flex-e-bility

The Australian Flexible Learning Framework report Networks, Connections and Community: Learning with Social Software aims to ‘investigate how social software technologies could best support: knowledge sharing and capability development of VET practitioners; and Vocational Education and Training delivery.

Using a Wikipedia definition, social software is described as enabling ‘people to rendezvous, connect or collaborate through computer mediated discussion and to form online communities’.

The research included an online survey of 46 vocational practitioners, 14 commissioned success stories, and desk research. Collaborative research in the form of a wiki and a blog.was also conducted. This strategy is acknowledged to bias responses towards those who are most likely to engage with social software.

Ø The four most used social softwares with students were digital stories (17%), blogs and wikis (14%) and photo publishing (13%).

Ø VET respondents were optimistic about the potential of social software to achieve better learning outcomes for students.

Ø A blended learning approach is recommended by slecting the appropriate strategy and technology in context.

Ø Social software is more likely to be used for knowledge sharing than individual learning.

Ø Fewer than half of respondents use blogs (45%), social bookmarking (41%), virtual conferencing (39%) and wikis (38%).

Ø VET respondents were most interested in finding out more about photo publishing (47%), social bookmarking (47%), podcasting (46%); blogs, wikis and digital stories (approx. 40%); virtual conferencing and 3D (approx. 30%).

Inspirations for the use of social software are identified as: modeling of the use of social software by someone else, and having a real need to use one or more of the social software tools. The context needs to be relevant and authentic.

It is generally concluded that ‘VET practitioners have begun to test the applicability of social software in their teaching practice in a broad range of ways. At this stage the indications are that it is still early days and they are very much ‘trail-blazing’. (p.39).

That:

1. Social software is valuable.
2. The successful use of social software relies on a spirit of openness.
3. The ‘Net Gen’ is a significant client group of the future.
4. Like email, social software may well become ‘ubiquitous’! (p.58)

Evans, V., & Larri, L. (2007). Networks, connections and community: Learning with social software: Australian Flexible Learning Framework.