» Using Ning to Create Your Own WVU Network | Office of Information Technology Blog

Many of us are familiar with social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. They are both very intriguing on a personal level because you can share your information with lots of people. You can also join groups with common interests. Facebook and MySpace groups are great for getting messages out, but they can be limiting. What about creating your own Facebook? What if you could take everything you do in Facebook or MySpace groups and add an easy to remember web address and more functionality?

Well if you think that might be a plus, check out Ning, a website that lets you create your own social network. You are provided a site for your class, athletic group, research group, and any other organization or group. Some of you may already be involved with a Facebook group such as “1,000,000 West Virginia University Mountaineer Fans,” or even “You don’t know what a Pepperoni Roll is ?!?!” Ning, on the other hand, lets you focus on a particular group and provides a forum to discuss issues or topics for your class or research group.

Ning’s features are better suited for extensive group work and communication than Facebook or MySpace groups. Facebook Groups have a more static focus on a common goal or belief of a particular group. Ning allows for a group to create a real network in which the members are able to interact on the very front page. So, teaching or attending a class that lacks in daily class participation or any student group or project may find better feedback and communication by using Ning. Members can privately or publicly share blogs, videos, forums, events, and notes for the group. Other features include RSS, messages, comments, chat, music, text box, and photos.