Connect is the University of Westminster's online social networking platform that was developed to address a lack of social opportunities for students and facilitate community building between departments. It allows students to create profiles, join interest-based communities, follow staff blogs, and link to other university systems like Blackboard. Staff see Connect as a way to help build student communities before and after arrival on campus and to share research and teaching practices. While it was initially challenging to gain buy-in across the university, Connect has helped open staff's eyes to online social networking and the importance of involving users throughout the development process.

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

3. Introduction to

5. Link from the Student Home Page

8. My Profile

9. Create Themes

10. My Blog

11. Communities I created

13. Student Union

18. Staff and Student views

20. 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