Studying the Influence (or Mutual Shaping) of Social Networks in a Learning

Experience

By Juan D. Machin M.

Vilnius, 17 November 2011

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

SOCIAL networks/media networking tools/SN

Web 2.0 sites or applications that allow: Publication or posting of user generated content Interactions between users

Shift of power in processes of production, edition, publication and communication of information… and consequences that might happen!

Prosumer (Toffler, 1980) / Produser (Bruns, 2008)

Literacies

General term to define the varying degree to which an individual possesses or has mastered competencies or skills for handling [an object?] information in different media or format

…new literacies, information, digital, media, numerical, scientific, musical...

All these and other sorts of literacies have in common is that they define the ability to handle a certain kind (or form) of information.

Literacies

Information Literacies

Digital Literacies

Extremely Brief Theoretical Considerations

Online social networks are mainly based on “real world” society and institutions, some methods and theories for their analysis are similar. (Marchionini, 2009)

Human relationships in cyberspace "...are actually being assimilated into everyday life. Furthermore, they are often moved into other social settings, just as they are in offline life.” (Carter, 2005)

Role of social interaction in the development of cognition (Vygotsky, 1978)

Learners should be "cognitively active" during learning and that instructors use "guided practice.” (Mayer, 2004)

In summary: constructivist learning, learning as social phenomenon, literacies, IFLA’s core information competencies, Freire, Fals-Borda, Whitehead & McNiff, McIntyre, Herr & Anderson, Habermas vs. Positivism…and many others…

Research Questions

a) What are the most important issues of SN within a learning environment?

b) What is the influence (or mutual shaping) of SN in a learning experience?

c) What are the challenges and opportunities of using SN in higher education? 

d) How do students experience learning when they are engaged in a learning experience that uses SN? Can they help achieve real learning outcomes?  

e) How does students’ literacies affect the successfulness of such a learning experience?

Sample / Context

International Master in Digital Library Learning (DILL) students for convenience, language, diversity, LIS professionals

Tallinn Semester: IKM & HRM Courses, learning SN as complement

Pilot Study (2011), Final Study (2012)

Method: Participatory Action Research (PAR)

Self and collective reflection on the subject of study

Researcher is part of and makes interventions on research

Cyclical process exploration

knowledge construction

Action

Design of activities and learning interventions

Observation X

Online forum X

Class discussions

Students’ reports

Survey

Interview

Diagnostic micro-survey

Collection of Data

Include/Register students’ input

Provide other dialog spaces

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Timeline of the Pilot

Assignment

Group work, intended to complement the courses

Using SN, create a framework for the communication of the HR in your digital library as well as towards your customers

Role Playing

Write reflection on issues, challenges and what they did

Data Analysis

Content analysis

Results in the function of:

a) identification of issues (showed & emerging) of SN within a learning environment;

b) challenges and opportunities of using SN in education related to the students' literacies;

c) usefulness of the activities;

d) learning.

Notes for the final study

Take into account pilot study for self reflection (mutual shape)

Better, cohesive study plan

More extensive, integrated use of the tools

Redefinition of ethical and privacy concerns

Redesign of the activities/learning interventions to improve reception of the research enhance participation (self, students, students into research) measuring the role of literacies

Redefining the experiment

2 Access 4 Evaluation

3 Use

1 Introduction

Methods / Privacy concerns / Literacies / SN

5 Wrap upSurvey / Interviews

user practices[students’ input] information needslocation / selection accessibility issues

[students’ comments]

issues of SN[students’ input]

tool integration content curation creation of SN

sites[class

assignment][students’

comm]

SN in organizations SN in libraries

Evaluation of SN initiatives

[students’ input] [assignment

revisit][students’ comm]

Via: http://blaugh.com/2008/03/12/addicted-to-twitter/

Thank you!!

machin@tlu.ee

judamasmas@gmail.com

@judamasmas

www.facebook.com/judamasmas

http://judamasmas.tumblr.com

www.judamasmas.com