Online Collaboration and Social Learning

Start with social networks in education

For an overview, begin with the mind map Social Networks Use in Education. It looks at interaction between users and opportunities for learning. Then explore the mind map on using social networks in education, which includes examples such as sharing assignment dates and creating a career list.

The quiz about social networks in education asks about online networking services. It offers a way to check your familiarity with the services after looking through the maps. There is also a quiz called Social networking sites in education.

Explore communities and tools

Communities of Practice (CoPs) introduces practice, community and domain. It also lists communities for teachers and researchers and for language learners. Use it to see how the page connects collaboration with groups that share an interest in learning or teaching.

Mobile Tools 1 looks at sharing presentations and collaborating on documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Another map on the page covers synchronous and asynchronous communication, including email and discussion forums. A separate map and note focus on synchronous computer-mediated communication tools.

Use maps and quizzes together

Read a map first and pick out a few ideas you want to remember. Try the quiz about social networks in education, then return to the map to review related ideas. You can also compare the social-network maps with the communities-of-practice map to see the different kinds of collaboration they describe.

Place the topic in its unit

This topic sits within the educational technology and learning environments unit in Computing and ICT. Its resources bring together social media, communication tools and e-learning, giving university students and teachers several ways to explore learning with technology.

Choose a resource that fits your starting point and explore the collection.