Thing # 19

Web 2.0

I decided to discuss two networking applications. The first one is LinkedIn. I discovered this networking site about a year ago while in graduate school and I have built an online portfolio with my skill sets, previous employment history, and aspirations. In today's ever changing job market you never know when you could use this information to benefit the advancement of my career. Also I have found other specialists throughout the US that have the same interests as myself and we have connected through my network to share technology and science ideas.

On the flip side, personally I have enjoyed using facebook to reconnect with old high school friends that have moved away. It is a great way to catch up and explore what is going on in your friend's lives. I have also posted links of interest that I have found as well as videos I have created. I do not waste time with all the games and other things that facebook users can access, but rather use it as a way to stay in touch with old friends and current ones. Who knows where this may lead?

As far as classroom and educational uses of these sites - I have already mentioned the use of LinkedIn as a way to network with other professionals that share the same interests as you and can also serve as a way to market your skills to other educational entities. I am not sure what the educational benefit of facebook is, but I know that personally I have posted links to things I have experienced in regards to educational technology and several of my friends are teachers and I have shared resources with them in the facebook environment.