Mdla2010 s porto

Learner support through social software: a graduate experience

Dr. Stella PortoMaster of Distance EducationGraduate School of Management & TechnologyUniversity of Maryland University College

Focus

This presentation discusses how social software can be used to support learners (beyond instruction) and provides several examples from the experience of a graduate program at UMUC.

Agenda

• Introduction Background & context

• The Social Software & the experience in the MDE How social software can be used to support

students? Our activities Some lessons learned

• Final remarks

Introduction: Background

• Student support at a distance… Shift from a campus based perspective Needs go beyond those addressed in

individual courses Focus on the needs of this specific target

audience Part-time Full-time employment Family duties Long time away from school Diverse academic and professional background

Introduction: Contextthe MDE partnership

Introduction: ContextThe program

• Potential managers of the DE enterprise

• Entirely online for part-time working adults

• International• Collaborative

FacultySupport

FacultySupport

InstructionDesign &Support

InstructionDesign &Support

Leaders &Managers

Leaders &Managers

HigherEducation

HigherEducation

Media & technology

Media & technology

CorporateTraining &Learning

CorporateTraining &Learning

DistanceEducation

DistanceEducation

The MDE focus on developing managers and leaders in the areas of e-learning & distance education within different settings, including: K-12, higher-education, corporate, non-profits, government and military.

Introduction: Background Institutional Student support • Enrollment management /

Registrar Admissions Financial aid Registration Advising Graduation

• Portal with self-services• Academic specialists,

coordinators, program directors

• Library• Office of disabilities, etc.

Social media: what it is

Social media for support

in the MDE

BLOGS

VIDEOS

SOCIAL NETWORKING

WIKIS

Social media for learner support

• Information diffusion and immediate feedback Immediate communication with stakeholders Collective feedback and appreciation Tools: blogs, social networking, wikis, …

The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE Hub

The MDE Hub•The one-stop-shop for ALL MDE related information•Extremely flexible platform

The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE Blog

The MDE Blog•Initially was the one-stop-shop for all MDE information•Now, works exclusively as a blog •One-way communication - no interaction

Social media for learner support

• Expanding knowledge in field of interest Sharing new information and utilizing new

media Program-wide projects Tools: audio, video, and image tools,

blogs, social networking, …

The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE capstone wiki

The MDE capstone wiki•Support for final capstone: e-portfolio & research project•Information sharing•Direct relationship with instruction (permanent)

The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE internship program

The MDE internship program•Getting your feet wet as a distance educator•Supporting the program•Engaging in action research

Social media for learner support

• Individual and collaborative means for producing and sharing content Generation of user content Building collective knowledge Tools: blogs, wikis, collaborative

documents, etc.

The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE wiki

The MDE wiki on new technologies•Knowledge-base•Information sharing•Meta-learning

Tools and more tools: Allison’s toolbox

Who is Allison?Allison is an MDE 2008 graduate and an collaborator in the MDE network…

Social media for learner support

• Virtual communities: cultivate a blend of challenge and support Sharing beyond virtual classroom Social network Peer support Tools: any social network tool or online

group tools

The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE Lounge

The MDE-lounge•Real interaction•Privacy, listserv mode, discussion board, simple and not-invasive

The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE Faculty Forum

The Faculty-forum•Management effectiveness•Privacy, listserv mode, discussion board, simple and not-invasive

The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: social network services

Presence in social networks•Connections with graduates and prospective students•Marketing

The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: MDE Orientation

The MDE orientation•Workshop with direct instructor-led support•Information sharing•Direct support to instruction

The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE Buddy Program

The MDE buddy-system•Peer-support•Student initiative•Action research project

Social media for learner support

• Sandbox for experiments, especially useful for distance educators Learning with technology Learning through technology Acquiring skills Developing technological competencies Tools: ALL

The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE Itinerant Video

The MDE Itinerant video project•Graduate initiative•Celebration of the 10th anniversary•Community involvement

The MDE Student Support: The MDE social bookmarking project

Learning lessons…

There is a need for an active leadership role in all initiativesContinuously invite community

Reach out to new studentsMost participants are lurkers and that’s fine!Integrating tools creates synergyStudents want to get involved, but they need a HAND A few active members

generate significant impactBeing personal is keyOngoing projects and activities Focus on respond to the needs of stakeholders

Final remarks

Thinking beyond the classroomEnthusiasm is contagiousExperiment, experiment and experiment…Count on your graduates and studentsNetworking is essential to everyone for different reasons

Thank you!

Questions?

Presentation can be found at:http://www.slideshare.net/sporto/using-social-software-in-the-mde

Contact: sporto@umuc.edu