm

List of Social networking web sites Retrieve from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites