The document discusses using social media in microbiology education. It notes that social media refers to user-generated internet content and conversations rather than just tools. While traditional education tools have value, students want guidance navigating various media and see education as adding value. The document advocates that educators understand how new media works, manage expectations that education is active not passive, and provide clear goals to engage lifelong learners through peer networks for professional development.

1. Social Media and
Microbiology Education
Alan Cann
School of Biological Sciences
University of Leicester
Find me here: bit.ly/AJCann
This talk: www.slideshare.net/AJCann

2. MicrobiologyBytes.com

3. What is “social media” ?
• The part of the Internet where the content
is generated by users of the service.
• It's not about tools - it's about
conversations.

4. Is using social media in
education a terrible idea?
www.flickr.com/photos/ajc1/6924209488
• Time
• Authority ("quality")
• Just not needed - traditional tools have
proved their worth?

5. What do students want?
• Guidance and leadership through the
maze
• Compete with professional media
(Facebook, games, television)
• Value for money

6. What do we give them?
• By and large, we give them what we
experienced in education.
• Where technology makes it easy for
us to increase the pressure on them,
we do so (email, online assessment).

7. What do we want?
• Engaged, self-motivated, lifelong
learners
• And ... ?

8. So how do we get there?
• Invest time & effort in not just doing
it but in understanding how new
media work.
• Manage expectations - in particular
that education is active not passive.
• Give them clear targets and
something to aim for.

9. Digital Natives versus
Visitors and Residents
?

10. Pedagogies of Online Education

11. PLE versus PLN
• Personal Learning Environment (PLE)
- a collection of tools
• Personal Learning Network (PLN)
- a collection of people

12. It’s not about tools, it’s about
creating the right network
Bad networks!
Good networks!

13. Peer networks
- professional development?
• Facebook but not Facebook
• Minimalist guidance
• Reflection
• Feedback
• Discussion (object centred)

14. 1. Content
3. Network
2. Context

15. More?
• bit.ly/AJCann
• microbiologybytes.com/blog/tag/edu
cation
• scienceoftheinvisible.blogspot.com