Education-centric Ning social networks proliferating like bunny rabbits

I'm incredibly excited to share with you something that our good friend Steve Hargadon just pointed out to us.

This is a list of user-created social networks on Ning in and around the world of education.

Each of these social networks was created by someone who signed up for an account on Ning, created a network, and then invited in friends, colleagues, and/or students to interact around specific educational topics.

I love this list because it is a vivid illustration of what it means for there to be almost 150,000 social networks on Ning already, with hundreds more being added every day. Our core thesis for Ning has been that people are incredibly creative, and if you give them a way to easily create and express themselves -- via social networks on any topic -- they will run with the ball and come up with more ideas than any one person or company can possibly come up with. And that is proving out in a major way.

Fun!

General:

• Classroom 2.0 - Web 2.0 in the Classroom
• College 2.0 - Higher Education, Online Education and Web 2.0
• Coming of Age - The Book on Web 2.0 in the Classroom
• EduBloggerWorld - International Edubloggers
• ILTCE - Illinois Technology Conference for Educators - Learning Without Boundaries 2008
• International Classroom - Social network created for classes around the world. Space where pupils can share, talk about themselves ,show pictures and videos etc,and get to know each other's culture.
• International Collaboration - High school and university students worldwide collaborate and learn about each others' cultures and life styles
• The Global Education Collaborative - Promoting Global Awareness
• Learning 2.0 - Creating Collaborative Learning
• LITE - Leading Innovative Technology use in Education - Glenview School District 34
• Michigan Classroom 2.0 Michigan Classroom 2.0 is for Educators interested in integrating technology into the classroom. A collaborative site where "beginners" and pros can find a comfortable place to start being part of the digital dialog.
• Next Generation Teachers - Improving Teaching and Learning with New Technologies
• ProjectsByJen - PreK - 6th Grade Teacher Collaboration
• Online Projects 4 Teachers - Linking Teachers Together
• School 2.0 - The Changing of Education
• 12SCR - the greatest tutor group in GCUS, UK - A social networking area especially for 12SCR Tutor Group at GCUS, UK.
• We Are Teachers IMAGINE Network- Online Knowledge Marketplace
• WEBTAS (Web Teaching and Academic Support Learning Community)
• Laptop Learning Community - Preparing Students with 21st Century Skills
• WorkForce Educators - Distance Learning and Teaching
• teachustech.ning.com - A network of teachers using technology
• Nanopaprika.eu - Network of NanoScience
• Fireside Learning - "Conversations about learning. Sit by the fireside and share your thoughts."
• RBG Worldwide 1 Nation - Afrikan Centered Cultural Development and Education
• PSUCast PowerSchool users network.
• World Englishes Project- Blended Learning Course about World Englishes in collaboration with Waseda University, Japan.
• Alabama Educator's Network- For teachers living in Alabama (Please join if you live in AL.)
• MACUL Space - Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning. Educators Pre-K to 20.
• Smallsteps - a class based network set up to support 14yr old design students with a design and make project centred around the topic of waste reduction.
• Schoolwork Together - Space for teens from Israel and Dutch school to meet and discuss ideas for a common project
• Gifted Education Ning space for parents and teachers started by Ginger Lewman to discuss gifted issues
• Fielfindr A portal to connect classrooms to the world: Global citizens can share talents and skills with students.
• AsiaTeach.ning.com - Teaching and Education in Asia: Communities of Hope - Asian Educators discover and discuss common and unique challenges and experiences in Asian teaching contexts.
• Comenius Programme Network A network for teachers accross Europe to seek support, share ideas and experiences to help ensure successful Projects

Art:

• Art Snacks- Teaching Art
• Arteda.net Art Education in the Digital Age - lots of videos of Exhibits/Lectures/Artist from Boston and a Web 2.0 Hybrid Drawing class.
• Comic Art School Open community with resources for drawing and making comics.
• Drawing Faces - Course for drawing faces, portraits, cartoon heads and caricatures.
• UTA Film and Video Network - for art (film) students and faculty of the University of Texas, Arlington
• UTA Animation Network - for animation students and faculty of the University of Texas, Arlington
• Museums and Students - A network for museums and students to interact and learn

Classroom Networks:

• The Global Cooling Collective - Planning World Concerts, Creating World Change, Empowering Global Youths
• Kingswear Network - a private UK primary (ages 5-11) classroom network but main page is public
• www.historycentral.net A networks for 7th grade history students in a small K-8
• Flat Classroom Project - Planning, communication and collaboration Ning for the Flat Classroom Project
• Big Dog Science - eighth grade science class network for student collaboration on chemistry projects
• Hurricane Maine - Network for my students but hope to open it up for collaboration
• Readin' Writin' Techin' - Private network run by four teachers in Southern NJ as part of a study group looking at ways Web 2.0 technologies can be used to generate interest in reading and enhance writing skills. Network has 14 members (four adults and ten students).
• TLGplace - Taking Learning Global, a place for students 15+ and their teachers to share inter-cultural experiences while learning.
• Kerr Honors - 9th grade English Network for Reading Reflection (closed - could open up)
• WellesleyHigh - High School Faculty/Staff Network (closed)
• McCorrmick31 - 11th grade English Network for reflection on independent reading projects. (closed - could open up)
• IntroTV/Video - 9-12th grade TV/Video students use this as a place to upload their work (closed - due to copyright issues)
• Truss2YPI - one of several private Gr. 10 class networks, "Learning about grassroots organizations in our community."
• newentenglishsixth - private Ning for 6th Form students of English Literature at Newent Community School, UK (closed)
• Across Generations Homework help, resources, projects from students, resources for students and parents.
• Dio Digital Learning Lab Classroom based interactive network at Diocesan School for Girls in New Zealand (Private)

Conferences:

• The Illinois Technology Conference for Educators - A social networking site for conference attendees, vendors and speakers. Educators following the conference from afar as also encouraged to join this ning. Stay tuned for handouts, pictures, and video of our 2008 event!
• Learning 2.008 Shanghai - Educational Technology Conference held in Shanghai in September for international teachers in the Asia region.
• CUE Community - Conference website for CUE.org and 2008 CUE Conference (with individual forum threads for every session and speaker pages).

