That I how see the networks and groups divide that we have explored this week in class.  I agree that we will always have these social structures within our societies.  Groups represent uber-strong ties, where networks are mostly weak ties.  With an online and ever growing community both groups and networks can exist with growing popularity.  But as an educator what should I start with first?

Personally I feel that all students should be introduced to social media/internet with the concept of the group.  This starts the students off on the right foot, the chaos is minimized and the students can initiate the learning process by focusing on what is important, how to manage an online environment.  This tight group will provide more support and unity needed for these initial baby steps, guide the students in the right directions for these early stages.  Yes some will find the group structure very appealing, but be honest you know these people really exist in the real world as well.

Once students get the hang of groups online, just like any mother bird, the teacher needs to slowly start pushing them out of the nest.  And I do not mean anywhere near Middle School.  Most of the students in a school will be ready for this kind of experience nearing High School, and I believe this age will slowly lower as time passes and this form of education becomes more common.  True network learning even at High School may be pushing it, however with the right class and the right educator I believe this is highly possible.  Some may state claims that their elementary class is doing network learning right now.  I then go back to my readings about the ambiguity of the term Network, and wonder if we are using the same definition, most likely not.  I cannot see CCK08 working in grade school...

The process of moving the students forward from a group setting to a network will be required, so will an educator familiar with both.  For this process to properly occur, curriculum will need to be specifically designed and implemented, taking into account, emerging technologies and student safety within an online environment.  But I will say anything would be better than the current ICT standards within my province...  they are getting a little moldy...

I will end this post with a recent observation I had.  I wonder does your core personality type force you to gravitate more towards groups or networks for the PLN's? 

Group people in my opinion are the people that require this social standing in real life.  The cliques, the frats, you get the idea.  We think as people get older they grow out of this, sorry, they just get different groups, or they stay the same and become has-beens never-was'.  The Internet has just afforded them another opportunity to emulate their lives online.  But will that truly affect their learning, in real life they do not explore the options but chose to keep their blinders on blissfully moving forward. 

Network people in my opinion are the people that push and push and piss people off, and ask questions, never happy with the answer, always wanting more, and at times not caring what others think of them.  (umm guess which one I fit into too...)  These are not your social outcasts, just people with very secure self esteem, do not need the recognition of others to feel good about themselves, and so on.  Networks and the Internet provide these people the same opportunities it provided the Group people, a chance to learn.

So does personality affect how we use the Internet, and how the Internet uses us???