tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post3106974671128212840..comments2009-01-31T12:22:17.908-08:00Steve Hargadonhttps://profiles.google.com/102277136042947058247noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-7474746988631839362009-01-31T09:46:00.000-08:002009-01-31T09:46:00.000-08:00Many thanks to you and Ning, Steve, for showing both visionary and pragmatic leadership in cultivating worthwhile educational uses of Web 2.0 media. Ning is one of the best online networking environments currently available, and its applications in support of learning at all levels are myriad. Your contributions and Ning's are paving the way for the future, and I look forward to seeing where that future takes all of us...Mariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07961159959707511435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-22537687350848981462008-12-16T08:15:00.000-08:002008-12-16T08:15:00.000-08:00Steve,<BR/><BR/>Not only has my understanding of the potential of social networking in education been enhanced by Classroom 2.0 but I have also integrated Ning into two of my online classes this past semester. About 70 community college online art appreciation students interacted in a Ning community that was linked into our Blackboard site this semester. The feedback (just in this week) is amazing! The students reported that Ning enhanced their connection to the class material, kept them motivated, the blogs provided them with a sense of accomplishment, they felt their work was enjoyable, and they felt a greater connection to each of their classmates. Wow. <BR/><BR/>The full potential of online education in higher ed is still being realized by colleges and universities across our nation and the world. I truly hope more professors see the importance of reaching outside traditional pedagogies and into the world of social networking to reach our students. The results have been incredible.<BR/><BR/>Thank you and thank you, Ning.<BR/><BR/>One question - does higher ed qualify for ad-free Ning sites? I am aching to get rid of those pesky ads.<BR/><BR/>best,<BR/>Michelle Pacansky-Brock<BR/>brocansky@gmail.comMichelle Pacansky-Brockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01373124619557441649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-1309735354729467182008-12-15T14:44:00.000-08:002008-12-15T14:44:00.000-08:00I'm so appreciative of the comments that have been made. It's certainly gratifying to have many of them be personal to me, but I'm really glad that Ning is getting some deserved praise for all that they have done.<BR/><BR/>@David: I would say the same thing--Ning has changed my life. I think that they have done something very special.<BR/><BR/>@Blanca: Six Ning sites! Way to go! Hey, I'm not going anywhere, and neither is Ning--just their ability to let me focus on Ning in education. I've got some fun things in the works, but that doesn't mean I'm going away. Just maybe not *so* focused.<BR/><BR/>@Nellie: No, it was not money! Nor is it still... except a little. :) But the model of building and audience, then offering authentic services to them, is one I really like. So I'll be turning my time more toward the authentic services and maybe a little less on building the audience. <BR/><BR/>@murcha: your story is great, and truly warms my heart. P.S. One of my next ventures is called "Future of Education" and will be at futureofeducation.com! :) I can't wait.<BR/><BR/>@Robin: Great stuff. I love that NECC Ning network--it was one of my favorite to build because of the easy color matching and I loved how it ended up looking. I also appreciated the fact that NECC really took the bull by the horns to not only showcase the use of social networking for a conference, but to then use it in such a significant way to get feedback on their media policy. <BR/><BR/>@Congerjan: You're right! :) Ha!<BR/><BR/>@Dim: Είστε ευπρόσδεκτοι! Hope Google translate did that right!<BR/><BR/>@Eden: That's a great compliment. I'm so glad.<BR/><BR/>@Leigh: You're so welcome.<BR/><BR/>@Armando: That's exactly what I hoped would happen. I'm glad it's working for you.<BR/><BR/>@Tony: No tears for me! Let's just do all we can to get Aspen making inroads!<BR/><BR/>@Julie: You are one of my great heroes, and with Vicki and Ning deserve ALL the credit for the ad-free program. I was just glad to be there to relay the message. <BR/><BR/>@Vicki: Another genuine hero. If I was/am Mr. Ning, it's a title gladly shared with many now. You have done GREAT job showing what can really be done where the rubber meets the road--int the classroom. Can't wait for future adventures with you.<BR/><BR/>@Ann: such generous words. Thank you.<BR/><BR/>@Mark: it's projects like yours that help me to realize how rich this arena still is! Wow.<BR/><BR/>@John: yes, I've thought of that, too! :)<BR/><BR/>@Almansi: Thanks for posting those thoughts. I do harbor a hope that CR 2.0 has made a difference in the way that you've described. Here's to a new year and hopefully many more good lessons and fun there.