Course Material:

• openlearn - Open University Course Material

English as a Foreign Language:

• EFL Classroom 2.0
• Mexico English Teachers' Alliance :: META Web 2.0 - META is a social and educational network for English teachers that promotes learner-centered teaching methods and Web technologies in and out of EFL classrooms.

English as a Second Language:

• CSWE 3 Werribee - An adult ESL network for my class of new refugees and immigrants to Melbourne, Australia (closed - may open up)

French

• http://frenchteacher.ning.com French teacher (closed network)
• http://frenchteachers.ning.com French teachers (open network)
• http://vocabulaire.ning.com - French vocabulary.
• http://grammaire.ning.com - French grammar.
• http://fauxamis.ning.com - False friends alias words that look the same but have a different meaning in French and in an other language.

Language Learning:

• Talkabout Primary MFL- for those teaching (or considering teaching) foreign languages in Primary schools (ages 3-11)

Leadership:

• Education Leadership - A community for educators to discuss effective leadership, to share best practices, and work toward - lead - a culture of positive change in education.

Libraries:

• Library 2.0
• TeacherLibrarianNing - A community for teacher-librarians and other educators

Professional Development:

• University of Chicago Charter Schools
• Literacy Coach Network - best practices in literacy coaching
• Professional Development 2.0 - Educators Learn the 2.0 Way
• Tech Camp for Educators
• E2T2 Tech Mentor Grant
• OnlineProjects4Teachers - Linking Teachers Together
• Readin' Writin' Techin' - Private network run by four teachers in Southern NJ as part of a study group looking at ways Web 2.0 technologies can be used to generate interest in reading and enhance writing skills. Network has 14 members (four adults and ten students).
• Teachers as Writers - This is a place where teachers who are writers or wannabe writers can share their enthusiasm for whatever it is they have put on paper or want to put on paper. It's about encouraging people to write and "carve their niches in the edifice of time."
• The Teacher Collaborative - A social network of teachers and educators attempting to integrate technology into current curriculum practices by developing global project ideas and classroom partnerships.
• Teachers 2.0 - Teaching in the digital age.
• DuBois and Beyond: Private local Network for PD
• Western New York Powerful Learning Practices: A social network where teachers and administrators from various school districts explore and learn Web 2.0 tools.
• PassionateTeachers A group of those teachers/educators who are passionate about teaching-learning new strategies to make learning a joyful experience.
• teacher/tearner: minds of our own - A private network of independent interdependent teachers learning
• Pixels, Please collaborate and share resources, ideas, lesson plans, etc. amongst educators about how to use Digital Images in the classroom.
• Vidsnacks: Video training for teachers wishing to incorporate video into their lessons.

Regional:

• Greenbush Education Service Center
• School Matters - Knoxville, TN Area Network
• Edureshet - Israeli educators and web20 in the classroom
• Computer-based study strategies - for Teachers and students affiliated with the University of Oregon
• Profesores ELE en Holanda - for Teachers of Spanish as a Foreign Language working in the Netherlands (in progress) | Profesores de Español como Lengua Extranjera (ELE) que trabajan en los Países Bajos.

Second Life in Higher Ed:

• Sloan-C SL-NET

Spanish as a Foreign Language:

• Profesores ELE en Holanda - for Teachers of Spanish as a Foreign Language working in the Netherlands (in progress) | Profesores de Español como Lengua Extranjera (ELE) que trabajan en los Países Bajos.

Student Organizations:

• EARCOS Global Issues Network - Earth’s Hope is the theme of the EARCOS Global Issues Network Conference to be held in Beijing April 4, 5 & 6 at Western Academy of Beijing. The Global Issues Network is based on the ideas in Jean Francois Rischard’s book “Twenty Global Problems, Twenty Years to Solve Them.” Rischard identifies 20 urgent global problems and encourages the formation of small groups around the world to help solve them

Technology:

• Blended Learning and Instruction - Engaging students and teachers in active learning by using technology and combining online with face-to-face instruction. Members will share various 2.0 tools and ways of integrating technology effectively.
• Online Instruction - Teachers need ongoing support and information to facilitate online classes. Online Instruction caters to instructors who wish to discuss ways of developing, implementing, and providing learners with the most effective means of online instruction.
• Technology Integration - Gathering perspectives and best practices from teachers, administrators, students, parents, Board of Education members, support personnel, vendors and others regarding technology integration in education. Site also available by visiting TechnologyIntegration.org.
• Teaching 'N Technology - A brand new network designed for teachers and technology specialists to share strategies, ideas, and tools regarding technology integration.

Vocational:

• SkillsTech Australia - Stonemasonry students, employers and teachers
• Vocational e-Learning Mentors - Vocational e-learning and training
• Etools and Tips for Educators - Vocational e-learning and training
• Mobile Communication - The social implications of mobile communication (this site is focused on the academic analysis of mobile communication in society)

[Source: The Social Networks in Education list.]