1. Social Media Tools
1.1. Facebook
1.1.1. Benefits: Facebook can be utilized by trainers to promote collaboration, improve relationships between employers, share resources, have engaging discussions and incorporate videos, chatting, and private messaging as learning tools. An instructor, leader, or trainer could create closed groups in which people could only participate if invited. Polls can be created in order to generate statistics on a particular topic. Trainees or employees could subscribe to group updates via RSS feeds for current information and instant notifications. There are numerous Facebook tools that can be used to enhance learning.
1.1.2. Description: Facebook Facebook is a social networking website that is absolutely free and allows users to create social and professional profiles and pages in which they can share and upload photos and videos, send messages, keep in contact with people, local and long distance. FaceBook is available in 37 different languages and includes a feature called marketplace-allows people to respond, read, and post to classified ads. It also includes features such as groups, events, pages, and presence technology which allow members to see who is online.
1.1.3. Limitations: Facebook could be a distraction. It could be a waste of time if it is not incorporated in to a class plan. It limits face to face communication.
1.1.4. Example of organizational use for social learning: Companies can set up facebook groups in order to invite specific people to different types of training in order for them to receive up to date important information that is vital to the company's success.
1.2. YouTube
1.2.1. Description:Founded in 2005, YouTube is one of the most popular video sites on the Web today. Millions of videos have been uploaded and shared here, ranging from movie trailers to amateur videos of cats. Anyone with an Internet connection can share content on YouTube, whether they be organizations with large budgets or an individual with a video camera.
1.2.2. Benefits: The main advantage of YouTube over other video sites is the fact that it is very simple to use. You only need to click a button and then start to watch your favorite video. YouTube has also created the capability of skipping ahead to a certain video part that you would really like to watch, making it even more convenient. YouTube is used by many people internationally and thus it offers users the opportunity for their videos to be viewed by millions of people. Broadcasting yourself or sending a message to the world only requires the creation of a video and then uploading it to YouTube for viewing by masses of YouTube enthusiasts.
1.2.3. Limitations: Must Have Original Content YouTube Partners’ content MUST be original or have the explicit permission of the person who did create the content to include it in your video and monetize it. Partners must own the copyrights and distribution rights for all audio and video content that you upload to YouTube with no exceptions. Rule Restriction Red Tape YouTube has a vast amount of rules that need to be adhered to so that your partnership can maintain a good standing. The amount of rules restricts some aspects of what you can do in terms of optimization and design on your page. Some examples include: a.) Partners may not direct user attention to the ads via arrows or other graphical gimmicks. b.) Partners may not place misleading images alongside individual ads.
1.2.4. Example of organizational use for social learning: There are a few benefits to add YouTube to social learning in the culture of a company. Video sharing is the biggest benefit. This can be used for employee recognition and corporate communication.
1.3. Mindmeister
1.3.1. Description: Mind maps can store and structure vast amounts of information. They display hierarchy, show relationships between single topics and enable you to see the “big picture” at a glance. These features also make mind maps an ideal tool to present complex information to others.
1.3.2. Benefits: Mind mapping enables you to learn faster, take better notes and brainstorm more effectively. No matter if you’re writing a scientific paper, studying for an exam or working on a group project - mind mapping will help you save tremendous amounts of time
1.3.3. Limitations: : They have a three limit map unless purchased.
1.3.4. Example of organizational use for social learning: A benefit of using Mindmeister in an organization would be that it is easily modified. It is easy to add and delete data with it still looking professional.
1.4. Slideshare
1.4.1. Description: Slide share is a web 2.0 slide hosting service. Files can be uploaded publicly or privately in several different formats. A few of the formats that files can be uploaded in are powerpoint, pdf and Keynote. The website is similar to youtube, but youtube is for videos and slide share is for slides. It was originally for businesses, but it has grown, and now, people share slides for entertainment.
1.4.2. Benefits: In 2010 a feature called zipcast was added which is web conferencing system that allows presenters to broadcast an audio/video feed while driving the presentation through the Internet. Users are also able to chat during presentations through a chat function of zipcast.
1.4.3. Limitations: Additionally, presenters using Zipcasts are not able to control the flow of a presentation allowing viewers to navigate back and forth through the slides themselves.
