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"Making Social Networking Tools Work for Your Organization" [|Engaged Communities; Growing Strong Children Conference], Sept 1, 2010

[|Bonnie Blagojevic], [|Marnie Morneault], [|UMaine Center for Community Inclusion & Disability Studies Research Associates]

 __Introduction/Welcome__ Tools survey- how many of you are currently using: Facebook? Twitter? Google/search? Google Docs ? Skype, or other videochat program? Diigo?

Pair and Share Activity (discuss with neighbor/5 minutes) How can these Tech/Web Tools help you in your work? What do you hope to learn about these tools today? Participants report back to the group and we begin to chart/organize ideas:

__What does the Research say?__ The NAEYC article "[|Ten Tips for Involving Families through Internet- Based Communication]" suggests the research is clear -family involvement can improve child outcomes in many learning areas. And more frequent home-school connections can benefit children. There are a variety of reasons it can be challenging to find the time/ connect and collaborate with family members. This NAEYC article offers suggestions on new ways to partner with families using the Internet. [|Ten Tips for Involving Families Through Online Communication] (*Note: Link to full article available...)

  //Explore on your own: // [|Smarter Work: Why Social Networks Matter] slideshare by Sacha Chuaand [|Technology adoption lifecycle, a wikipedia article] [|The JoanGanzCooney Center at Sesame Workshop] has [|Reports] on emerging technology trends and education. [|The MacArthur Foundation Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning Blog] shares news and links to [|Reports] and has a [|series on Digital Media and Learning]

How are organizations using these tools? Action research! (Look together and discuss...) [|NAEYC]! What information is being shared by NAEYC on [|Twitter]? On [|Facebook]? On [|Youtube]? //Explore on Your Own:// [|NAEYC Social Media Resources] - identify and discuss issues/policy related to using Social Media in your organization. [|Child Care Aware Parent Network] and other [|NACCRRA (National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies)] resources

__Tools "talk" and demo:__

[|NAEYC Technology & Young Children Interest Forum]- getting acquainted with Diigo features, and to support T&YC Interest Forum projects (web site) [|Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies Early Childhood Team] (FYI- Groups can be private, so only members of the group can add to the bookmarks and review the group's links)
 * [|Diigo]**, a social bookmarking tool, provides opportunities for groups of people to have a shared collection of bookmarks, located on the web, which can be discussed, tagged, etc. to make them easier to access later on. Our own Diigo group "stories" include:

To learn more about these web-based tools, it is helpful to consult the tutorials and help materials provided, such as: [|Install Diigo Toolbar] and [|Take a Tour] and/or other review other online tutorials. Cruise the web/do an Internet search-there are many video tutorials available on Youtube, etc.

[|Head Start Association]- National Head Start Organization [|Long Island Head Start] -Regional Head Start [|Head Start Body Start]- Topic specific, to increase physical activity, outdoor play and healthy eating among Head Start and Early Head Start children, families and staff.
 * Facebook:**

//Explore on your own:// [|The Better Kid Care America Extension Community of Practice] [|Fred Rogers Center for early learning and children's media at Saint Vincent College] [|The Georgia Association on Young Children] This is a national effort to provide information for child care providers, directors, and parents about quality child care. [|Mind in the Making] -a research-based initiative and approach (with book, vook, etc.) to better understand how children learn and essential life skills. [|Reggio Emilia Approach Interest Group]

[|Twitter intro]- How it works, how Bonnie uses it... [|South Dakota Head Start]- Statewide Head Start [|North West Arkansas Head Start]- Regional Head Start
 * Twitter:**

//Explore on your own:// [|Pre-K Tweeps Play Well with Others] [|Teaching Strategies]- publisher of educational materials for early educators, tweets about topics of interest to early educators.

Other comments to add to our chart/ list?

[|iChat] (demo) [|Skype] [|Google voice and video chat]
 * Videochat options:** There are several options available, to use your computer to "meet", have an audio or videochat with others (1 or more):

Google Docs Demo (with surprise "guest" speaker :^) //Explore on your own:// Google Docs for Educators [|Resources for Teachers] [|Google Tools for Educators]
 * Document creation**-use web-based tools to work together on the same document:

From Theory to Practice: From the list, are there a top 2 or 3 you want to explore? What would you need to get started? (Move and meet- pair and share) Group discussion

__Conclusion__ Start small, "play" with technology-try it out, and find tech savvy people in your community willing to share: NAEYC Tech & Young Children Interest Forum [|website], [|listserv], wiki "sandbox",and [|Diigo]link collection. Decide on your goals and which social media tools can help you achieve them. Look around and learn from others.

Other favorite tools: [|Google Scholar]- search for research (in preferences, can link to college library to more easily access research/articles.) [|Evernote]-can easily "capture" and find information, and retrieve it later... [|Wikispaces]- one of several choices available for free online, used to make this wiki.

Tech Resources to Explore: [|Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center] Office of Head Start web site with lots of educational links to discover and share... [|Examples of Social Media in Early Childhood]Early Childhood community page, website facilitated by the National Professional Development Center on Inclusion (NPDCI) and CONNECT: The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge. [|Inside Pre-K] -5 Qs with Fran Simon (about pre-k and social media) and Fran Simon's [|Supercharge ECE with Web 2.0] slideshow and resource page [|Moving at the Speed of Creativity]- Wes Fryer's professional wiki, with many workshop handouts on Web 2.0 topics. [|Pre-K in Maine Yahoo Newsgroup] A resource for all those involved in public Pre-K in Maine. [|Preschool California] has posted a [|presentation about their use of Social Media]. [|Videatives Views blog]- use of text and video together to gain insights into children's learning. What's a Wiki?- lots of links and information about wikis in education on the Weblogg-ed Wiki, created and maintained by Will Richardson.