<BR/><BR/>@Christine: I look at Wikipedia, and I think it would have been hard for it to become what it is if there had bee commercial sponsorship to get it going. I think CR 2.0 is a little bit the same--in order to show the potential of social networking in this way, it had to be seen as independent of any bias. I'm really glad it has been that way.<BR/><BR/>@Jagdeep: Thanks. <BR/><BR/>@MCauthron: 10 networks!? You are "chugg'n" it!<BR/><BR/>@Lorraine: when I let down my guard and I'm feeling too smug, I want to agree with you! I sincerely hope in some small way what you've said is true. Thanks!<BR/><BR/>@Allymac: Hurrah for lurkers! I've been tempted on a couple of occasions to make it so that people would have to sign up for CR 2.0 to be able to browse past the first page (which might raise the number of members dramatically) but I've always come back to the need for people to be able to come and see what it's about without requiring anything. Glad you've found it useful.Steve Hargadonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17776685502090744803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-44306655160266479812008-12-14T12:39:00.000-08:002008-12-14T12:39:00.000-08:00Hi Steve,<BR/>First of all I just want to say "THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU" for giving the educational community Classroom 2.0 and NING. these two sites have helped to raise the bar for educators and students.<BR/>I check Classroom 2.0 each time I receive an email notification that a new comment has been posted. Though I am a lurker I have been able to benefit from the links and comments of everyone. <BR/>You are an inspiration and a gift to this community, so fear not "When a door closes, the WORLD OPENS". I know that greater things will happen for you. "For GOD so loved the World that He gave His Only Begotten SON, that who so ever believeth in Him should not perish. But have everlasting LIFE". Your work will live on and so will you.<BR/>Thank you NINGAllymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08437475699772240503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-53391163418308506152008-12-14T11:04:00.000-08:002008-12-14T11:04:00.000-08:00Steve, First of all thank you for Classroom 2.0. It is perhaps the most comprehensive free educational resource on the web today. It just keeps on growing with educators across the planet who are willing to volunteer their time to support each other in professional development of web 2.0 tools. I'm not sure that it would have gotten off the ground as quickly had it not been for your unending support, patience and enthusiasm. I'm convinced that not that far down the road, Classroom 2.0 will make it's way into educational history books as a 'first' of it's kind. I hope that Ning realizes your unique talents and continues to support your endeavors in whatever way they can. Again, thanks!!Lorrainenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-30670712648142555982008-12-12T20:14:00.000-08:002008-12-12T20:14:00.000-08:00Ning doesn't know what they'll be losing. Ning is the ideal platform for learning communities. Right now, there is nothing better on the market. Thanks for all you've done to make this tool more edu-friendly and bring it to the attention of educators.About the author:http://www.blogger.com/profile/02700638721038879324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-27824937118043970602008-12-12T11:59:00.000-08:002008-12-12T11:59:00.000-08:00Thank YOU Steve for advocating such a sweet tool...Ning has been a GREAT addition to the Digital Arts Technology Academy at Cathedral City High School! I have been so excited about the power of Ning that I ran a staff devo for career tech teachers last week at our district office and hope to be further sharing the concept at this years California Partnership Academies conference. Since tapping in last year as a presenter at CUE- Palm Springs, I think I have spawned 10 new Nings in the district as well as joining many other global Ning communities. Thanks for serving up the 'punch'... I am chugg'n it.M. Cauthronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02230403671595360961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-1919122479251623862008-12-12T01:19:00.000-08:002008-12-12T01:19:00.000-08:00Steve, your contribution to educating the educators about Ning and building Edu communities has been phenomenal. You showed the Edu world how powerful a tool Ning is to network and share.<BR/><BR/>We also created meeting places for users of our services on Ning because quite a few of them are already on Ning so it helps them find relevant information easily and it helps us to reach out to more who can use our services.