The document summarizes a study on the effective use of social software in higher and further education. The study used case study methodology including interviews, focus groups, and analysis of reports to investigate the use of social media like wikis, blogs, Flickr, and Facebook. The study aimed to derive recommendations for educators and institutions on using social software and delivered results and recommendations available online. It discusses benefits and challenges of social software for institutions, educators, and students and the role of educators in effectively integrating social media.

1. A Study on the Effective use of Social Software JISC e-Learning Programme Meeting 3 rd March 2009 Shailey Minocha (Open University) and Heather Williamson (JISC) [email_address]

2. Our study To investigate the use of social software in HE and FE Wikis, blogs, Flickr, Delicious, Facebook Case Study methodology I nterviews, focus groups, analysis of reports, observing students activities Derive recommendations for educators and institutions Deliverables: please see http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/projects/socialsoftware08.aspx

3. Benefits and challenges Institutions, educators and students http://www.flickr.com/photos/kazandrew2/2817465838/in/set-72157603733999716/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/cml1674/2684707811/

4. Institutions http://www.flickr.com/photos/79286287@N00/215951891/ http://gallery.me.com/shailey.minocha/100016

5. Role of educators

6. Students’ experiences

7. T he journey to success http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellasdad/437337116/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/orangeacid/419423674/