The Original Social Network (09-13-10)

This summer I attended the iConnect iLearn technology conference. While many of the presentations introduced me to some truly amazing computer applications, the focus of the conference was on connecting educators and students through social networking on the Internet. I learned that there is so much more out there than just My Space and Facebook, and that there are social networking sites that were designed for educators.

One such site was Plurk (www.plurk.com). This free social networking site essentially pares away all the extras to focus on communication. The Plurk message timeline is a powerful way to talk with other people and to have entire online conversations.

The presenter who introduced me to Plurk had been using the site for years, traveling the country and inviting everyone he met to join his network.

So now I belong to an entire network of educators all over the country. They post interesting educational sites and videos about teaching and learning, answer questions about curriculum, instruction, and assessment, and (as with any social networking site) we get to know each other.

A few days ago, one Plurker wrote about the benefits of “community schools.” He was lamenting the busing that sometimes goes on in larger districts, and how some students are transported far away from their home neighborhoods and communities. The comment was that school is more than a place to learn, it should also be the “hub” of a community. It is the central location where people, united by a common purpose, can go for help, learning, and connection.

It was a powerful “plurk.” And it got me to thinking. I’ve always been a believer in the benefits of small schools. Having spent my entire career in small, rural, schools, I have seen first hand the success of our students on a wide range of indicators. Test scores, attendance, grades, performance on national exams, and graduation rates, small schools rank at the top of the list.

Until I read that plurk, I always attributed our success to the size of our school. Being small, it is easier to form those all-important relationships, to really connect with our students. And while that is true, the online comment made me realize that there is more to it than simply size. By virtue of our size, our schools are the default hub of our communities. Almost every single resident of our town has dealt with, is dealing with, or will deal with the schools.

Just in the last few days, two examples jump out. On Friday, our kindergarten and first grade hosted their annual “Grandparents Day Program.” We almost ran out of places to sit, there were so many grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and neighbors. Then on Saturday, our rec department hosted a pee-wee football game. Again, the stands were filled, not just with parents, but with people from the community who had no children in the game. It was something to do on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Both events just prove how our schools are so much more than simple institutions of learning. They are a vital resource in our community. They provide entertainment and social interaction. They help people connect to one another and provide ample opportunities to stay connected.

In a sense, community schools, whether large or small, are the original “off-line” social networking sites. People don’t post messages - they talk to one another. People don’t post pictures - they hand around snapshots. The point is, community schools are a place where people connect. They connect with their kids, with their neighbors, and with family. And they do so year around in our gyms and in our auditorium, in our cafeterias, and in our stadium.

So while I love Facebook and Plurk and am invested in the world of on-line networks, I will always put first our community schools – the original social network.