Technology Forum Presentation Social Networking

1. Technology Forum PresentationSocial Networking Barbara Tuppeny INSYS 597C.301 Dr. Prestera

2. Social Networking - Overview What is it?/How does it work? When is it used? When should it be used/not used? What instructional strategies could it support? What does it look like in action? Provide examples, samples. What are the strengths, weaknesses, limitations? What are the costs associated with it?

3. Social NetworkingWhat is it?/How does it work? Social Networking is the process of a group of people with similar interests or a common goal interacting through communication media such as newsletters, telephones, email, or instant messaging, as opposed to meeting and sharing ideas in person. . Social Networking is usually conducted through some type of Internet communications whether it be e-mail, blogs, or sites such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, or Twitter. The group of people who participate in Social Networking create or form what is known as a Virtual Community, E-community, or On-Line Community.

4. Social NetworkingWhat is it?/How does it work? Social Networking starts with a person networking and building a database of contacts. Then the person reaches out to other people to have them join his/her network and ask to be connected to their network. This creates a network, like a web of contacts for all of those connected. The number of contacts proliferates exponentially with a compounding effect.

5. Social NetworkingWhat is it?/How does it work?

6. Social NetworkingWhat is it?/How does it work? • Employers are using Social Networking: • 1. As a learning tool for new employees to interact with veteran successful employees. • 2. As a venue for experts within the company to share their knowledge with others via blogs. • Social Networking works well when: • A person (owner/executive) who oversees, supports, and finances the program • There is an effective community manager who conducts planning, and organization tasks; acts as the single point of contact for the community (example: discussion topics, format, forum structure).

7. Social NetworkingWhen is it used? When should it not be used? Social Networking is an optimal medium to conduct discussion sessions when there are many participants in a group who are at multiple geographical locations and the ability to meet face-to-face for discussion is not possible. It is good to use when people need to have the ability to communicate 24/7 and could access the communication website anytime, anywhere. Social networking should not be used if there is sensitive or confidential information which must be discussed or communicated due to security issues (or lack thereof) in the virtual world, even if privacy standards have been set within the network at the highest level, security could be breached. .

8. Social NetworkingWhen is it used? When should it not be used? I am most familiar from a personal standpoint with Facebook, or MySpace just from my 15 year old daughter who uses it for social purposes. From an instructional design perspective this tool could be used to enhance the learning experience allowing people in a class to “get to know each other” perhaps prior to an instructor led classroom training session. This could be very effective and natural with younger generations who communicate this way on a daily basis. .

9. Social NetworkingWhat instructional strategies could it support? Various instructional Strategies could be supported by using Social Networking in conjunction with training. Icebreaker – People get to know each other through on-line chat. Blended Learning Curriculum – Enhance the classroom experience, or self-taught /independent study experience through topic discussions in chat rooms. Build Community of Practice - Set up various chat rooms for the segmented groups in a company (Examples: Rookies/Intermediate/Senior Level/Managers/AVPs). Each group can communicate within its own realm to discuss topics and share successes, challenges, and brainstorm solutions to challenges. Or cross communities (Rookies chat with mentors who are Seniors.).

10. Social NetworkingWhat instructional strategies could it support? Bookend Instructional Strategy could be supported through using Social Networking for training purposes by beginning and ending the curriculum with Chat sessions.

11. Social NetworkingWhat instructional strategies could it support? Twitter suggests that trainers can use on-line communities to: • Connect with experts. • Discover new information. • Research new ideas. • Connect with trainees. • Keep the discussion going. • Get feedback. • Facilitate collaborative learning. • Monitor the learning process.

12. Social NetworkingWhat instructional strategies could it support? Twitter suggests that trainers can use on-line communities to: Facilitate collaborative learning. By connecting with you, trainees will also be able to connect with each other on Twitter and learn together. Attendees can send direct messages to find out if other classmates are experiencing the same hardships and share advice with one another on how to work through it. Monitor the learning process. As trainees put what they learned in the classroom into action, they’ll probably have some questions for you along the way. Students can tweet and re-tweet about new things they learned, difficulties implementing new techniques, personal tips and new resources they found that help facilitation.

13. Social NetworkingWhat does it look like in action? (Provide Examples/ Samples) Several examples include: Using email to chat about a subject by always replying “ALL”. Chat Rooms where groups of people can type in their opinions and views and a discussion thread could be built. Sample: Virtual Water Cooler – Each day (week/session) the instructor could post a topic for discussion. We used something similar in INSYS 441. Examples of vendors include HiveLive and Lithium, however both of these companies cater to building customer communities as opposed to internal training communities. Twitter is the free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users’ updates (or tweets), which are text messages of a maximum of 140 characters.

14. Social Networking What are the strengths, weaknesses, and limitations?

15. Social Networking - Strengths Cost effective way to communicate training information and real-time feedback. Effective way to share expert opinions throughout a company from SMEs via blogs or blasts to the members of a learning virtual community. Many people in multiple locations can participate at a low cost. Communications can be kept open 24/7 Online Communities are easy to start. Technologies are widely available. Instructors can use Social networking as a resource tool to reach out to SMEs as a resource for training.

16. Social Networking - Weaknesses Many Baby Boomers and generations close to them are not as comfortable with the internet and “chat rooms”. Some participants (learners) and instructors express themselves better in person. Policing the possibility of inappropriate information being on Company chat and dealing with any HR issues surrounding this issue.

17. Social Networking - Limitations Not everyone is “tech-savvy”. Not everyone has a computer or handheld device. Not everyone is comfortable typing into a computer their information and thoughts and feel that they can express themselves better in person. People might not be comfortable with the idea that the administrator can see what everyone has written and who wrote what; and therefore, not participate as much.

18. Social Networking What are the costs associated with it? Relatively low in cost. Companies (Corporations) usually, already have email and it is just as easy to conduct a chat via email as it is to “chat” on-line. Most people have computers and if they do not own a computer, they can go to the library to access one where it is free. People can also access information via telephones (texting, webmail). The cost would be affiliated with phone bills or cable lines, which, for the most part, are being paid for already for other purposes. Costs are less for on-line chat to discuss a matter than flying or driving to a location for face-to-face training or discussion. If a program is developed via a vendor, then the employer/trainer would incur that cost.

19. Social Networking - Summary Social Networking starts with one person and proliferates into an on-line virtual community through which people can share ideas,make connections, ask for advice. This group usually has a common thread or goal. It takes the right combination of technology and best practices to make Social Networking successful. Low cost way to communicate information and share ideas. Easy to start-up. As younger generations enter the work force, more people will be more familiar with the idea of Social Networking. Can reach many people at multiple locations 24/7.