Is there a place for social networking in education? Homeschooling? For young people? Parents and teachers learn the facts of social media and how to help young people to use it wisely.

1. You Tube, MySpace, Oh My Susan K. Stewart

2. Safety Concerns Anything said (typed) goes out to the universe Never give personal information ANYTIME Know how to save chats, IMs, other information Know how to report abuse or problems Cyberbullying

3. Let’s Be Nice Would you say in person? In front of your mother? Is it true? How do you know? CAPITAL LETTERS are shouting. Don’t send an email when angry.

4. Let’s Be Ethical Don’t hide behind fake names Don’t steal someone else’s writing – even from an email Don’t steal computer programs, music, or videos Don’t hack a web site

5. Social Networking Email Chat rooms, newsgroups, discussion boards (forums) Instant Messaging – IM Text messaging Blogging Twitter Wikis MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, ShoutLife Mash Ups Podcast YouTube Virtual Worlds Second Life, Gaia

7. E-mail Communicate with others Have a mail list about a subject Have a newsletter Connect with experts ”…email is increasingly seen (by teenagers) as a tool for communicating with “adults” such as teachers, institutions like schools, and as a way to convey lengthy and detailed information to large groups. Meanwhile, IM is used for everyday conversations with multiple friends that range from casual to more serious and private exchanges." (Survey results from Pew)

8. Instant Message/Text Message For groups, a way to get to know each other Get help for group projects Brainstorming Book or movie discussions

9. Chats Classes Connect with experts Group discussions

11. Blogging Current events Research Meet experts Student Blogs Group Blogs Yearbook blog, photolog, or vlog Project Writing Peer Review

12. Wikis As Mike Lawrence, Executive Director of CUE, noted: "When students write a paper, they're usually writing for one person: their teacher. When students know their peers will read what they write, students care and they try harder.” Group use Create and conduct a class Long-distance learning projects

15. Social Networks MySpace, Facebook, ShoutLife, Multiply, ePals Build relationships Share information Build your own social network – Ning.com Build online classrooms or courses California Homeschool Teens