Using a social media platform in FE/HE

Social Learning A closer look at using a social media platform in Further and Higher Education h d h d Jane Hart, Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies www.c4lpt.co.uk (c) C4LPT, 2009

This short presentation takes a look at how a social takes a look at how a social media platform can provide Jane Hart is a Social Media and the social aspects of formal Learning Consultant who has a 25 course as well as support course as well as support year track record of helping both year track record of helping both the wider community and businesses and education understand how new technologies can be used collaboration needs of all for learning . She currently focuses for learning She currently focuses staff and students in a staff and st dents in a on helping organizations introduce university or college social media tools and platforms into their learning and performance their learning and performance support initiatives. (c) C4LPT, 2009

Most programme modules, whether on‐campus or by distance Most programme modules whether on campus or by distance learning, use this model Scheduled Scheduled Testing Content interactivities %% % % Managed in Virtual Learning Environment Managed in Virtual Learning Environment (c) C4LPT, 2009

Here are some examples of the ways that social media can be added into this model added into this model External media could be linked or embedded in the content from External media could be linked or embedded in the content from file sharing sites, like YouTube, flickr and Slideshare … Interactivities Interactivities File Scheduled and social Testing sharing content activities Managed in Virtual Learning Environment (c) C4LPT, 2009

There could be interaction with the tutor, via There could be interaction with the tutor via e.g. email or instant messaging, e.g. Skype … tutor Interactivities Interactivities File Scheduled and social Testing sharing content activities Managed in Virtual Learning Environment (c) C4LPT, 2009

and with the other students … and with the other students tutor students Interactivities File Scheduled and social d l Testing sharing content activities Managed in Virtual Learning Environment (c) C4LPT, 2009

Discussion Forum … e.g. through discussion forums … tutor students File Scheduled Scheduled Testing sharing content interactivities Managed in Virtual Learning Environment (c) C4LPT, 2009

… or even within a social networking service, like social Ning ‐ where the tutor Discussion Forum network and students each have a profile page ‐ and can fil d find out more about one tutor students another. File Scheduled Scheduled Testing sharing content interactivities Managed in Virtual Learning Environment (c) C4LPT, 2009

Students might even work Discussion Forum Wiki collaboratively in a wiki, like PBworks iki lik PB k tutor students Interactivities File Scheduled and social Testing sharing content activities Managed in Virtual Learning Environment (c) C4LPT, 2009

The tutor and Discussion Forum Wiki students might write blogs, e.g. write blogs e g blog bl using Wordpress tutor students Interactivities File Scheduled and social Testing sharing content activities Managed in Virtual Learning Environment (c) C4LPT, 2009

Students might help to build a library of social bookmarks, using Delicious social Discussion Forum Wiki network blog Social tutor bookmarking learners Interactivities File Scheduled and social Testing sharing content activities Managed in Virtual Learning Environment (c) C4LPT, 2009

The use of a micro‐blogging service, like Twitter, might be used for real‐time messaging social Discussion Forum Wiki micro‐ network blogging blog Social tutor bookmarking students Interactivities File Scheduled and social Testing sharing content activities Managed in Virtual Learning Environment (c) C4LPT, 2009

If students work in a study group, they may often set up one themselves, in e.g. Facebook social Discussion Forum Wiki network micro‐ blogging blog bl S Social T bookmark tutor learners library U D Y G Interactivities File Scheduled R and social Testing sharing content O activities U P Managed in Virtual Learning Environment (c) C4LPT, 2009

As a result a huge number of different tools might be in use by the course – and these tools could vary from course to course and these tools could vary from course to course social Discussion Forum Wiki micro micro‐ network blogging S blog Social T bookmark tutor learners U library lib D Y G Interactivities File Scheduled R and social Testing sharingg content O activities i ii U P Managed in Virtual Learning Environment (c) C4LPT, 2009

What are the solutions? Upgrading to a VLE 2.0 would mean that some of this social functionality would now be available inside the VLE social functionality would now be available inside the VLE – although some might still need to take place outside micro‐blogging Social networking S T U Discussion Forum D File Fil Blogging l Scheduled hdld Y Testing sharing content Wiki G R Social bookmarking O U P Managed in Virtual Learning Environment 2.0 (c) C4LPT, 2009

