![Page 1: THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062422/56649efa5503460f94c0b6e8/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Gunter Saunders and Federica OradiniOnline Learning Development
![Page 2: THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062422/56649efa5503460f94c0b6e8/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
The University of Westminster Context
• 22,000 students• Many international, mature or part-time• Emphasis is on face to face delivery/learning• Searching for the best way to use technology• Blackboard is used extensively• Very tutor centred
![Page 3: THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062422/56649efa5503460f94c0b6e8/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
ConnectDemocratic but still governed by rules
User led Normally not linked to assessment
Facilitates community building
![Page 4: THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062422/56649efa5503460f94c0b6e8/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Introduction to Connect
![Page 5: THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062422/56649efa5503460f94c0b6e8/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Factors Driving Development
• Supporting students prior to arrival• Students’ Union
– Clubs, societies, broaden SU reach• Quality assurance
– Student representatives• Giving users control• Potential in learning/support• Enthusiasm of change agents
![Page 6: THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062422/56649efa5503460f94c0b6e8/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
What is Connect? • Create your profile, add your
picture and your interests • Add friends to your site
Create Presentations (ePortfolios)
• Customise the look and feel of your site
• Find people with common interests • Create Private and Public communities
• Send messages to your friends and communities
• Publish content through the blog tool
![Page 7: THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062422/56649efa5503460f94c0b6e8/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
How has Connect been used?• Communities
– Based around interests e.g. Film, cats, wine– Activities e.g. Football, Cricket– Student led learning e.g. Visual culture group– Staff led learning e.g. Giving presentations,
homeopathy– Strategy development e.g. Library review
• Personal blog– Some reflective e.g. on university life– Academic subject based– Seeking contacts, information, solutions
![Page 8: THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062422/56649efa5503460f94c0b6e8/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Student versus staff use of Connect• Staff
– Fewer staff kept blogs compared to students– Frequency of blog posts per head was greater– Used mostly as an online reflective diary– Linked to their job or subject being taught
• Students– Blogged more for contacts and to get information– Tended to own fewer communities– More students created detailed profiles
![Page 9: THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062422/56649efa5503460f94c0b6e8/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Student views
• Students positive about Connect:– Saw Connect serving a different purpose to FB– They wanted their tutors to be involved– Wanted to separate university/private life– They wanted integration with the VLE– To have their own space linked to their studies
• Students negative about Connect– See Connect as another Facebook
![Page 10: THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062422/56649efa5503460f94c0b6e8/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Student videos
![Page 11: THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062422/56649efa5503460f94c0b6e8/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Staff views
• Large majority believe it can help students to build a community prior/after arrival
• Many think it has a role to play in learning and teaching• Some would keep a blog about research and sharing of best
teaching practice• Some would keep a blog for their subject • Many think should be linked to Blackboard
![Page 12: THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062422/56649efa5503460f94c0b6e8/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Staff videos
![Page 13: THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062422/56649efa5503460f94c0b6e8/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Future Vision
![Page 14: THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING BY STUDENTS AND STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION Gunter Saunders and Federica Oradini Online Learning Development](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062422/56649efa5503460f94c0b6e8/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
is Westminster’s online social network where you can make friends, find out the latest news from UWSU clubs and societies and meet like minded students. Go to http://connect.wmin.ac.uk and log-on using your University username and password.
http://connect.wmin.ac.uk
Photo used under a Creative Commons licence. http://flickr.com/photos/throughhislens/508671414