1.4.4. Example of organizational use for social learning: Slide share can be used by companies to present step by step information, and the presentation is going on employers can chat and ask questions.
2. Overview: Social learning theory (Albert Bandura) posits that learning is a cognitive process that takes place in a social context and can occur purely through observation or direct instruction, even in the absence of motor reproduction or direct reinforcement. (Bandura, A 1977) Bandura thought that people think about relationships and consequences. Observational learning could not occur unless cognitive processes were at work. Observational Learning: The Social Learning Theory says that people can learn by watching other people perform the behavior. Observational learning explains the nature of children to learn behaviors by watching the behavior of the people around them, and eventually, imitating them. With the "Bobo Doll" experiment(s), Bandura included an adult who is tasked to act aggressively toward a Bobo Doll while the children observe him. Later, Bandura let the children play inside a room with the Bobo Doll. He affirmed that these children imitated the aggressive behavior toward the doll, which they had observed earlier. (Bandura, A 1977) 1. After his studies, Bandura was able to determine 3 basic models of observational learning, which include: 1. A Live Model, which includes a person performing a behavior. 2. A Verbal Instruction Model, which involves telling details of a behavior. 3. A Symbolic Model, which includes either a real or fictional character demonstrating the behavior via movies, books, television, radio, online media and other media sources. Reference: Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory, Engelwood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall
3. How is accountability handled via social learning as with usage or policy considerations? By analyzing relationships among ethical, social and political issues. Identify the main moral dimensions, evaluate the impact and assess the information.
4. Addressing Business Issues and Strengthening Relationships through Social Learning
4.1. What are the indicators of success when assessing the effectiveness of social learning: Employers will began to use what they are learning online in the workplace. Discussions will be engaging and learning questions will be raised from the discussions. Company leaders and employers will re-iterate what has been learned and change practices to be even more inclusive.
4.2. How does social learning affect an organization’s goals and objectives? Through iterative social learning, institutions and governance system can be pushed to change and to do things differently, become more transparent, open, participatory and listen to its stakeholders. The goal is for organisations and institutions to know where social learning approaches can improve a project process and help achieve set outcomes, and where social learning is not the way to go.
4.3. How does resource allocation affect the overall effectiveness of social learning within an organization? Resource allocation is beneficial because it allows for strategy execution. Strategic measures enable resources to be allocated according to priorities.
4.4. How does the social learning environment foster richer relationships among staff with diverse skill sets? It does this with clear direction, clear responsibilities, knowledgeable members, reasonable operating procedures, interpersonal relationships, sharing success and failures. usage or policy considerations?
4.5. How does the social learning environment establish employees’ perception of power or hierarchy? PERFORMANCE = ABILITY x MOTIVATION x OPPORTUNITY
5. Social Learning
5.1. What are some barriers to effective social learning? How might these be overcome?
5.1.1. Social and Cultural barriers, group learners by learning styles
5.1.2. Practical and personal barriers, provide outside resources
5.1.3. Emotional barriers, be available to offer support and options
5.1.4. Workplace Barriers, be more flexible classroom design
5.2. What ethical dilemmas might be encountered within the social learning environment? How will ethical conflicts be resolved?
5.2.1. Confidentiality, create privcay policies
5.2.2. Plagerism, offer instructional workshops
5.2.3. Lack of participation, evaluating students based particaption
5.2.4. Bullying, have strict policies for it
5.3. Given the nature of today’s organization, what role does social learning play in ensuring effective workforce training?
5.3.1. Structure
5.3.2. Interaction
5.3.3. Experiences
5.3.4. Motivation
5.4. What level of importance is assigned to social learning? How might you help promote its importance within an organization?
5.4.1. Positive
5.4.2. Successful
5.4.3. Effective
6. Problem Solving through Social Learnig
6.1. How does social learning affect an employee’s perception of a problem?
6.1.1. Plays a key role in developing and implementing social media policies
6.1.2. positive effect on an organization’s goals and objectives
6.2. What role does social learning play in addressing business problems?
6.2.1. critical assets for most organizations and companies
6.3. How are problem-solving processes similar and different when addressed via social learning versus formal training?
6.3.1. lessons that can be learned from the implementation