Social Media Learning in e-Learning
The use of social media has become immensely popular in the education sector. Learners, instructors and elearning professionals rely on social media to connect outside the formal learning environment.
Almost everyone has a digital presence nowadays. So, why not embrace and take advantage of what social media has to offer to positively impact the learners and their learning experience?
In the realm of social media learning there are two learning styles: active and passive. Active's like the hands-on approach. You're in the action—discussing, challenging, and debating.
Then there's passive, where you're soaking up knowledge by listening, and then letting your brain whirl it all around. Think of it as a lecture followed by some note taking.
But there’s a twist, you can mix and match these styles. Social media learning's all about bringing learning to life. It's interactive, engaging, and lets you turn your knowledge into real-world action.
Tracing Social Media Learning concept back to Albert Bandura’s social learning concept
In the evolution of elearning, social learning has emerged as a transformative force, reshaping how knowledge and skills we acquire. Stemming from the fundamental work of Albert Brandura’s theory of observational learning in the 1960’s, which emphasizes the role of social interaction in the learning process, collaborative learning gained momentum.As technology advanced, social learning seamlessly transitioned into an elearning environment, where virtual classrooms and online discussions facilitate interactive learning experiences. With the emergence of more and more digital platforms, there are new opportunities for connection and collaboration. By embracing social media and incorporating its features into the teaching and learning processes, instructors can provide video lectures, quizzes, extra learning material and even how their learners participate and collaborate. Using this strategy, learners will not only gain knowledge in an interesting and engaging way, but also get flexibility to learn from wherever and whenever they want.
Benefits of Using Social Learning
Embracing social learning in e-learning brings forth a range of benefits for both learners and educators:
Enhanced Engagement: With interactive discussions and collaborative activities attention stays locked in, and learners are part of the action from start to finish.
Deeper Understanding: Engaging in discussions and explaining concepts to peers deepens understanding as learners process and articulate their thoughts.
Diverse Perspectives: Learners from different backgrounds contribute varied viewpoints, enriching discussions and promoting critical thinking.
Skill Development: Collaborative projects hone teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills—essential competencies in the modern workforce.
Community Building: A sense of community emerges as learners connect, share experiences, and provide support to one another.
Increased Motivation: Positive interactions and a supportive learning community foster motivation, making learners more eager to actively participate.
Application of Social Media Learning in E-Learning
Integrating social learning into e-learning environments involves creating opportunities for learners to interact, collaborate, and share experiences.
Some effective strategies to implement social learning in e-learning:
Discussion Forums and Groups: Online discussion forums and groups provide learners with spaces to ask questions, share insights, and engage in meaningful dialogue related to course content. This fosters a sense of community and encourages active participation.
Peer-to-Peer Collaboration: Assigning group projects or collaborative tasks encourages learners to work together, exchange ideas, and collectively solve problems. This mirrors real-world scenarios where teamwork is essential. Team projects aren't just for the classroom. Get learners to team up, tackle challenges, and cook up solutions together.
Social Media Integration: Utilizing social media platforms within e-learning environments allows learners to share resources, engage in discussions, and receive updates in a familiar and user-friendly format. Social media isn't just for memes and chatting with friends. Integrate it into e-learning, and suddenly learners are sharing cool resources, debating topics, and staying updated—all in a cozy digital nook.
Blogs and Journals: Encouraging learners to maintain reflective blogs or journals where they document their learning journey and interact with peers' insights promotes critical thinking and self-expression.
Webinars and Live Sessions: Hosting live webinars or virtual classrooms provides an avenue for real-time interaction, where learners can ask questions and engage in discussions with instructors and fellow participants.
The younger generations are the ones with the greatest interest and engagement to use digital platforms for learning and collaboration processes. But before we can build an effective social media learning strategy, it’s important to understand their learning and social media usage habits.
Learning habits among young generations
Learning habits among young demographics can vary depending on factors such as individual preferences, cultural backgrounds, and educational contexts. However, there are some common learning habits that are often observed among young people. Here are a few:
Technology integration: Young demographics are typically tech-savvy and tend to incorporate technology into their learning habits. They utilize digital tools, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets, for research, note-taking, accessing online resources, and engaging in online learning platforms.
Social Media integration: Young demographics join educational groups on social platforms such as Facebook, participate in Twitter chats related to their interests, follow educational influencers on Instagram, or join professional networks to expand their knowledge and connect with like-minded individuals.
Multimodal learning: Young learners often engage in multimodal learning, which involves using multiple senses and media to process information. They may combine text, visuals, videos, and audio to enhance their understanding and retention of knowledge.
