This is a presentation I gave at MoblEd10 in a hands-on workshop about using Ning for social learning.

1. Learning in the Social
Web with Ning
Michelle Pacansky-Brock
Michelle Macfarlane
MoblEd10
Pasadena City College
April 19-20, 2010

2. first things first
What’s new at Ning?

3. says, “We will phase out our free service.”
What will this mean
to educators?

4. As part of this change, we’ll be phasing out our free service. On May 4, 2010, we
will share with you all of the details of our new offering, including features and price
points, through a series of blog posts, emails, and conference calls. We recognize
that there are many active Ning Networks for teachers, small non-profits, and
individuals and its our goal to have a set of product and pricing options that will
make sense for all of them. For Ning Creators using our free service who choose to
move to another service, we will offer a migration path and time to make that change.
We will still continue to allow free trials and test networks on the Ning Platform.
On May 4th, tune in at:
http://blog.ning.com

5. content created by web specialists
web users “read” content
content created by anyone
web users read, collaborate,
How does Web 2.0 differ from Web 1.0?
edit, and participate
http://docentesenextremadura.wikispaces.com/PALE.Web+2.0+applications
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6. A Student’s Life Outside the “Classroom”
Socialize face-to-face and online
• 95% of 18-24 year olds use a social network (70% daily)
Create & share online content
• 45% share videos online (YouTube)
• 42% contribute content to wikis
• 37% contribute to blogs
• 35% use podcasts
Have immediate access to information
• 86% own a cell phone
• 51% own a hand held internet device
Source: Smith, Salaway, Borreson Caruso. ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and IT, 2009.
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http://www.educause.edu/ecar

8. Ning Features
• Privacy Options: “open” or “closed”
• Closed or “private” networks require an invitation to
join (manageable through an “invite link”)
• Members are granted their own “page” complete with
image & video sharing, as well as a personal blog
•Features may be added: forums, groups, pages, direct
post to Twitter, image share from Flickr
• Apps may be added: Linkshare, Ustream, PollDaddy
• Widgets may easily be added through “Text boxes”
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9. Why Learn with Ning?
•Facilitates student-generated content and
participatory learning
• Builds community, increasing sense of socialization.
• Learning in isolation contributes to lower retention
rates in online classes (compared to F2F)*
• Personalized learning environment
• Visual learning
• A great enhancement to an LMS for online learning!
*Galusha, 1997; Hara & Khling 1999; Kubala, 1998; Soles & Moller, 2001 9

10. Active Learning with Blogs
Weekly Prompts to Apply New
Ideas, Learn from Each Other
2 images: same object
phographed by student in
two different lighting
conditions.
500 word written
analysis of
observations, applying
color and light terms.
Comments from other
students, noting additional
observations and replying to
students’ analysis.
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11. Active Learning with Blogs Art Visit:
• attend a major art museum or
two gallery openings
• view artworks, apply key terms
learned in class
• write a 1,000 word reflection of
your visit
• document visit with photos
• post to your blog in Ning
Outcomes: Collaborative blog
environment promotes sharing of
different perspectives and ideas.
Students often attend the same
exhibit and have completely
different experiences, identify
similar or different “favorite”
works of art. Connects
curriculum to real world. 11

12. Ning Student Page Sample
Options for Personalized Learning Environment
may add images
(this student chose to scan and
share a collage assignment that
was submitted as part of an exam)
may share videos
from YouTube
blog (only required Ning
element for the course)
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13. Communicate “Community” as a Course Value
•establish “community
groundrules”
•hold students
accountable to them
• participate in the
community, modeling
these defined
behaviors
•students will feel safe,
ensured that they’re
working with shared
values and goals
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14. Customize Profile Questions
build community, get to know your students,
identify concerns immediately
‘open’ questions are posted
to the student’s profile page
for other students to view
‘locked’ questions are private
exchanges btw student &
instructor
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15. Be Creative!
Masterpiece Blog Award:
Peer-nominated award for
blogging excellence. Winner
receives prestigious extra
credit prize.
Builds community.
Enhances engagement,
morale.
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16. Ning for Role Playing
English teacher Jenny Johns uses Ning to teach
classic literature, such as To Kill a Mockingbird.

17. Student Survey Results
161 students surveyed, 138 responses received
(86% response rate)
68% of students surveyed
reported they spent more time
to write their blog posts in Ning
than they would to write a
traditional discussion board
post.
83% of students surveyed
reported the use of the blogs
and comments in Ning was an
effective discussion tool. (Macfarlane, Molina, Pacansky-Brock, 2008)

18. Student Survey Results
161 students surveyed, 138 responses received
(86% response rate)
76% of students surveyed reported
the sharing of pictures and videos in
Ning resulted in a more personalized
learning experience than text-based
learning alone.
90% of students surveyed reported
seeing pictures of their fellow
classmates helped them feel more
connected to the class discussions
than text-based learning alone.
(Macfarlane, Molina, Pacansky-Brock, 2008)

19. Student Survey Results
161 students surveyed, 138 responses received
(86% response rate)
81% of students surveyed reported the use of Ning
created a sense of community in this class.
(Macfarlane, Molina, Pacansky-Brock, 2008)

20. Student Comments
Please provide some feedback about the way Ning has been used in
this class. Has it been helpful? Why or why not? How would you
change the way it's being used?
Ning is a great way to keep the atmosphere upbeat.
Makes the class seem less cold as an online class tends to
be, makes it friendly and very interactive with other
students.
I love Ning! There is such a sense of accomplishment when I
look at my page. Knowing that I wrote all those blogs and
other students read and appreciate them is such a motivator
to continue the good work.
(Macfarlane, Molina, Pacansky-Brock, 2008)

21. Student Comments
(cont’d)
I really enjoyed NING because honestly it reminded me a lot of
myspace/facebook. I could talk with my peers whenever I
needed to and it was really effective to blog my thoughts and
assignments and see other students do the same.
It was odd at first, seeing people's pictures and 'blogging', as I
have never participated in this kind of forum before, but I found
that I liked it, I felt more like I knew my fellow classmates than
in other classes.
Ning makes it feel like a classroom, I mean we're all here at some
time or another interacting with one another.
(Macfarlane, Molina, Pacansky-Brock, 2008)

22. A Few Important Tips
Avoid using email to send invitations. Invite students through
the Invitation Link (Manage Tab/Privacy).
Establish community guidelines. Model them, enforce them
and encourage students to do the same.
Be clear about what’s “required” and what’s “optional” in your Ning.
(Macfarlane, Molina, Pacansky-Brock, 2008)

23. Hands-On Learning Time
download handout at MoblEd10.ning.com
(click on Workshops/Ning)

24. Questions? Thoughts?
by Valerie Everett on Flickr
Michelle Pacansky-Brock mpb@teachingwithoutwalls.com
Michelle Macfarlane mmacfarlane@teachingwithoutwalls.com