Reynard, R. (2009). Beyond Social Networking: Building Toward Learning Communities. Campus Technology. Retrieved from http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2009/07/22/Beyond-Social-Networking-Building-Toward-Learning-Communities.aspx?Page=1
Reynard’s article addresses the increasingly popular trend of social networking online and its value as a teaching tool in modern classrooms. Although she does not discredit previous research about using social networking for learning, Reynard does point out that it is only the beginning of a more complex issue. The article states that unless the class is directed by intentional interaction from the teacher, learning communities are not formed and the hoped-for sharing of ideas does not happen. Reynard also reminds us that teachers need to be careful to approach social networking with learning goals in mind and not to intrude on students’ social space. With these cautions, Reynard urges the reading to embrace the numerous skills gained from participating in social networking including simulation, collective intelligence and negotiation skills. She also encourages teachers to use a multitude of technological tools such as blogs and wikis to enrich the learning experience of students.
I believe Reynard’s cautions about the boundaries of social networking in the classroom are extremely important for future teachers. Setting up a Facebook account or class website and leaving it alone will not do much for learning and may even leave to problems. Teachers need to remember that if they are going to partake in this endeavor, they must be willing to put in the time and effort to lead constructed conversations in order to foster a positive learning environment. Another important comment was the warning about letting social networking becoming too social between teacher and student. Not only will it be “creepy” for the students, but will walk a fine line legally. Overall I thought Reynard’s article to be an important reminder of how complex the process of learning with social networking really is and how the research has only just begun to explore its possibilities…which is both exciting and a little nerve-racking.
