A networking group consists of any group with common interests and be created by anyone. This offers endless possibilities in the realm of education. A network of nursing faculty can form as a support group for technology ideas. A network of students can share experiences and photos with classmates at home while on a service learning adventure abroad. Social networking sites reach millions of people daily which makes this a great venue for promoting a health care topic. Again, the type of social networking tools are vast, from blogging to a wiki page to a Facebook organization page of resources.
A good social networking site should have features such as security, easy to use profile page, picture, video and music uploads, a FAQs section, and search functions to find old or new friends. Some sites can be accessed by phone. Social Networking Websites Review shows an excellent comparison of the top 10 sites.
For my project in 577, I have chosen to explore Facebook based upon many of the above reasons. I have a personal interest in enabling persons to access up-to-date health information in the non-western world, specifically in the bush of Kenya. Though many modes of technology are just beginning to be available, one source is everywhere, cell phones. My husband recently phoned the owner of a camp where he will be visiting and the owner answered the phone, saying he was out herding his goats, and would call back after he returned home and changed out of his herding clothing and went to his camp office. With this availability comes the new opportunity to share health information. in the area of my interest, many of those who have cell phones also access Facebook. Facebook is the #1 social networking site, offers all the features listed above, is free and easy to access by phone. My intent in this exploration of using this tool is to provide health care information to those vulnerable to malaria. With that goal in mind, I am off to discover ways to use this tool of Facebooking most effectively to meet my goal.
Information of interest on Social Networking sites: See Resourses Page.
Hi Cecily,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you decided to stick with social networking I think there is a place for this especially in the global scale of communication with the regions of the world that you are interested in serving.
The gaebler.com was an interesting link with ideas specific to health care providers.The author suggested blogging as a way to establish one's online niche then expand to Facebook. I explored some health care FB sites such as CDC. It is a fabulous site. On that site, a person posted that FB is good for sharing information while blogging is good for telling a story. I can see how going to a FB or blog site gives the person a sense of connectedness with others interested in the topic. FB seems especially effective in this regard. FB does seem harder to navigate if I was looking for specific information. The gaebler.com article emphasized that FB and Blogs need to offer frequent updates and postings of interest to the group so that viewers would return on a frequent basis. I can see that if I was very interested in malaria, especially related to travel or work in Africa, then I would visit repeatedly a site with frequent updates and postings about what is happening in that field.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I am coming into the 21st century reluctantly! I am coming to appreciate more of the positives of the technology ~ especially those of the social network flavor. Honestly though I believe I am going to be more of a visitor than a contributor. - pam
ReplyDeleteVery interesting Cecily! It will be interesting to see how we explore these different aspects of Facebook! I am still amazed at all of the possibilities. Very good synopsis!
ReplyDeleteCecily, i enjoyed reading your blog. I think social networking is a great way to form groups with like interests. I think of having a book club through social networking. I recently attended a meeting in my department. We were given a task to develop a job description for a position that needs to be done in the next 2 weeks. I suggested we use a blog site to help get it done as most faculty are on vacation and will not be back until August. Some thought it was a good idea and others were not so positive about it. But as you said, blogging is a multi-purpose tool that can be effective in accomplishing objectives for a variety of groups.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this research! Bobbie
Cecily, when I come to your site I get a soothing and relaxing feeling. Your color background works! Color matters in the "new" classroom for learners!
ReplyDeleteBobbie
Thank you, Bobbie. Except for the blowing dandelions-though there are flowering weeds there too, it reminded me of the African Savannah after the rainy season :).
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