THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development

The University of Westminster Context 22,000 students Many international, mature or part-time Emphasis is on face to face delivery/learning Searching for the best way to use technology Blackboard is used extensively Very tutor centred

22,000 students

Many international, mature or part-time

Emphasis is on face to face delivery/learning

Searching for the best way to use technology

Blackboard is used extensively

Very tutor centred

Connect Democratic but still governed by rules User led Normally not linked to assessment Facilitates community building

Introduction to Connect

What is Connect? Create your profile, add your picture and your interests Add friends to your site Create Presentations (ePortfolios) Customise the look and feel of your site Find people with common interests Create Private and Public communities Send messages to your friends and communities Publish content through the blog tool

Create your profile, add your picture and your interests

Add friends to your site

Create Presentations (ePortfolios)

Customise the look and feel of your site

Find people with common interests

Create Private and Public communities

Send messages to your friends and communities

Publish content through the blog tool

Factors Driving Development Supporting students prior to arrival Students’ Union Clubs, societies, broaden SU reach Quality assurance Student representatives Giving users control Potential in learning/support Enthusiasm of change agents

Supporting students prior to arrival

Students’ Union

Clubs, societies, broaden SU reach

Quality assurance

Student representatives

Giving users control

Potential in learning/support

Enthusiasm of change agents

How has Connect been used? Communities Based around interests e.g. Film, cats, wine Activities e.g. Football, Cricket Student led learning e.g. Visual culture group Staff led learning e.g. Giving presentations, homeopathy Strategy development e.g. Library review Personal blog Some reflective e.g. on university life Academic subject based Seeking contacts, information, solutions

Communities

Based around interests e.g. Film, cats, wine

Activities e.g. Football, Cricket

Student led learning e.g. Visual culture group

Staff led learning e.g. Giving presentations, homeopathy

Strategy development e.g. Library review

Personal blog

Some reflective e.g. on university life

Academic subject based

Seeking contacts, information, solutions

Student versus staff use of Connect Staff Fewer staff kept blogs compared to students Frequency of blog posts per head was greater Used mostly as an online reflective diary Linked to their job or subject being taught Students Blogged more for contacts and to get information Tended to own fewer communities More students created detailed profiles

Staff

Fewer staff kept blogs compared to students

Frequency of blog posts per head was greater

Used mostly as an online reflective diary

Linked to their job or subject being taught

Students

Blogged more for contacts and to get information

Tended to own fewer communities

More students created detailed profiles

Student views Students positive about Connect: Saw Connect serving a different purpose to FB They wanted their tutors to be involved Wanted to separate university/private life They wanted integration with the VLE To have their own space linked to their studies Students negative about Connect See Connect as another Facebook

Students positive about Connect:

Saw Connect serving a different purpose to FB

They wanted their tutors to be involved

Wanted to separate university/private life

They wanted integration with the VLE

To have their own space linked to their studies

Students negative about Connect

See Connect as another Facebook

Student videos

Staff views Large majority believe it can help students to build a community prior/after arrival Many think it has a role to play in learning and teaching Some would keep a blog about research and sharing of best teaching practice Some would keep a blog for their subject Many think should be linked to Blackboard

Large majority believe it can help students to build a community prior/after arrival

Many think it has a role to play in learning and teaching

Some would keep a blog about research and sharing of best teaching practice

Some would keep a blog for their subject

Many think should be linked to Blackboard

Staff videos

Future Vision

is Westminster’s online social network where you can make friends, find out the latest news from UWSU clubs and societies and meet like minded students. Go to http:// connect. wmin.ac.uk and log-on using your University username and password. http:// connect. wmin.ac.uk Starting out at University doesn't have to be scary Photo used under a Creative Commons licence. http://flickr.com/photos/throughhislens/508671414