The creators of this Wiki are not experts on the topic of social tools. Our purpose is to simply inform pre-service teachers about some fundamental elements of social tools and their use.

Objectives of Wiki

• Define Social Tools
• Describing safety guidelines for each technology
• Describe the value and rationale of social tools in the classroom
• Match social tools with uses and capabilities of technology
• Explain the purpose of each new technology

What are Social Tools
Tools that allow communication, collaboration, and community in a technological world through computer-mediated communication.

Examples of Social Tools

• Blogs
• Instant messaging
• Wiki
• Chat rooms
• Electronic mail
• Virtual classroom
• Social bookmarking

Social Tools, Their Definitions, and Their Purposes
Blogs: A blog which is short for the term weblog, is a publication that is regularly updated of a certain topic and the author’s thoughts. The purpose of a blog is based on its content. On top of a person’s thoughts blogs can house links to and other resources in regards to distinct subject matter.

Instant messaging: Instant messaging is a form of communication that involves based on real time and is a correspondence between individuals who are online. An example of this would be AIM. The main purpose of this is the factor of immediate response. Individuals do not have to wait on response from emails or letters by mail.

Wiki: A resource that allows users to add content.

Chat rooms: A virtual room in which discussion take place. Here people communicate in real time (a transmission that occurs where information is received and immediately responded to without any time delay) while on the internet.

Electronic mail (E-Mail): Computer users have the ability to exchange messages (mail) with other computer users. This social tool is not based on real time.

Virtual classroom: An environment on-line where students and teachers interact. It is the same basic concept of a classroom, but students and their instructor interact via the computer.

Social bookmarking: This is a tool that allows individuals to save and collect bookmarks of websites and their web addresses that they have found online. Individuals are able to share these bookmarks amongst each other.

Safety Guidelines
Blogs

• Make sure that account information can’t be seen
  
• Don’t enter or disclose personal information

Instant messaging

• Make sure that you know who your talking to
• If you see something conspicuous, report it
• Never send pictures or private information through IM’s
• Don’t write anything against the law

Chat rooms

• Be careful who you trust
  
• Don’t reveal personal information
• Use a nickname or alias instead of your real name
• Report of something is fishy

Electronic Mail

• Never give your password and personal information to strangers
• If you need to download an email scan it for viruses first

Wiki

• Protect your identity and personal information

Social bookmarking

• Beware of websites with viruses

Virtual Classroom

• Key your username and password secure
• Report any suspicious behavior

Value and Rationale of Social Tools in the Classroom
Social tools are very important to everyone in the classroom and school community; this can but is not limited to students, parent, teachers, faculty and staff.
Students

• Allows students to keep track of assignments, tests, quizzes, and up an coming events that will be happening in the classroom
• Allows students to kinesthetically practice and advance in their technological skills
• Allows students to communicate their ideas and opinions to their peers· Allows students to build community within the classroom
• Allows students to monitor their progress within the classroom

Parents

• Allows parents to stay informed with what is going on in the classroom
• Gives parents opportunity to communicate with teachers in timely manner
• Allows parents to stay aware of any up and coming events or assignments that may be happening in the classroom
• Allows parents to monitor their child’s progress

Teacher

• Allows teacher to communicate with parents
• Allows teacher to communicate with students
• Allows teacher the ability to keep parents and students current on up to date happening in the classroom
• Allows the learning process to continue even when the school doors are closed

Uses and Capabilities of Technology

• Networking
  • Connections are made with parents, students, and teachers
  • Students are connected to their peers

• Writing
  • Increase exposure to writing and written text
    • Ex. Instant messaging, blogs, wiki, electronic mail
    
    
• Presentation
  • Students and teachers alike have the ability to create

• Portability
  • Easy access
  • Quick time response
  
  
• Information Access
• Presentation given over internet

• Imaging
• Can share images, pictures, and videos

Questions
1. What is the definition of social tools and what are some example?

What are Social Tools
Tools that allow communication, collaboration, and community in a technological world through computer-mediated communication.

Examples of Social Tools

• Blogs
• Instant messaging
• Wiki
• Chat rooms
• Electronic mail
• Virtual classroom
• Social bookmarking

2. Why should teaches incorporate social tools in their classrooms?

• Allows teacher to communicate with parents
• Allows teacher to communicate with students
• Allows teacher the ability to keep parents and students current on up to date happening in the classroom
• Allows the learning process to continue even when the school doors are closed

3. How can one practice safety when using social tools?

Blogs

• Make sure that account information can’t be seen
  
• Don’t enter or disclose personal information

Instant messaging

• Make sure that you know who your talking to
• If you see something conspicuous, report it
• Never send pictures or private information through IM’s
• Don’t write anything against the law

Chat rooms

• Be careful who you trust
  
• Don’t reveal personal information
• Use a nickname or alias instead of your real name
• Report of something is fishy

Electronic Mail

• Never give your password and personal information to strangers
• If you need to download an email scan it for viruses first

Wiki

• Protect your identity and personal information

Social bookmarking

• Beware of websites with viruses

Virtual Classroom

• Key your username and password secure
• Report any suspicious behavior

4. How can social tools build relationships and community between teachers, parents, and students?

Students

• Allows students to keep track of assignments, tests, quizzes, and up an coming events that will be happening in the classroom
• Allows students to kinesthetically practice and advance in their technological skills
• Allows students to communicate their ideas and opinions to their peers· Allows students to build community within the classroom
• Allows students to monitor their progress within the classroom

Parents

• Allows parents to stay informed with what is going on in the classroom
• Gives parents opportunity to communicate with teachers in timely manner
• Allows parents to stay aware of any up and coming events or assignments that may be happening in the classroom
• Allows parents to monitor their child’s progress

Teacher

• Allows teacher to communicate with parents
• Allows teacher to communicate with students
• Allows teacher the ability to keep parents and students current on up to date happening in the classroom
• Allows the learning process to continue even when the school doors are closed

5. What are some of your objections to using social tools in the classroom?

One major objection to using social tools within the classroom is access. Not all students have equal access to technology and this would hinder them from having and contributing equally in the social classroom.

Resouces

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media
• http://socialtools.wetpaint.com/page/Definition+of+social+tools
• Owen, M. (2006). Social Software and Learning. Retrieved Jan. 30, 2007, From http://www.futurelab.org.uk/research/opening_education/social_software_01.htm.
• Student engagement in social software outside school context June 2, 2006http://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/2006/06/student_engagem.html

References
Richardson, W., & Mancabelli, R. (2007). The read/write web: New tools for a new
generation of technology. Principle. 86(3), 12-17.

Wikipedia. (2007). Social Media. Retreived February 5, 2007. From Wikipedia Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media.