By Juan MachinBy Juan Machin

Tallinn UniversityTallinn UniversityInstitute of Information Studies Institute of Information Studies

20102010

This research was supported by European Social Fund’s This research was supported by European Social Fund’s Doctoral Studies and Internationalisation Programme Doctoral Studies and Internationalisation Programme DoRa DoRa

LearningLearning

Social Social NetworksNetworksInformation Information

BehaviorBehavior

Information Information LiteracyLiteracy

High acceptance; versatility; many High acceptance; versatility; many purposes; ease of usepurposes; ease of use

Know how to use them for learning Know how to use them for learning and professional purposes:and professional purposes:

AAnalyzing users’ information nalyzing users’ information behavior behavior

Users’ information and digital Users’ information and digital literacies literacies

Within a learning environment. Within a learning environment.

Study how social networks can be Study how social networks can be used in learning environments and used in learning environments and how students’ information behavior how students’ information behavior and information literacies are and information literacies are challenged in such environment. challenged in such environment.

Determine how users experience Determine how users experience learning social networking tools and learning social networking tools and how their information behavior and how their information behavior and literacies influence this experience.literacies influence this experience.

1.1. What are the most important issues of web 2.0 and social What are the most important issues of web 2.0 and social networks faced by users within a learning environment?networks faced by users within a learning environment?

2.2. How do users’ literacies influence information behavior?How do users’ literacies influence information behavior?

3.3. Are they determined by aspects such as culture, level of Are they determined by aspects such as culture, level of specialization, gender or profession?specialization, gender or profession?

4.4. What are the challenges and opportunities of using social What are the challenges and opportunities of using social networks in higher education instruction related to networks in higher education instruction related to information behavior and literacy?information behavior and literacy?

Action research perspectiveAction research perspective

Development of learning Development of learning interventions (two courses, interventions (two courses, same group, at TLU, 6-10 h.)same group, at TLU, 6-10 h.)

Qualitative/Quantitative?Qualitative/Quantitative?

Data collection: observation, Data collection: observation, interviews, surveys, focus groups?interviews, surveys, focus groups?

Data analysis: TBD…Data analysis: TBD…

The pilot study will determine The pilot study will determine what to change or improve on the what to change or improve on the methodology. methodology.

The learning happening with the The learning happening with the interventions will be somehow interventions will be somehow fuzzy. fuzzy.

Perhaps not all the objectives of Perhaps not all the objectives of the courses will be met, but other the courses will be met, but other skills can develop.skills can develop.

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