Social Networks

When I started college facebook was just getting started. Since then it has exploded and has spread to more than just the college scene. Personally I have seen a ton of benefits with facebook through reconnecting with old friends, staying in touch with current friends, and even getting to know new friends. I know that facebook is just one of many social networks, but the idea is that they bring people together and form a web of connections that is never ending. However, not only do they bring people together, but they do so regardless of location or time.

I have the most experience with social networks from a personal standpoint and from what I have seen from my peers and students, they are also most accustomed to using them in a personal way. Teachers at my school connect with other teachers through social networks about what is going on in their lives outside of school. This is huge for teachers as they can often become bogged down in school or be in school mode too often. Students talk and communicate through social networks and are able to "go on vacation" with their friends through pictures and posts. The possibilities are endless and we've really only begun to scratch the surface in my opinion.

As for a professional standpoint, that is where I feel everyone needs some more work. Social Networks can connect you with so many different people across the world that there are a lot more points of views and ideas out there that I personally could be utilizing in my classroom. Not only could I use a social network to connect my students to other countries and cultures, but I could use it myself to get new, fresh ideas on teaching Spanish and even integrating more technology. For the future of Social Networks I see myself connecting with more teachers who are teaching Spanish as well as Teachers living in other countries teaching English to get feedback and help them out as well. The beauty of Social Networks is that it isn't a one-way street, heck it isn't even a two-way street, but an infinite highway of information and connections if utilized to its fullest extent.

Web Pages vs. Blogs

Blogs allow individuals to display and continually update their own personal news. It reflects their own point of view and interests, whereas a web page is more of a static document on the internet that is usually published by organizations. Both can contain links to other sites and documents, but a web page doesn't go much farther than that. The biggest and most significant difference between a Blog and a Web Page is that a Blog allows a conversation to take place. Outside readers can comment and interact with the blogger creating relationships and allowing more transfer of thoughts and ideas. A community of blogs can be created and people can connect in ways that a Web Page simply can not allow with its lack of interaction by outside users.