Some learning designs using social software
Managing a social software teaching/learning environment
The decision to use a social software application in your unit should be based on sound pedagogical reasons, rather than for the sake of novelty alone. The choice to use a wiki, website and blogging/discussion space or virtual gallery as a teaching/learning resource should be based on its ability to help your students achieve identified learning objectives.
Social software supports social learning. It will be most effective if your overall teaching approach and assessment strategy in the unit is to encourage students to learn through a process of articulating and negotiating meaning.
Social software applications can support a range of engaging social learning designs, the pages linked below provide brief descriptions and examples of how some designs have been implemented at Deakin.
Creating a knowledge base
Collaborative problem-based learning activities
Authentic learning environments
Communities of practice
Democratic online social space
Virtual gallery
Further reading on learning designs using social software
McLoughlin, C & Lee, M 2008, 'Future learning landscapes: transforming pedagogy through social software', Innovate, Vol. 4, No. 5, http://innovateonline.info/pdf/vol4_issue5/Future_Learning_Landscapes-__Transforming_Pedagogy_through_Social_Software.pdf(accessed 3 June 2010)
Dron, J 2007, Control and constraint in e-learning: choosing when to choose, Idea Group Publishing, Hershey (especially pp. 228-327).
Littlejohn, A & Pegler, C 2007, Preparing for blended learning, Routledge, London.
