Social Networking as an Educational Tool

Chapter 1 Mason, R and Rennie, F (2008). E-Learning and Social Networking Handbook - Resources for Higher Education. (Routledge).

User generated content within collaborative and shared community spaces can promote learning by allowing learners to:

• clarify concepts
• establish meaningful links and relationships
• test their mental models
  
• make visible the process of developing their concepts and creating knowledge (p6)

The limitations that might detract from these benefits are:

• lack of expert, authoratative, scholarly input
• lack of critical skills to evaluate the quality of online information.

Siemens connectivist learning theory is relevant here. In a knowledge economy the capacity to find, evaluate and connect sources of information is more important that acquiring and retaining knowledge in a linear manner. In addition the ability to construct knowledge through collaborative online tools such as blogs, wikis, and other digital media is more important than internalising knowledge chosen and communicated by teachers.

Outcome-based learning design will shift the focus from what is being taught (content) to what the student will know or be able to do (process) (p 21).

"Course design is no longer about transmission and consumption; it is about co-creating, sharing, repurposing, and above all, interacting." (p 23).