Online learning: Young people increasingly turn to online platforms and resources for learning. They may enroll in online courses, access educational videos and tutorials, participate in virtual classrooms, or engage in e-learning platforms and apps to supplement their formal education.
Collaborative learning: Young demographics are often inclined towards collaborative learning, where they work together with their peers on projects, assignments, or group discussions. They benefit from sharing ideas, perspectives, and knowledge, and may use online collaboration tools or platforms to facilitate their group work.
Self-directed learning: Young learners are becoming more self-directed in their learning habits. They take ownership of their education, set learning goals, and engage in independent study. They may seek out resources, engage in self-paced learning, and explore topics of personal interest beyond the scope of their formal education.
Visual learning: Many young people have a preference for visual learning, relying on diagrams, charts, infographics, and videos to understand and retain information. They may create visual summaries or mind maps to organize their thoughts and concepts.
Gamification and interactive learning: Young demographics often respond positively to gamified learning experiences. Educational games, interactive quizzes, and learning apps that provide immediate feedback and rewards can enhance their engagement and motivation.
Continuous learning: Young learners are more likely to embrace the concept of lifelong learning. They understand the importance of staying updated with new information and skills and seek out opportunities for personal and professional growth beyond their formal education.
Short bursts of learning: Young people tend to prefer shorter learning sessions rather than prolonged study periods. They may engage in microlearning, which involves consuming small, focused chunks of information that are easily digestible and fit into their busy schedules.
Personalized learning: Young demographics often appreciate personalized learning experiences that cater to their individual interests and learning styles. They may utilize adaptive learning technologies or customize their learning paths to align with their specific needs and preferences.
In addition to the audience, the social media platforms chosen can also affect the results of our social media learning strategy. That’s why it’s important to understand how they work, what resources exist and how to use them.
Let’s break down some platforms:
Facebook:
Understanding How It Works:
Facebook allows users to create profiles, connect with friends, and join groups based on shared interests.
The platform's News Feed displays content from friends, pages, and groups, prioritized based on relevance and engagement.
Users can engage with content by liking, commenting, and sharing posts, as well as participating in discussions within groups.
Resources:
Facebook Groups and Pages dedicated to specific topics or fields of study.
Facebook Live for hosting live lectures, Q&A sessions, and virtual events.
How to Use Them:
Join relevant Facebook Groups or create a Group for your class or community.
Share educational content, resources, and announcements on your Facebook Page.
Host live sessions using Facebook Live for real-time interaction with learners.
YouTube:
Understanding How It Works:
YouTube is a video-sharing platform where users can upload, view, and share videos on a wide range of topics.
Users can subscribe to channels, create playlists, and interact with content through likes, comments, and shares.
The platform's algorithm recommends videos based on user preferences and viewing history.
Resources:
Tutorials, lectures, documentaries, and educational channels covering diverse subjects.
Features like playlists, quizzes, and polls for enhancing engagement.
How to Use Them:
Create a YouTube channel to share instructional videos, lectures, and demonstrations.
Organize your content into playlists and incorporate interactive elements like quizzes and polls.
Encourage students to subscribe to your channel and engage with your videos through comments and likes.
Instagram:
Understanding How It Works:
Instagram is a visual-centric social media platform where users share photos and videos with captions.
The platform's main features include Feed, Stories, IGTV, and Reels, each offering different ways to share content.
Users can discover content through hashtags, explore pages, and engage with posts through likes, comments, and shares.
Resources:
Visual-centric content format for conveying key concepts, sharing infographics, and showcasing student work.
Opportunities for collaboration with influencers and educational content creators.
How to Use Them:
Share educational content and resources through posts, stories, and IGTV.
Utilize relevant hashtags to increase visibility and attract a broader audience.
Collaborate with influencers and educational content creators to reach new audiences and enhance engagement.
TikTok:
Understanding How It Works:
TikTok is a short-form video platform where users can create and share videos up to 60 seconds long.
The platform's algorithm recommends videos based on user preferences, interactions, and trending topics.
Users can engage with content by liking, commenting, and sharing videos, as well as participating in challenges and trends.
Resources:
Short-form video format for delivering concise lessons, demonstrations, and challenges.
Trending hashtags and challenges for boosting visibility and engagement.
How to Use Them:
Create educational content in short, engaging video formats.
Utilize trending hashtags and challenges to increase visibility and attract a larger audience.
Encourage interaction and engagement through likes, comments, and shares, and participate in relevant trends and challenges to reach new audiences.
By sprinkling these strategies into your e-learning mix, you're turning the solitary learning experience into a vibrant social adventure.
If used in the right way, social media can act as the best companion for your eLearning course as it provides you with endless possibilities and opportunities to improve, and allows you to make learning more fun and engaging.