Social Media in Education Joanne Jacobs, Adjunct, AIC Interaction Design & Tech Strategy Consultant Image source:

Seminar objectives To discuss: – Value of social media in education – Current practice in social media use in educational contexts – Emergent opportunities for social media in education To demonstrate: – Importance of social media skills among graduates Image source:

The Social Landscape Massive growth of internet and social media adoption worldwide. Massive growth Mobile increasingly the device-of-choice.device-of-choice Social networking sites now represent longest dwell time among online activities. longest dwell time Image source:

The Social Landscape Image source:

Disconnection There is a disconnect between the attitude of educational institutions and the value of social and games systems for business and professional sectors. Image source:

Avoidance Many educational institutions ban mobile devices, use of social networks on campus Avoidance tactics compromising access; limiting learning Image source:

Tools-based approach Tendency to treat technology as a tool is unsophisticated Need to see social media as a facilitator/language Social media is an interaction environment, not a tool. Image source:

Learning Opportunities Collaborative learning Socratic debate Research source evaluation Cultural differences/diversity Asynchronous learning Fostering curiosity Image source:

Problems with social Privacy and social networks Echolalia Popularity versus accuracy (eg: Quora) NEEDS: education on appropriate use, source evaluation. Image source:

Social media & assessment Social media useful for peer review Value of social contributions can be assessed in communities Reputation changes a useful indicator of ongoing value of contributions Development/adaptation of social media should be assessable. Image source:

Barriers to adoption Institutional Policies: overcome with mobile device use, RSS feeds, hybrid devices (eg: tablets) Instructor concerns: professional development on use of social media in education Curriculum standard concerns: growing evidence of improved skills among social media users. Image source:

Where to from here? Reform of institutional policies Increased investment in professional development in use of social media in education Research into social as a conduit to cross-disciplinary learning Learning happens outside classroom – need to adapt teaching to acknowledge Image source:

Questions Joanne Jacobs Tech Strategy & Interaction Design Ph: Web: Skype: bgsbjj Unless otherwise specified, all images used in this presentation are Creative Commons images, under an Attribution Licence.