Social Media Learning in Action

Social learning and social media learning are two areas we have discussed in the past on the BOE programme. A very interesting article by Jane Hart at the elearningcouncil website explains the difference between the two:

http://www.elearningcouncil.com/content/social-media-learning-more-social-learning-jane-hart

Social learning is the older expression and literally just means any learning that takes place within a social i.e. group environment. Social media learning is a newer term with focuses on the use of social media (Web 2.0) in learning.

Although I have thought about social media learning before, this week I experienced a classic case of social media learning in action. Marty, a fellow BOE student, found an excellent article on mobile learning in the Social Learning Blog:

http://www.dashe.com/blog/mobile-learning/mobile-learning-more-than-just-mobile-learning

Being the socially-aware learner that he is, Marty shared his find with his twitter followers from his twitter account which is linked to his linkedin account. I then got an email from linkedin giving me the week's news which included this tweeted link. I now I am posting about this again in a blog which means the circle is complete - from blog post to micro blog post to social networking site back to a blog post again!

As I am preparing an webinar on mobile learning I found this post especially interesting. The first point the article makes is the difficulty in coming to a clear definition of mobile learning. Definitions seem to go into one of two camps emphasising either the technology (a mobile device) or the mobility of the learner. Luckily John Traxler is quoted who provides an extended definition which also addresses padagogical issues in mobile learning, including for example spontaneity, informality and bite-sized content.

A nice example of successful m-learning taken from Elliot Massie's 2008 report is also given. Merrill Lynch launched an inititative called GoLearn using BlackBerry devices to reach over 2,000 learners. The results of the user feedback at the end of the trial are clear - 100% said they would complete more training delivered in that format and 75% praised the benefits of the mobile course with regards to convenience and time management.

Unfortunately for myself and probably most other European lecturers in higher education, we don't have a grop of users with only one type and device and we certainly don''t have the budget that Merrill Lynch invested in this project. On the other hand, the results are very impressive and I hope that any m-learning we introduce will be equally well-received.

Neil

Entering the world of tablet teaching.

As well as being a lecturer mainly teaching English as a Foreign Language I am also currently studying Blended and Online Education at Edinburgh Napier University. As part of my studies I recently did a project on mobile learning looking at the extent to which students at my university were already using mobile learning software and hardware. Having looked at what students are doing with m-learning I have decided it is now time to make myself the guinea pig and take a look at what m-learning, and in particular tablet teaching, could do for me. This blog will be my diary of the discoveries I make, lessons I learn and mistakes I make along the way. I hope it is as interesting for everyone reading this and it is for me trying it out.

All comments, suggestions and especially recommendations are welcome.

Stay tuned!

Neil