Brilliant or Insane?: social networks

Monday, November 25, 2013

New Google+ community ROLEd out today

Are you a teaching in a progressive, student-centered classroom? Are you allowing your students to choose their own path to learning, so long as the result is mastery?

This sounds a lot like a Results Only Learning Environment (ROLE). It's time to share your philosophies, theories and practices about student-centered, results-only learning.

Enter the new Results-Only learning Google+ Community.

The results-only learning community on Google+ is a place for teachers to share their joys, frustrations, innovations and best student-centered learning practices.

Learn from and share with others, who are transforming their classrooms and schools from traditional methods to amazing Results Only Learning Environments.

Join the Results-Only Learning Community on Google+ today.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

My one-person social network

When I wrote, What if you had to cut your social network to one, I didn't intend to make it a glorified popularity contest. The idea for the post really did begin with me thinking about which of the more than 1,000 people I follow on various social networks provide the most valuable daily content.

I follow mainly educators on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn, because these are primarily professional learning networks for me. Sure, I am friends with family and a few non-educators on Facebook, and I follow some sports networks and sports fans on Twitter.

via: librarygirl.net

As I was reading various posts, though, I wondered who I couldn't do without. Who was my go-to content provider?

A few that rise above

I currently follow less than 600 people on Twitter, and I read and love them all. Some make me laugh, some make me cry and they all make me think in one way or another. However, there are a few people I've grown to expect more from, who have become my go-to content providers:

+Larry Ferlazzo places content in powerful lists and is a remarkable curator of information.

+Shelly Sanchez Terrell is a friend, amazing organizer and the most energetic provider of content I know.

+Angela Maiers has over 100,000 followers on Twitter -- truly amazing for an educator; Angela is a real celebrity in the education world.

+Pernille Ripp is as passionate as anyone I know about making kids better. Her blog generates more thought-provoking conversation than any I've encountered.

+Jennifer Borgioli has a knack for playing Devil's Advocate; she helps me go beyond the surface of many subjects.

I'd be lost without

As much as I'd miss all in my PLN and especially the five mentioned above, I know there is one content provider I can't live without.

+Richard Byrne -- Author of Free Technology for Teachers, Richard is a true superstar in the education technology world. Because I am an education consultant and a perceived expert in technology integration, I work constantly to remain well informed about web tools, applications and mobile devices. Richard Byrne is my go-to content provider for this critical information.

If the world of social media changed, and I had to, for some strange reason, carve my network to one. I'd weep while doing it, but I cut everyone, except Richard Byrne.

I'm thankful I don't have to do it.

What would you do?

Saturday, November 23, 2013

What if you had to cut your social network to one

Take a minute to consider your social network. Remember, your social network is the combination of everyone you follow or friend on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn or any other service.

In many cases, that may include thousands of people. Imagine now that you have to cut your network to one person. You are probably thinking that this is ridiculous and absolutely impossible.

via: gameinformer.com

What if the social network rules were rewritten though? What if you really did have to choose just one? Who would it be?

I'm not quite sure what made me think of this, but as I sat in a doctor's waiting room this morning, trolling Twitter and Facebook, I started to wonder, "Who is the one person in my social network that I value more than anyone else? Who provides me with amazing information, humor or insight? Who posts something that I read every single day and never want to miss?"

Remember, we're only talking about social media; I'm not saying you have to disown your sister or ignore your BFF. You might decide, in this case, though, to eliminate them from your social network.

Would you like to know what I decided?

Meanwhile, who is in your one-person social network?

Monday, June 10, 2013

Am I doing Facebook right?

So, I started using Facebook. I know, you're probably saying, "Is this guy serious?"

I know I'm about a hundred years late (okay, really it's only about six years). And it's not like I haven't had a Facebook page, because I do; here it is. I just didn't really use it. That is all changing, and maybe for the wrong reason.

Photo Credit: News.Yahoo.com

Most of the people I know, family and friends, use Facebook for updates, news, jokes, video, picture sharing and lots of other recreational use.

I've been so busy on Twitter, which I use strictly as a Personal Learning Network, I never saw the use for Facebook. Recently, though, I saw a smart article about ramping up your business with social media. Since I'm a full-time education author and consultant, I figured it was time to really start using Facebook.

So, I started sending out friend requests by the dozens. I went to a person I respect as an educator and a consultant, and I started friending her friends -- a pretty solid strategy, I figured. Plus, many of them I already followed on Twitter.

Then, I began adding my professional websites, pictures of my books and appearances and links to other Mark Barnes promotional stuff.

Is this necessary for someone who is in the business of promoting himself? Probably. Something about it just doesn't feel right, though. It feels contrived.

So, what do you think? Am I going about this whole Facebook promotional stuff properly, or not?

Don't miss ROLE Reversal: Achieving Uncommonly Excellent Results in the Student-Centered Classroom, now available in the ASCD store, Barnes & Noble and at Amazon.com