<BR/><BR/>Best wishes,<BR/>Jagdeep Singh PannuJagdeep. S. Pannuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03442376710704106053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-27423314062469689832008-12-12T01:04:00.000-08:002008-12-12T01:04:00.000-08:00Thank you, yes, it certainly made a difference. Could we have found a system of sponsoring? it is so sad... but the achievement is so great, it will live for a long time. "Chapeau bas!"Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15392978626156303262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-21320292235990830392008-12-12T00:46:00.000-08:002008-12-12T00:46:00.000-08:00nbosch said...<BR/><BR/> "Yikes--who is going to solve all our issues like getting rid of the commercial vendors and rude kids!!"<BR/><BR/>That's also one thing I thought of when I read your post, Steve. You are being extraordinary fair to Ning. Without you, Ning would be<BR/>just like any social network. I remember the first educational Ning network I joined: it was exciting, yet there were also kids joining and fighting and insulting other members. <BR/><BR/>Another of those Ning networks I first joined was full of spammers for an unlikely "Dubli" pyramid<BR/>scheme to get rich following the precepts of some D movie called The<BR/>Secret, about which there was a brawl between the film maker and the<BR/>author of the original book.<BR/><BR/>Your Classroom 2.0 changed that. Perhaps because the first people who joined already knew each other through your podcast and hence your<BR/>wikispaces wiki. <BR/><BR/>Above all because you really took Ning's potential<BR/>for education seriously - beyond just getting rid of boisterous kids and commercial spammers, which was indeed needed - so we took it seriously instead of just an opportunity to try out the Nth social network hosting solution. And Ning seemed to take it seriously too.<BR/> <BR/>nbosch also asked<BR/>"Will you still host CR 2.0? Hopefully you'll still hang around CR20, you always have great insights to share."<BR/><BR/>Thanks for having answered "Yes" to that, Steve. What matters is the personal links you have enable us to create, the discussions we are able to hold, whatever the platform, and whether the platform owners really believe in its educational potential of that platform or just choose to use education as promotional argument.Almansihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979435950780591904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-29459194226532781822008-12-11T15:05:00.000-08:002008-12-11T15:05:00.000-08:00thanks ning. This was a lot better stuff.Educational Toys for Smart Kidshttp://www.fivestareducationaltoys.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-24647153157672758802008-12-11T13:41:00.000-08:002008-12-11T13:41:00.000-08:00Thanks, Steve, for all you've done for us! What I and many others have received through CR2.0 and the other networks has been infinitely valuable. And I'm sure you can use all these comments as a 'resume' to show someone else why they should hire you as a consultant!<BR/><BR/>John ToomeyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-80937336003491851072008-12-11T10:06:00.000-08:002008-12-11T10:06:00.000-08:00Thanks Steve, and a HUGE thanks to Ning. I've been using Ning to keep our students and staff connected here at the UTA Art+Art History Dept. Film/Video Area, and the results are nothing short of spectacular! <BR/><BR/>Our students are always producing and shooting short films and animations and they do all their scheduling on our network, which has greatly lessened the frustrations of this daunting task. Collaboration on projects has increased exponentially, and the quality of our student's work has skyrocketed.<BR/><BR/>I appreciate your advocacy Steve, it's been invaluable to we educators.<BR/><BR/>Best of luck with your future endeavors.Mark Clivenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-87699457169968259662008-12-11T08:39:00.000-08:002008-12-11T08:39:00.000-08:00Thanks for everything you've done, Steve. It is a great loss for Ning and for educators around the world.<BR/><BR/>I know that you will still be advocating no matter what because like many of us, this is one of your passions.<BR/><BR/>Let's hope that our economic woes improve in the near future and Ning will be able to support your efforts again.<BR/><BR/>I hope to see you at Classroom 2.0 events and conferences. I have learned so much from you and others through this amazing network.Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707193725412427028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-77396673590068110292008-12-11T08:30:00.000-08:002008-12-11T08:30:00.000-08:00Ning is incredible and we love it! I hope that they know that "Mr. Ning" has done a lot to further Ning in the education sector. It is such a great tool!! <BR/><BR/>Providing ad free Nings has been an enormously positive thing for all of our projects and we appreciate Ning's support.