Ning is a free social networking site which facilitates like-minded individuals to share their ideas, discussions, videos and photos with each other through blogs, forums and comments. Described by Terry Freedman, chair of Naace as social networking for grown-ups, Ning has certainly proved popular amongst teachers endeavouring to use technology to enhance their practice and learn from others.
To date my Ning networks include:
- Classroom 2.0
- School 2.0
- NextGen Teachers
- Coming of Age
- eTwinning ambassadors
- Talkabout Primary MFL
- ICT in Education
- Educational Technology
- Teachers 2.0
- ictnet
For particular interest to language teachers are the sites eTwinning ambassadors and Talkabout Primary MFL. The former is a network set up by digital maverick Drew Buddie as a springboard for debate from last week's UK National eTwinning Conference in Nottingham. So far the site has been very successful in attracting some of the eTwinners who attended the conference and others who couldn't make it. It will be interesting to monitor how the network develops in the future, after this encouraging start. Thanks go to Drew for setting it up in the first place.
Talkabout Primary MFL was created by Jo Rhys-Jones, a secondary trained, primary languages teacher whose 'mission statement' reads as follows:
This is an interactive network for those teaching (or considering teaching) a foreign language in a Primary school; a place to share your worries/successes with supportive colleagues. Please let us know what works (or doesn't) for you.
To get the ball rolling, Jo has uploaded a short video clip called Alien Sock Puppets which showcases two of her Year 5 pupils improvising a simple dialogue in French while a third films the 'socking' action. She has also included some cool photos with a European flavour and a scheme of work for Years 3-6. Jo admits that at present Talkabout Primary MFL is a fledgling site, but with a bit of collaboration, I'm sure it could become a useful portal for primary language colleagues. Sock it to 'em Jo.
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