More Is Merrier

"Learning has a social context... bridge an important divide between 'how' to use and 'why' they are vital to education."

-Laura Brooks

Social learning by design: the role of social media

by Brooks, Laura

May-June 2009

Knowledge Quest

It was said that learning must be fun. What can be more fun for the students of today than to learn on their mode of communication - social networking. In our traditional context this is known as social learning but the context of social learning have changed through the emergence of social 'technologies.' How much of this upgrade can impact us, the librarian? As librarian media specialist we work with these kind of clientele (students/ researchers) everyday and by understanding how this can affect the learning system gives us a one foot forward in giving the best services. If you are a librarian learning how the social 'context' can affect your library this article is a good jump start

Learnings

Constant change. We know the adage that 'change is the only thing permanent in this world.' Perhaps it is true especially when we talk about social learning in the emergence of social technology. As Neilman Postman said, "... a new technology does not merely ass something, it changes everything."

Bridgemakers. Most of the students might have better understand on how to use the advance techonological gadgets compared to the much older generation but the question is do they know how to use it properly? As the research conducted, student know how to operate technicalities of the physical gadget but fails to create a higher cognitive level conversation and just falls into superficial chatting-style interaction. As librarians, we are the bridgemakers to this divide.

Team up. You expect your students or researchers to understand the 'social learning' and yet you the librarians, refuse to do the same? How can you teach what you do not know then? That is why it is important to collaborate. Team up with the faculties especially if you are working in educational institution.

Maybe Brooks was right when she said that, "As library media specialists work... they take for granted their pedagogical roots in social learning theory." We must remember that students need modeling and observation to learn from one another. Remember your basic psychology in college. We are taught that one of the modes of acquiring knowledge children uses is observation, s/he needs to observe the environment s/he belongs. We as librarians must understand that this act is not merely petty observations but vital information gathering that is a key activity for sharing knowledge. With this, we are expected to make available space in this kind of learning -  a place where the students can reach their full potential in choosing appropriate tools for sharing. I'm starting to be pretty involve in this by always bringing the current issue to my colleagues in my workplace. We are now have adding this concern in our strategic planning to improve and be of more valuable to our clients.

Brooks, L. (2009). Social learning by design: the role of social media. Knowledge Quest. 37(5). 58-60. Retreived from: http://web.ebscohost.com