The document discusses the application of social media, particularly Facebook, in enhancing learning experiences through connectivism, emphasizing the importance of creating connections between students, educators, and content. It highlights the benefits of using social media for real-time engagement, improved retention, and personalized learning experiences, supported by student feedback on its effectiveness in promoting interaction and collaboration. Key considerations for successful implementation include encouraging student involvement, maintaining thorough and relevant communication, and utilizing various tools to facilitate online learning.

1. 1
Using Social Media for
Learning
Dr Dawn Birch
5 February 2014
Session Overview
Learning in a digital age: Connectivism
Uses of social media for learning
Facebook
Wikis
Instructional design principles
The role of the educator in networked learning environments
Question time
Learning Theory for the Digital Age:
Connectivism
Learning is building
networks of
information, contacts
and resources that are
applied to real
problems (Anderson 2011)

2. 2
Connectivist Learning Principles
(Siemens, G. 2004)
Learning is a process of
connecting specialised
nodes or information
sources.
Learning may reside in
non-human appliances.
Capacity to know more
is more critical than
what is currently known.
Nurturing and
maintaining connections
is needed to facilitate
continual learning.
Ability to see
connections between
fields, ideas, and
concepts is a core skill.
Currency (accurate, up-
to-date knowledge) is
the intent of all
connectivist learning
activities.
Technology Enhanced Learning
Adoption and integration of relevant,
cost-effective, pragmatic, supported
and pedagogically sound technologies
for learning including social media.
Creation of e-learning experiences
that reflect students’ current ways of
accessing and digesting information
and their diverse modal preferences
and learning styles
Provision of an enriched, current,
relevant, inclusive, interactive and
engaging learning experience.
Can social media achieve better
learning outcomes?
Facilitate both cognitive and social
learning outcomes.
Develop important graduate
attributes and skills
• e.g. creative thinking, engagement, electronic
communication, use of technology, etc.
Improve retention and progression
rates through increased
personalisation and connectedness.
Make learning more enjoyable and
engaging leading to life-long learning.

3. 3
Social media can facilitate a better
student learning experience
Connection
• links to useful,
topical and
relevant
information
and resources
• currency - ‘real-
time’ elements
• opportunities
for connecting
with content,
other students,
teaching team,
real-world
content
Interaction
• engagement
and
involvement
• communication
- sharing,
commenting,
liking
• interactive
elements – e.g.
surveys, polls
Inclusion
• appeal to
diverse
learning styles
and modal
preferences
• Convenience,
accessibility
and flexibility –
any time and
any place
Personalisation
• accessibility -
regular
communication
• develop
rapport and
social presence
• responsiveness
- key dimension
of service
quality
Why do I use
Facebook for
my courses?
Developing a closer
connection with students
• Establishing rapport
• Being more accessible and
approachable
• Less formal, more friendly
interactions
Being more responsive
• Notifications pop up in my
email
• Easy and quick to use
Why do I use
Facebook for
my courses?
Sharing current and
relevant information
• Validates the course content
• Increases student engagement
Sharing ideas and examples
• Collaborative learning and co-
creation
Gauging where student’s
interests lie
Provides a permanent page
once the course is finished

4. 4
How can Facebook
be used?
Links to interesting articles
Links to YouTube content
Announcements
Assessment discussion
Links to slide share presentations
Student Feedback
• Course evaluation surveys
• Survey monkey
Strategic Marketing Management 2013
Item Dis-agree Neither
agree nor
dis-agree
Agree Strongly
agree
Mean
The Facebook page added to
my enjoyment of the class
3.4%
(1)
6.9%
(2)
48.3%
(14)
41.4%
(12)
4.28
The Facebook page was a
valuable addition to the unit
3.4%
(1)
3.4%
(1)
41.4%
(12)
51.7%
(15)
4.41
The Facebook page made me
feel more connected with the
lecturer
0.0%
(0)
6.9%
(2)
27.6%
(8)
65.5%
(19)
4.59
The Facebook page made me
feel more connected with
other students
6.9%
(2)
10.3%
(3)
41.4%
(12)
41.4%
(12)
4.17
The teaching team should use
Facebook again next time the
unit is offered
3.4%
(1)
0.0%
(0)
27.6%
(8)
69.0%
(20)
4.62

5. 5
I enjoyed the interaction
through Facebook
I liked the friendly
approach and the
Facebook page
Increased Interaction and Connection
Improved
Learning
All of the students got involved
with the Facebook page,
posting up various articles,
which I found beneficial. It was
the first time I had used
Facebook to help me with my
studies and it was very useful.
Using Facebook to introduce our own
examples helped to solidify our
understanding.
Greater
currency and
relevance
I liked the Facebook
page, up to date
content and great
lecturers

