SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE SCIENCE CLASSROOM

At the Academy of Urban Planning in Brooklyn, NY, GK-12 fellows have partnered with two separate 11^th grade classrooms – Urban Geology and Urban Geography – in order to develop student-driven research projects focused on understanding and resolving local environmental issues. As a means of integrating and coordinating the work done in these two separate courses, GK-12 fellows have developed a "Ning" social networking website for the entire 11th grade. The Ning site has been useful in augmenting daily lessons as well as in facilitating students’ long-term research projects.

Early in the year when students were still acquiring content knowledge, research skills, and research interests, the Ning site was useful

1) as a means for students to delve further into classroom topics (through web links, online videos, and other media resources)

2) as a way to have students reflect on their classroom experiences (through blogs, discussion boards, surveys and other written assignments)

3) as a platform for students to communicate with teachers, fellows, and administrators outside of the classroom.

As research projects became more developed, the Ning site was useful as a platform for students to share resources and research advice and as a vehicle for research groups to coordinate their efforts and share information. The Ning platform has since been adopted by 7 different 11th grade teachers and has become a virtual community for students, teachers, and administrators that has positively impacted the community within the Academy of Urban Planning's walls.