Social Networks: Enhance Writing for English Language Learners

Mass Media Tools: Internet

Social Networks: Enhance Writing for English Language Learners
Submitted By
Joana Jane D. Santos
Year and Section: BSEDE-3-1

Submitted to
Cez Eugenio
Language of Education Area

Date SY 2012-2013

Introduction Social Networking has been one of the latest fads in the internet today. That most of the students spend most of their time in browsing like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Slideshare and etc. Socialization makes other people communicate with others especially posting comments, and opinions to others. The research of this paper aims to give the importance of websites to the students today and how it will help to enhance writing skills especially in the English language learners.
Aim
“To create tools which harness some of the time and energy students spend on facebook and direct it toward the learning goals.”
“Meeting the changing expectations and needs of the learners.”

Internet The Internet (also known simply as "the Net" or less precisely as "the Web") is a more interactive medium of mass media, and can be briefly described as "a network of networks". Specifically, it is the worldwide, publicly accessible network of interconnected computer networks that transmit data by packet switching using the standard Internet Protocol (IP). It consists of millions of smaller domestic, academic, business, and governmental networks, which together carry various information and

services, such as email, online chat, file transfer, and the interlinked web pages and other documents of the World Wide Web. Toward the end of the 20th century, the advent of the World Wide Web marked the first era in which most individuals could have a means of exposure on a scale comparable to that of mass media. Anyone with a web site has the potential to address a global audience, although serving to high levels of web traffic is still relatively expensive. It is possible that the rise of peer-to-peer technologies may have begun the process of making the cost of bandwidth manageable. Although a vast amount of information, imagery, and commentary (i.e. "content") has been made available, it is often difficult to determine the authenticity and reliability of information contained in web pages (in many cases, self-published). Even the education system relies on the Internet. Teachers can contact the entire class by sending one e-mail. They may have web pages where students can get another copy of the class outline or assignments. Some classes have class blogs in which students are required to post weekly, with students graded on their contributions. What is Social Networking?
Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in the workplace, universities, and high schools, it is most popular online.

This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions of individuals who are looking to meet other people, to gather and share first-hand information and experiences about cooking, golfing, gardening, developing friendships professional alliances, finding employment, business-to-business marketing and even groups sharing information about baking cookies to the Thrive Movement. The topics and interests are as varied and rich as the story of our universe.
When it comes to online social networking, websites are commonly used. These websites are known as social sites. Social networking websites function like an online community of internet users. Depending on the website in question, many of these online community members share common interests in hobbies, religion, politics and alternative lifestyles. Once you are granted access to a social networking website you can begin to socialize. This socialization may include reading the profile pages of other members and possibly even contacting them.
Learning Theory
“Social Learning of content is based on the premise that our understanding of content is socially constructed through conversation about that content and through grounded interactions, especially with others, around problems or actions. The focus is not so much on what we are learning but on how we are learning.”

According to Vgotzky, “optimum, cognitive development is contingent of the full social interaction of the learner. So, instruction is more effective when students engage in in activities within a supportive (social) learning environment and when they receive appropriate guidance that is mediated by tools.
Social networking media provides the opportunity to take the social interaction to deeper levels as well as address learning styles rooted in digital technologies.
According to the time magazine, in June 2010 Facebook will log it’s 500millionth user. A recent article on marshable (2010) stated that “The average internet user spends more time on facebook than Google, yahoo, YouTube, Microsoft and Wikipedia.
Social networking sites such as facebook as shown, among other things, have spend so much time and energy by the students in building relationships around shared interest and knowledge communities.
Findings
* 33 out of 35 uses Facebook * 23 spend 3 hours per day on a computer ( which 9 spend more than 5 hours.) * Social networking was the most popular activity.
Look the picture below:

The majority of the students adapt the social networking sites. For communication students used which were familiar to them (email, their fb pages).Students needs to give clear rationale for using tools and educators to pay attention in such activities.

Blogs, Students can submit their works for others to comment on. Teachers and students can post link and resources. Wikipedia can explore in doing assignments. Audio, video and other media promote learning for different learning styles and intelligences in the world. Students can use Wikipedia in understanding the topic or certain concept. Facebook, allows students to communicate to others with same interests. Students used real language in authentic context. Sliddeshare, students can enhance writing skill by doing presentations in multimedia format. Students can get feedback from other classmates by the presentations he made. Conclusion In summing up of this paper, Social Networking requires understanding to make websites used as a teaching tool. Most of the students spend efforts and energy in websites, and how does it affect in their study habits. It helps in teaching writing if teachers adapt the social networks in helping them in their teaching process. I believe that social networking is suitable, accessible, and reliable to use in engaging students to research information as well as to share their ideas and allows to comment and to give feedbacks by other people through writing. However, teachers are responsible to guide their students how to limit time, giving stress that using websites are not only their pleasure time, but how such activities affect on their grades. References http://www.slideshare.net/jonandonaldson/teaching-writing-for-adult-english-language-learners http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/authentic http://www.customwritings.com/sample-papers.html

References: http://www.slideshare.net/jonandonaldson/teaching-writing-for-adult-english-language-learners http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/authentic http://www.customwritings.com/sample-papers.html