RSA #3 Online Learners and using Social Networking Sites

RSA #3 Online Social Networks as Formal Learning Environments:Learner Experiences and Activities By George Veletsianos and Cesar C. Navarrete

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            Our studies this week talk about how to form a successful online learning environment.  Palloff and Pratt expressed the importance of creating a presence online. This means that participants need to make themselves known online (2007, pg 12).  This can be done in many different ways, but the main way is through the guidance of the professor.  According to Palloff and Pratt, it is the responsibility of the professor to get all of the students participating. This can be done with something as simple as an introduction discussion board (2007, pg 21).

            One example of an Online Learning Community is through social networking. Veletsianos and Navarrete performed a study on the effectiveness of learning on a social networking site (2012, pg144-166). They too found that setting up a social presence was very valuable to the learning community.  One of the participants felt it allowed the participants to get to know each other and allowed a “greater connection to the course” (Veletsianos G. and Navarrete C., 2012, pg 154). The participants expressed a concern on how they presented themselves or how other perceived them.  Some were not happy with the way they presented themselves. One participant expressed that because she was in a class she needed to be formal, and this was not her (Veletsianos G. and Navarrete C., 2012, pg 155).

            There was a direct correlation between the findings of Veletsianos and Navarrete and Palloff and Pratt. Both feel it is necessary for students establish and identity in their class. They also both felt it was a great idea for students to collaborate with one another.    

            On a personal note, one aspect I liked about the article is that it explained the findings of the use of social networking sites as opposed to a platform (an example of Blackboard was given). Not only did it look at the positives of this but also the negatives.  They found that the participants overall liked the use of the Social Networking sites but did find some major flaws with it (Veletsianos G. and Navarrete C., 2012, pg 157).  

References

Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2007). Building online learning communities: effective strategies for the virtual classroom (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Veletsianos, G., & Navarrete, C. C. (2012). Online Social Networks as Formal Learning Environments: Learner Experiences and Activities. International Review Of Research In Open And Distance Learning, 13(1), 144-166.