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The power of the keyboard has replaced the power of the pen.  Using communication as a key to affect change has always been critical, but the ease and speed through which communication now can be achieved has allowed for an explosion of opportunities.  While my initial reaction to the first chapter of “Here Comes Everybody” was that of empowerment squared, as I read on I began to feel as if this force of support that came from so many sources had the potential of a mob run amok.  The idea of having a social force supporting a particular cause is empowering.  Seeing how the original intent for this support began branching out into some distracting and potentially damaging causes scared me.  The evolving tools for communication are a way of “channeling existing motivation.”  Technology can only aid human connection of a “plausible promise.”  We just need to hope that these “promises” are well-intended.

Now, if we consider that the plausible promise for technology in education is to provide quality resources and interactions, then we are heading toward an amazing future.  Highly specific grouping that can result from social networking is one of the reasons why it is an exciting force for education.  A teacher can create specialized platforms for student-to-student and student-to-teacher interactions, which allows for targeted and efficient communication. The classroom environment is about sharing.  For anyone who has ever taken an on-line class (I have taken two), the component that is most missed is that of this access to communication.  True, discussion boards with mandated entries and posts attempt to fill this void, but they are too generic.  If we were to apply the social networking model to this, imagine how specific groups could be formed that could target specific topics or collaboration.  Even in a traditional classroom experience, I have to say that the access to communication tools through social networking reinforces and enriches what is started in the classroom.  It seems that, at least for the elementary school teacher, the greatest obstacle to social networking would be inconsistent school or district policy.  Like most new technologies, a greater understanding of its potential is sometimes slow.  The key will be to be prepared as an educator when that opportunity comes.