Hi Emily and all,

I am one of those mean teachers who does not let the students visit 
MySpaces.com during class time. I had too many young male students 
visiting unsavory material, so I told them they weren't allowed to visit 
pickababe.com, my nickname for MySpaces. They laughed and got the message. 
I do like your ideas using MySpaces, however, and agree that using sites 
like this one for class purposes can show students the value in creating a 
professional-looking place for future employers to visit and see the 
quality of their work online.  It can also create a great place to recruit 
students as many friends of our current students can get access to this 
means of "communication without committment" to rouse their curiosity 
concerning what goes on in an ABE classroom.

We as teachers also have to realize that putting ourselves out there in 
MySpaces can be risky. Students can send us all kinds of material we never 
wanted to see or say things about us we didn't want heard, but these are 
the same risks we face as classroom instructors. In fact, perhaps this 
type of activity does go on. For many, It seems like a safe place to act 
out in cyberspace. I do teach GED Online, and in so doing I make it a 
point to let students know that whatever they create electronically is not 
private. This message seems to really curb inappropriate communication 
between myself and the students, as well as between each other. Once they 
realize that their activity online is saved and that people at the college 
can download and see all of their work, they seem even more polite online 
than in the classroom.

These are my ideas about the challenge of using MySpaces, and I am glad to 
see someone out there having good response and success with this 
technology.

Tina

Tina Luffman
Coordinator, Developmental Education
Verde Valley Campus
928-634-6544
tina_luffman at yc.edu



"Emily May" <emay at obtjobs.org> 
Sent by: technology-bounces at nifl.gov
02/11/2008 10:44 AM
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Subject
[Technology 1497]  Social Networking Part II: Our Goals






Goals.  The MySpace page was built to help us meet a number of 
programmatic goals. We were able to use a lot of the “features” of 
MySpace, such as the blog, announcements, comments, and friends section to 
our advantage. 
·        To announce upcoming events or agency news. Any announcements we 
post will be visible on our “friends” personal homepage and on OBT’s 
profile using the “Bulletin Board” and “Blog” features.  Announcements 
will increase attendance and program awareness among allies. 
·        To educate current and past students on issues they may be 
facing.  Using the blog, the OBT profile will make posts reminding 
students of principles learned at OBT.  An example could be, “What to do 
about that annoying co-worker.” This will keep students linked in and on 
track. 
·        To facilitate social networking among past and present trainees. 
On every profile is a place to list current and past employment.  Trainees 
can search through OBT’s list of friends to find other OBT alumni who may 
be able to help them advance their career.
·        To compliment OBT’s alumni program by facilitating easy access to 
OBT after trainees graduate. Students will be able to look at their 
colleagues and teachers profiles and send them messages using My Space’s 
messaging service.
·        To enhance agency marketing materials and proposals. Using the 
comments section, “friends” can write testimonies about their experiences 
with OBT that can be used in agency materials.
·        To give new recruits a way to explore OBT from a distance. 
Current and past students may send OBT’s MySpace page to new, interested 
recruits.  Although a new website could also fill this void, “MySpace” is 
a more youth-oriented and accessible approach to exposing youth to OBT 
online. Note: It is possible but unlikely that new recruits would find OBT 
online without being recommended by another student.
To see specifically how we used the various features to our advantage, 
check out our MySpace page at: http://profile.myspace.com/obtjobs.  In the 
next email I will address how we got students and staff on board and some 
of the protocols we put into place.
But first, a question for the group:  Aside from what is listed here, how 
else can you envision using MySpace to advance your organization’s goals? 
 
 
______________________________
Emily May
Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow
783 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11232
718-369-0303
emay at obtjobs.org
www.obtjobs.org
 

 
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