Some Tools for Social Learning and How they Help Learning
Here is a table with some tools for social learning, short description of the tool, the best use for social learning for the tool and some examples.
| Web 2.0 Tool | Definition of the tool | Best Use of Tool | Examples
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| Wiki | A wiki is a self-organizing knowledge web site. A wiki is a discussion. Wiki software allows users to create, edit and link web pages easily. Wiki software is often used to create collaborative websites. The term “wiki” is from a Hawaiian word that means “fast” or “to hasten.” It is so named because of the speed in which wiki software allows someone to update the web site. | Collaborative sharing and commenting on information. A group can all edit the same document. Material is time stamped and stamped with user ID. Older versions are archived. Good for group authored ebooks or collaborative projects. | Wikipedia |
| Blog | The term comes from “web log” which is shortened to “blog.” It is a series of written entries including thoughts, links and pictures or videos. A blog will allow others to comment on the blog entries but not alter the original entry in any way. It is analogous to a monologue—a person speaks and others listen. They can then comment on the monologue but not change its contents. | Communication of ideas, thoughts and concepts. Frequently asked questions. Clarification/definitions of terms, tips and techniques, posting list of valuable resources, listing of internal experts, insights from experienced individuals and list of dos and don’ts within the organization. | Blogs |
| Short Text Messaging | Text message that are short bursts sent from a cell phone or a computer directly to another cell phone or computer. Instant messaging is the ability to write a quick message to another person and enter into a dialogue in real-time via only text-based messages. Text-based messaging systems allow for quickly communicating with someone in a synchronous environment. | Quickly asking a question. Links to resources, peer-to-peer learning. Online mentoring. Broadcasting thoughts | Twitter
Yammer |
| Social Bookmarking | The ability of someone within an Intranet or Internet to mark or tag a blog entry, a link or an article within the network as important or interesting to them. What makes it social is that, with the right permissions, individuals on the network can view all of the tagged articles and blog entries and see which were tagged the most. | Creating a public list of valuable resources based on URL locations. | Delicious |
| Unlimited Text Messaging | A method of sending messages or posting messages in a central location to be viewed and replied to by others over time. Typically the responses are not in real time but are time delayed. | Carrying on a conversation over time in a non-synchronous manner without limits to text size. Good for getting information from a multitude of experts on a topic in a conversational format. | ChatRoll |
| Social Network | This is a collection of easily updated web pages for each member in an organization. The members maintain profiles describing themselves and what they are currently doing, interact with each other using network tools and create links with other members of the social network. These sites can help organizations share knowledge by helping employees find others with similar interested, view what other employees are working on and to collaboratively work on projects by having a central place for communications. | Sharing information, interests and areas of focus. Good for making connections with individuals who have similar interests. Connecting disparate pieces of information together across silos of organizations. | Facebook
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| Document Sharing and Document Management | Creation of a document that can be edited, modified and changed by multiple individuals. Instead of a document resting on an individual’s desktop, it remains accessible by everyone. | Working collaboratively to create, edit and comment on a written document or report. | Google Docs |
| Slide sharing software. | Posting and sharing of slides created for presentations, so contain audio to accompany the slides but often the slides are independent and can be downloaded and modified. | Sharing slides created for one class with other instructors. | SlideShare |
| Podcasting | A podcast is audio-based and is a collection of digital media files distributed over the Internet or intranet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and personal computers.. | Used to provide information from experts, tips and techniques, and other valuable audio-delivered information. | Apple University |
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