Learning to Network: Ning

One of the networking sites that I explored was Ning. It is a networking site where people are able to create and customize their own website by having the ability to have blogs,videos, forums, and integrate their site with Facebook, Google, Yahoo, and Twitter. It works for anyone who wants to able to create a platform where people are able to share ideas and knowledge. They are able to build their own online community based on a specific topic of interest. Ning actually lets service members charge their customers through their site and has three different plans for its members as well.
 One of the features that I like is that people have the ability to integrate with twitter and Facebook and anyone can join the groups through both of these social networking site. One of the forums that caught my attention was the NCTE Assembly for ESL/English Language Learners it's a group targeted at promoting the understanding of ESL/English Learners of all ages. It works at informing teachers, students, etc. on ways to aid ESL students and also teachers in how to provide a better teach the academic language and content. They also provide sessions in getting students to develop their academic language and literacy in content areas. I think its a great way ESL teachers to share their perspective and experience in how to able to better serve ESL students in their learning as well as being able to get teachers to learn how they will be able to help their students in their language development. I like the idea that I might be able to use a site like this where I'm able to discuss different ways of being able to teach an ESL classroom and be able to find sessions that I can attend to enhance my learning as a teacher. Networking sites like this gives teachers and students the ability to experiment with different ideas and exchange information with a global community. It's having the ability to connect with other teachers going through similar experiences. According to Alan Levin's New Media Consortium "It's always important in tapping into our sense of willing to experiment, play, and try new things." In other words being a teacher or a student is all about being able to get out of our usual comfort zone of learning and being able to  try and experiment with the tools we are given, such as a networking site. Being able to improve our knowledge in teaching and keeping an open mind about what is out there for us to learn and improve on. It's about sharing our knowledge and our creativeness and getting feedback from others and again going back creating something even better.I can definitely see myself joining an ESL forum as a new teacher to be able to take tips from other teachers to better my experience and my students experience in their learning. I can also see being able to create my own network and gather teachers and students around the globe to have an open discussion about any number of topics in teaching the English language and what we can do to improve the way we can help students to become confident and interested in their language learning. Its a great way for anyone to build a network and create and recreate information and knowledge.