Claudia+Social+Networking+Assignment+1

Assignment #1
Expected time to complete this assignment: 10 minutes.

After you have attended the webinar and read the blog pages about social networking, your individual homework assignment this week is to contribute to a list of Pros and Cons about the use of social networking media in a faith formation context.


 * Pros **


 * Great tool for reaching large groups within the community (Claudia McIvor)
 * Keeps disciples up to date with the culture. Dolly Vail
 * Today’s children come to class aware and emerged already in some form of social media. As Catechist we can leverage this knowledge to enrich their learning experience. With social media, Catechists can foster collaboration and discussion, create meaningful dialogue, exchange ideas, and boost student interaction.
 * Social media is an effective way to increase student engagement and build better communication skills. Students who rarely raise a hand in class may feel more comfortable expressing themselves. Social networking platforms can enable Catechists to establish "back channels" that foster discussion and surface ideas that students are too shy or intimidated to voice out loud.
 * Facebook and Twitter can enhance communication among students and Catechists. Catechists can answer students' questions via a Facebook page or Twitter feed, post homework assignments and lesson plans, send messages and updates, schedule or announce upcoming events, and share interesting Web sites and multimedia content. Students can use Twitter to get help from instructors or other students. A great way for Catechists to give participation points in addition to in class participation is by having students tweet about something that was discussed in class.
 * Reaching God's people at their convenience.
 * It will be really helpful for RCIA participants to continue conversations begun in sessions and scripture or to reflect.
 * Great way to evangelize and catechize in a non- threatening way.
 * Social networking can reach more people in less time
 * Build a community of believers
 * Reaches people with short, quick bits of information that they can choose to explore further or not.
 * In this time of budget reduction it can save time and energy vs. individual emails or phone calls.
 * Builds awareness of and connection to the Universal Church
 * Extends the reach of parish life
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Allows for immediate messages to be shared in your flock. __ **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Kellie De Leo ** __
 * ====way to connect to many in a short time with only one entry. Everyone can respond too. In most cases it is also a cost effective way to communicate. (Linda Anderson)====


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Cons **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">Must be continually aware of what is being shared (Claudia McIvor)


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">In Exodus 33:11 we read that "the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend." I think face to face friendships are closer than Facebook friendships.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">The hours per day of face-to-face socializing have declined as the use of social media has increased.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">People who use these sites frequently are prone to social isolation. Some people are so caught up in the technology they forget the value and rewards of direct contact with people.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Parents spend less time with their children and couples spend less time together even when they live in the same house, because they are using the Internet instead of interacting with each other.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Cyber bullying could be a threat
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">You have to manage time wisely on social sites. Could become another thing on my to-do list Balance is needed so that postings are relevant and timely.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Necessary to validate information for accuracy on specific subjects.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Inappropriate postings.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Lack of awareness of correct usage or purpose of a particular site.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Engaging "friends" with people not known to you.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Lack of supervision/guidance of young people who use one of the social networking platforms either naively or inappropriately.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Creating the appearance of acceptable behavior due to overwhelming numbers of people with your same "belief".
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">People are uncomfortable having information about themselves on the internet. I am one of those.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">What you see isn't always what you get...
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Requires a constant attention to be updated on security / privacy / etc.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Gives a sense of being anonymous so can write what would never think of saying face to face
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Not all people have access to social networking and some just prefer not to
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">The ability to communicate faster also leads to information overload.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Nothing is private. Once it is out there it is out there.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Many users are not familiar internet. People in the parish may not know how to use the tools on the internet.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Brief entries are can be easily misunderstood. __**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Kellie De Leo **__
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">You always have to be thinking safety and what's appropriate as you post. Trying to be clear and understood sometimes has complications - we don't always come across as well as being in the same room with a person. (Linda Anderson)

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