Social Networks

First of all, I think that the face of social networks is changing. When I hear the word social, the first thing that comes to mind is friends, fun, leisure, gathering, etc. It does not sound very professional. Taking a step back and peeling away the meaning of the word, however, I find that the word social comes from the same root as society. Social networks are truly a gathering of people in society who are coming together for a common purpose: for the sharing or seeking of information. My use of social networks has evolved over the years. I remember having the Internet before any of my friends did as a child. I sent my dad e-mails because there was no one else to e-mail. Because of my comfort level with the Internet, I was able to jump into social networking immediately with Facebook, MySpace, etc. in college. This is where the trouble begins. I created a digital footprint of myself that was appropriate, that I wouldn't mind my students/colleagues seeing, but it wasn't necessarily for professional purposes. I'd like to change that image, yet still remain interesting to "friends" who aren't necessarily concerned with technology in education. This brings me to my point- social networks are the crossroads between our living rooms, our offices, and our minds. They are bringing information to people quicker than ever before, helping us build our knowledge base and become better educators and writers without ever having to leave our sofa.