<BR/><BR/>I think they (and we) are going to miss your advocacy for Ning. I hope that they will want you back. (soon)Vicki A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05549879610620143027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-72242628244940357312008-12-11T06:46:00.000-08:002008-12-11T06:46:00.000-08:00Ooops...here is URL to blog post as promised in last comment<BR/>http://tinyurl.com/6fqd2h<BR/>JulieJulie Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043807289251144925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-90615079866717982572008-12-11T06:45:00.000-08:002008-12-11T06:45:00.000-08:00Steve, thanks for all you have done for the Flat Classroom projects and for educational use of the Ning. We love it! I was also thinking about this time last year when we asked Ning to take advertising off for students under 18. Through your influence and passion for making these spaces viable and safer for learning Ning agreed. Thank you Steve, and thanks Ning. I looked up my blog post from this time and share it again here. http://123elearning.blogspot.com/2007/11/straw-camel-and-ning.htmlJulie Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05043807289251144925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-15702000734705870062008-12-11T06:36:00.000-08:002008-12-11T06:36:00.000-08:00Hi Steve,<BR/>Sorry to hear your news. I learned of Ning through Classroom 2.0 and have since started two networks with Premium Services.<BR/>Thanks, Steve!tonylupohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00034599611192088480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-51751068251522063492008-12-11T06:24:00.000-08:002008-12-11T06:24:00.000-08:00I just began using ning this semester with my students and it has made a tremendous impact in my instructional delivery. I often looked at what other ed ning sites were doing as a way to navigate my own online instruction. Thank you for your leadership in this process.Armandonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-85398549584996929972008-12-11T06:16:00.000-08:002008-12-11T06:16:00.000-08:00Classroom 2.0 was my intro to Ning. I am currently doing a few subjects for a M.Ed which uses two different antiquated social networking social networking apps and they are very difficult to use. They have none of the elegance and ease of Ning. I am working at convincing my Uni to make the change but I guess they won't want to make the jump from their own server. I've also created a Ning site for my school to invite teachers to collaborate on Action in the Primary Years Program of the IB. <BR/><BR/>Thanks Steve for your personal welcome to Classroom2.0 months ago and your inspiration to so many.Leigh Newtonhttp://leighnewton.edublogs.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-45487448034659924712008-12-11T06:02:00.000-08:002008-12-11T06:02:00.000-08:00I just found and got started on this network! I can already see why it would be so beneficial to so many of us around the world. I'll never forget the time I popped onto Classroom 2.0 and chatted with you live on site...I have never in my decades of life, experienced such fasthand online consulting. I'm glad to hear you'll be sticking with that one. Best of luck!Edenhttp://www.gm.com/experience/education/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-76881642941969159352008-12-11T06:01:00.000-08:002008-12-11T06:01:00.000-08:00Ευχαριστούμε πολύ!!!<BR/>Thank you!!!<BR/>P. Faliro High School, Athens, Greece.Dim Karacostashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09344515881886354558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-61418203796466785122008-12-11T05:47:00.000-08:002008-12-11T05:47:00.000-08:00Thanks so much for your assistance to educators. I know blogging has been a wonderful teaching opportunity for my students. And connecting with other educators to discuss technology matters has personally benefitted my professional development.JSagernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-20466516320491320092008-12-11T05:32:00.000-08:002008-12-11T05:32:00.000-08:00Steve,<BR/>Thanks for all you do for us and thanks for introducing us to Ning. I know you will not let a little thing like a consultant fee keep you from being an advocate for Ning. If Classroom 2.0 and the Teacher Librarian Network did not exist my students would not benefit from what I have taken away from my association with Ning.Congerjanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01388317221422522817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676377.post-85330816075073837482008-12-11T05:10:00.000-08:002008-12-11T05:10:00.000-08:00In our technology department in an educational service agency we use your Ning site as a showcase to demonstrate to others how social media can be used in education. Thanks for your advocacy for using social media in education and thanks to Ning for all their support.Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11863765417484706397noreply@blogger.com