Get Connected: 15 Social Networking Sites for Students and Lifelong Learners
Social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace get a lot of press, but many other lesser-known sites are popular among the academic set. Here are 15 social networks useful to students and lifelong learners.
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Books and Reading
Shelfari - A favorite social network among booklovers, Shelfari allows users to connect and share their bookshelves online.
GoodReads - This social networking site facilitates keeping track of what you read, sharing recommendations and getting recommendations from other readers. You can also start a book club or join an established club.
LibraryThing - LibraryThing is a community of nearly one million book lovers who create online catalogs of their favorite books. You can keep your online catalog private or share it with other members.
Languages, Cultures and Travel
LiveMocha - LiveMocha is a social language learning site that connects users with language partners all over the world.
Italki - Similar to LiveMocha, Italki makes it easy to connect with other language learners online. This global community provides language partners, teachers, courses, cultural education and much more.
Palabea - The Palabea community provides an international platform for language learners who want to connect online and offline.
Exploroo - Exploroo is a social networking site for people who enjoy travel and learning about other cultures. The site offers reviews, articles, photos and a place for travel buffs to connect.
Environment, Art and Science
Greenvoice - Greenvoice is a lively community of people who are interested in discussing and taking action on green issues.
ArtSlant - ArtSlant is a large online community for artists and art lovers. Community members can chat, browse art, learn about upcoming events and much more.
Epernicus - Open to current and future research scientists, Epernicus provides a place for scientists to meet and share information online.
College Students and Grads
Campusbug - Campusbug is a social learning network designed to provide an outlet for students who want to stay connected, share information and get help with homework.
CampusHook - CampusHook is a social megabase for college students who want to meet other academics around the world.
Graduates - Designed for grads and students who are still in school, Graduates offers an online community for people who want to stay in touch with friends after they graduate.
Money-Making Opportunities and Business Contacts
GradeGuru - GradeGuru is an academic site that encourages note sharing. Users can share their class notes and get paid for every upload.
Jigsaw - Jigsaw combines social networking with a business directory to help people find business contacts.
