Hoot.me

According to this research study conducted in 2009 and 2010, 73% of teens age 12-17 use social networking websites. Although I don't have proof, I'd be willing to bet that number has stayed the same or risen since the study was conducted.

With that said, it makes sense to use social networking in our classrooms. I mean, if students are going to be using those websites anyway, why not give them the opportunity to get some sort of educational value from it?

I've already talked about using Facebook in the classroom, but Hoot.me brings a new dimension to using FB for educational purposes, and I think it could be worth your time to investigate it and consider asking students to use it!

Hoot.me is an application built for Facebook. Once it is installed on your personal Facebook page, you have the opportunity to collaborate on homework projects like never before. Hoot.me reminds me a little of Skype, but since I know that many more students are willing to communicate on Facebook, Hoot.me looks like a more viable option.

Users are allowed to video chat through the application, and they have the opportunity to show their screens to the other chat participants. One thing Skype doesn't do for free: allow users to chat with up to 8 people at a time. This particular feature could be really handy if/when students are working on a project together and need to understand who is working on what, how each component looks, etc. This could also be really handy for people doing math homework, especially since Hoot.me offers a special math component (for no added charge or installation) that allows easy typing of math equations.

The installation is super-easy, as well. Most students are probably familiar with Facebook apps; they just might not use the technical name for them: applications. But if your student has ever played or been around Farm Town, Picnik, Family Feud, etc. on Facebook, they're familiar with FB apps. If they've ever installed one of those games or components to their FB page, they understand that it's as simple as clicking "install" and letting the application do the rest of the work. So chances are, if your students already have a Facebook page, they're familiar with applications, how to install them, and how to work them.

Hoot.me brings a new, educational value to Facebook, and it's definitely worth trying!