1. © University of Reading 2007 www.reading.ac.uk Systems Engineering 20 April 2014 Facebook & Blackboard Comparison of learner perspectives

2. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference2 Introduction The team: Patrick Parslow, Shirley Williams, Michael Evans, Karsten Øster Lundqvist, Edwin Porter-Daniels, Robert Ashton Contact details: p.parslow@reading.ac.uk Domain : All surveys conducted at University of Reading

3. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Summary Session Outline HeadlinesMethodsResults 3

4. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Headlines 4.9 x more FB:BB Varies between departments Finding others 50% report learning on FB … but there is no content! Reports of learning Frequent FB use correlates with reports of learning Use & learn 4

5. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Methods Prototype Online – viral distribution In person Survey Individual Explorative Interviews Main survey Informed by prototype and interviews Ongoing Survey 5

6. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Results What do you think would make a good eLearning environment? – Something that doesn't detract from a physical learning environment. –An education into how to use and what e-learning is attempting to achieve –Fun and easy to use – accurate information 6

7. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Results What do you think would make a good eLearning environment? – E-mail – An easily accessible website, for students doing the same course(s), not necessarily from the same institution. –I think blackboard is ideal really. – nothing, teaching is best done in the classroom, face to face. eLearning is silly. 7

8. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Results More from the comments and interviews: – eLearning environment needs to be widely used to be useful – Consistency between modules and interfaces – More discussion groups – Privacy, within group and sometimes excluding lecturer – Trust is an issue – Separation of academia and social matters 8

9. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Community models - facebook friends group 9

10. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Community models - Blackboard module Friends module 10

11. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Results – connecting to people Students 5 times more likely to find peers on Facebook than on UoR Blackboard – Marked gender difference found in prototype survey not supported by results of full survey so far Strongest correlations with departments (for FB) – Chemistry and Human & Environmental Science – -ve correlation with Health & Social care, and Biological Science Appears unrelated to gender May be related to active social groups in departments 11

12. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Why is connecting important? Connectivism – Rapidly changing knowledge landscape – Short half-life of information – Important to have a network of information sources Collaboration – Many heads are better than one – Synergy – Inter-disciplinary cross fertilization Constructivism – Learn better if creating things others will see/use 12

13. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Supports constructivism… and connectivism 13

14. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Blackboard – linear read:learn? 14

15. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Blackboard – posting not helping? 15

16. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Do the same people learn on Facebook as Blackboard? 16

17. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Intentional use for learning 17

18. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Intentional learning use 18

19. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Conclusions Learners will learn through social networking – Even in the absence of course materials There may be a eLearner role – Those who learn both through the VLE and other tools Intentional use of tools improves outcomes – At least in terms of frequency Something about UoR use of Blackboard seems to inhibit – 1 in 6 intending to learn by using it never do 19

20. Joined-up learning – connectivism – The Eighth Annual Durham Blackboard Users Conference Thank you Any Questions? 20