Week+3+Innovation+Andree+Simmons

As social networking trends transformed almost every industry in our nation, the educational sector should be the next in line. Technology has influenced the way we do business and the way we conduct our personal lives.The growing trend in social networking technologies could possibly lead to an accelerated method of learning for youth, teenagers and working adults.Numerous secondary education programs have incorporated accelerated instructional methods by allowing degree programs to be completed online with no face-to-face interaction. These programs utilize other social networking tools such as email, and student portals to communicate with students and staff. As more social networking tools emerge, there incorporation into various education programs could result in yet another accelerated method of learning. Using Facebook and blog sites can reduce the time it would take for students to respond to homework assignments, or class discussions.Roach (2006), conducted a study which engaged social networking technologies in education, and found that over half of the students respondents would “read a blog authorized by a faculty member” that pertained to course information and school activities; which brings about this quantitative research approach of exploring social networking technologies in the educational setting as it relates to accelerated instructional methods and feedback to students.

E-learning is a manner of learning through establishing an Internet platform, through which learners access educational resources using their personal computers and discuss their learning with instructors and other learners (Tham and Werner, 2005). With that thought in mind, online course management systems are technological tools that have been integrated successfully in the educational system. Smart Board technology is another great technological tool that offers the capability of operating as a part of a collaborative system which includes the interactive whiteboard, a computer, and a projector. Social system diffusion would fall in line with this situation. Here we deal with how the system’s social structure affects diffusion, the effects of norms on diffusion, the roles of opinion leaders and change agents, types of innovations-decisions, and the consequence of innovation (Rogers, 2003). The rationale behind marking this tool as an innovation that was not diffused effectively is due to the poor implementation to “seasoned” instructors that are accustom to traditional methods of teaching.

Unlike e-learning tools and smartboard technology, social networking technologies is a fairly new concept to the education arena. Recent studies are now exploring the pros and cons of incorporating social networking in an educational setting. There has been a lot of negative feedback from parents and instructors as it relates to the sites themselves, from issues surrounding privacy and lack of knowledge about the advantages of social networking sites. The diffusion study that is directly related to the incorporation of social networking in education is the opinion leaders and mavens in the diffusion of electronic cars. Rogers (2003) highlights interpersonal communication as a factor to the unsuccessful diffusion of the electronic cars. My goal is to exploit the advantages of incorporating these technologies in an educational setting and possibly change the mindset of parents and instructors that have read or heard negative comments concerning these technologies without experiencing what some of the social networking sites have to offer. References Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). New York: Free Press. Roach, R (2006). Prospective college students receptive to electronic social networking recruitment methods, survey finds. Diverse Issues in Higher Education online December 2006 edition Tham, C.M. and Werner, J.M. (2005) ‘Designing and Evaluating E-learning in Higher Education: A Review and Recommendations’, Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies 11 (2): 15–25.