INFORMAL SOCIAL NETWORKING
FOR LEARNING AND SUPPORT
Prof Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini
Online Learning Development

University of Westminster
• 22,000 students
• Many international, mature or part-time
• Emphasis is on face to face learning
• Blackboard is used extensively

Introduction to

What is and why it was chosen?
www.elgg.org
• Developed UK 2003/4
• Open source
• Pick & mix: customisable
• Based on LAMP software
• Thorough privacy controls

Link from the Student Home Page

My Profile

Create Themes

My Blog

Communities I created

Key Factors Driving
Development of
• Lack of social opportunities/spaces
• Students’ Union
• Clubs, societies, broaden SU reach, student Course reps
• Pre-arrival and international students
• Facilitate community building
between subject areas (vs BB)
• Giving users more power

Student Union

Hosted internally
1. Control over customisation / tailoring
2. Integration with University systems
3. Offer single sign on
4. Retain ownership of content
5. Who’s who
6. No adverts
7. Branding in the site’s url
8. Access statistics

Resources supporting Connect
• Driven by Online Learning
• Server managed by central IS but not a
‘frontline’ system yet
• Design by Marketing
• Promotion by Student Union and academic
registrar’s dept.

4300/500
How has it 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

Student views Staff views
↓Facebook  Help build community
↓Design prior/after arrival
 Tutor presence  Role to play in T&L
 Social vs University  Blog about research &
 Own space linked to their best teaching practice &
subject
studies
 Link to Blackboard
 Link to Blackboard

Staff and Student views

Lessons Learnt
• Raised the profile of Web 2.0
• Gave the institution a chance to engage with an online
movement ... it has opened up staff’s eyes
• Better integration with University system
• Involve users from the beginning to the end
• Make them feel it’s their tool
• Offer training (?)
• Involve different departments in the development but
have a ‘dedicated’ project manager
• Get Central IS ‘buy-in’

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
Photo used under a Creative Commons licence. http://flickr.com/photos/throughhislens/508671414