When you think of social networking, the first two words that come to mind are probably My Space.  Followed by thoughts of all the My Space horror stories you've heard.  Many parents' and schools' first reaction is to ban all social networks and pretend they don't exist. However, this isn't stopping kids from signing in, lying about their age, and visiting the more unsavory sites. 

Teachers and schools can actually use the medium in educationally sound ways.  A school social network can be set up to share and teach the students how to responsibly communicate in this forum.

With the use of a service like a teacher, school, or PTO can use a social network to encourage safe communication within their community.  Ning can have an access code so only invited people can enter. Most schools are responsibly using the sign in code to protect their group.
 

What do you put on the Ning?

• PTO could brainstorm ideas for fund raising or for spending the money.
• The principal could run a question/answer page for students to "Quiz the Principal".
• Classrooms could set up a "Homework Helper" area where students could ask questions and answer each other's questions (as long as they aren't just posting the answers).
• A school could use Ning for teachers to bounce ideas off each other and bring teachers from other buildings in the district together to brainstorm. 
  
• A classroom could set up a ning with another classroom to collaborate and share information.
  

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