A social media platform , like Elgg, on the other hand, includes all the key social media tools i ld ll th k il di t l PLUS offers personal and group workspaces social media platform Personal workspace Tools Social bookmarking bk ki Course Blogs and study Wikis groups File sharing Fil h i Discussions Micro‐blogging social networking social networking (c) C4LPT, 2009

A social media platform could be used in conjunction with a VLE to support a wide range of personal and social activities for a course g p social media platform Tools Personal workspace Course Social bookmarkingg Blogs Wikis and File sharing study Discussions groups Social networking Micro‐blogging Micro blogging Social activities Scheduled organised Testing content by tutor b Managed in Virtual Learning Environment (c) C4LPT, 2009

It would be up to course tutors to decide which social functionality they wanted to make use of; e.g. it might simply be for networking and discussion ;g g py g social media platform Social networking Discussion Scheduled Activities Testing content Managed in Virtual Learning Environment (c) C4LPT, 2009

However, course modules could be set up and delivered solely from within the , p y social learning platform; i.e. hosting both the content and the social activities social media platform Personal workspace Social bookmarkingg Content Ctt and social Blogs Wikis activities scheduled File sharing by tutor Discussions Micro‐blogging social networking (c) C4LPT, 2009

… with light‐touch administration g social media platform Personal workspace Access to Social course by invitation bookmarkingg or request or request Content Ctt and and social managed Blogs Wikis by tutor activities scheduled File sharing by tutor Discussions Micro‐blogging social networking Successful completion reported by tutor (c) C4LPT, 2009

But, more significantly, the platform could be used to offer a fully collaborative, participative, social course module social media platform p Personal workspace Access to course by invitation Social or request or request bookmarking and managed Blogs Wikis Tools used by the by tutor course members in Student scheduled social hdld il File sharing Study activities, and facilitated by the tutor, groups Discussions to create course content, which is both Micro‐blogging peer and tutor‐ assessed social networking This employs a different social learning model – the Community model ‐ which requires a different Successful completion reported by tutor approach to course design and facilitation pp g (c) C4LPT, 2009

But even more than this, a social media platform also supports collaborative working as well as the building of a community across the college or university k ll h b ld f h ll All staff and students can become users – and set up their personal profiles All staff and students can become users and set up their personal profiles for networking across the college or university … social media platform social networking (c) C4LPT, 2009

… all staff and students (whether academic or support staff) can have their own personal workspace, and use the tools for their own personal working and/or learning … as well as provide news to the community and to a wider audience … as well as provide news to the community and to a wider audience social media platform Personal workspace Tools Social bookmarking Blogs Wikis File sharing Discussions Micro‐blogging social networking (c) C4LPT, 2009

… any user can set up a group , e.g. staff to support a collaborative project or research group, or students to support a student club or society … social media platform Personal workspace Staff Tools project gp groups Social bookmarking Blogs Wikis File sharing Student society Discussions gp groups Micro‐blogging social networking (c) C4LPT, 2009

… staff can set up a formal learning group for their modules … students can set up study groups as desired or required … social media platform Personal workspace Formal Staff Tools course project gp groups gp groups Social bookmarking Blogs Wikis File sharing Student Student study society Discussions gp groups gp groups Micro‐blogging social networking (c) C4LPT, 2009

The platform can also be used to help to provide a range of support services to students ‐ from student induction to supporting an alumni community. social media platform Personal workspace Formal Staff Tools course project gp groups gp groups Social bookmarking Blogs Wikis File sharing Student Student Student Student Induction Alumni study society Discussions Group p gp group gp groups gp groups Micro‐blogging social networking (c) C4LPT, 2009

These are just some of the ways a social media platform provide a college‐ or university‐wide a college‐ or university‐wide Social Learning, Collaboration and Community Platform The Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies provides a range of Social Learning Consultancy Services. For more information, see www.c4lpt.co.uk/socialmedia/ Our recommended social media platform is Elgg ‐ free and open source ‐ and we offer a range of Elgg Consultancy Services to help install, customise and make effective use of it. See www.c4lpt.co.uk/ElggConsultancy.html (c) C4LPT, 2009

Using a social media platform in FE/HE

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