6. 6
Higher
Engagement
Generally found this my most interesting and engaging unit.
The Facebook group and discussion board were very effective.
The Facebook group and lectures/seminars have all been
engaging and I think very helpful in helping us learn.
So, should we
continue to use
Facebook?
The Facebook page worked well.
I was sceptical at the creation of the
Facebook group, but have found it to
be a very helpful way of keeping in
contact with the lecturer and as a
forum for discussion about the
assignment.
Facebook page was a great addition
and I think should become a norm.
Social Marketing USC 2012

7. 7
How often have you used the
Facebook Page this semester?
0.0% 0.0%
16.7% 16.7%
66.7%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
Not at all About once 1-5 times 6-9 times 10 plus times
How much have you enjoyed using the
Facebook page?
5.6%
38.9%
55.6%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
Not at all Not very much Somewhat Very much
What aspects of the Facebook page
have you found to be useful?
66.7%
44.4%
94.4%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
Discussion about social
marketing campaigns
Links to social marketing
campaigns
Discussion about
assessment

8. 8
Did the Facebook page make you feel
more connected to other students?
33.3%
50.0%
5.6%
11.1%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree
Did the Facebook page make you feel
more connected with the course
leader?
38.9%
61.1%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
Strongly agree Agree
Would you like other courses to use
Facebook?
82.4%
11.8%
5.9%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
Strongly agree Agree Strongly disagree

9. 9
Did the Facebook page add to your
enjoyment of the course?
33.3%
55.6%
5.6% 5.6%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Strongly disagree
Did the Facebook page assist you to
learn more about social marketing?
16.7%
66.7%
11.1%
5.6%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Strongly disagree
It was very helpful, especially
when assignments were almost
due and confusion was high
I found it most useful when talking about the assignment. It’s good
to know other people are having the same problems as you, and
answers were given by both peers and the course coordinator
within minutes or hours. It was much easier and convenient than
having to email the tutor with every question
Very helpful for
small tips and
information

10. 10
Great page. Dawn’s availability was do dedicated and helpful. I feel
Blackboard does not have the capability to connect both students
and teaching staff. The fact that students are asking the same
questions other students also want to know is fantastic, and saves
Dawn telling 10 people the same answer.
I think Facebook is great for university. It is convenient, easy to use
and a lot more convenient than Blackboard.
Keys to Success
Get the students actively involved
• Get one of them to set up the group
• Ask them to add you as admin so you can monitor and add members
Put the group link up on MyBU so they can access the group to join
• Make an announcement on my BU
Show the page in the lecture
• Encourage membership
• Acknowledge contributions
Be active on the page
• Post current and relevant articles demonstrating link to the material being
covered in the course
Be responsive – liking, commenting
Just a
few
points
to
consider
Not all students have a Facebook
account
• Duplicate important information and
messages on myBU
Not all teaching team members have
or want a Facebook page
Don’t add students as friends on your
personal page
• Understand the privacy settings
Keep it strictly course-related
• Set the right tone early and make it clear that
the page is all about the course

11. 11
Other Tools
Twitter
Linked-In
YouTube
Wikis and Blogs
Others??
Wikis for Reflection and/or Assessment
Wikis for Reflection and/or Assessment

12. 12
Ultimately I think the Wiki does
a good job in what it is
designed to do. It encourages
you to read the readings
basically. I'm guilty and I'm
sure we all are of skipping
through an e-reading, throwing
a citation in there and away
you go. I've found that this
course definitely encouraged
me to read the readings, read
each individual one. Now I've
read all six I think…
Gagne's 9 steps of instruction
How could social media be used to...?
1. Gain
attention
2. Inform
about learning
objectives
3. Stimulate
recall of prior
knowledge
4. Present the
material to be
learned
5. Provide
guidance for
learning
6. Elicit
performance
"practice"
7. Provide
informative
feedback
8. Assess
performance
9. Enhance
retention and
transfer
What is the
role of the
educator in
networked
learning
environments?
1. Amplifying 2. Curating
3. Wayfinding and
socially-driven
sensemaking
4. Aggregating
5. Filtering 6. Modelling
7. Persistent
presence
http://www.connectivism.ca/?p=220

13. 13
Drivers and Barriers to Using Social
Media for Learning
What are the key drivers,
benefits, motivators, enhancers
for using social media for
learning?
What are the key barriers,
obstacles, challenges, inhibitors
for using social media for
learning?
Discussion and questions
Resources
• Setting up a group page
• Emerging EdTech site
• Van Doorn, G. & Eklund, A. 2013. Face to Facebook:
Social media and the learning and teaching potential of
symmetrical, synchronous communication. Journal of
University Teaching and Learning Practice
– http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1268&c
ontext=jutlp
• Siemens, G. Learning in the Future, Available at
http://www.vegas-times.com/litf/wikis/connectivism/