Project Based Learning with Social Media Tools

A project based learning curriculum is a way to more fully integrate knowledge and ideas from all members of a cohort, class, or team. With the trend toward student-led discovery as a curriculum model, the project based learning process is becoming more prevalent. The problem of how to incorporate PBL into the coursework of an online educational environment has been addressed with the rising availability of software, websites, and applications that have been created with collaboration of sometimes far-flung team members in mind.

The process itself seems simple. Project Based Learning is an activity or group of activities whereby students can develop ideas, identify a usable procedure, contribute individual experiences and knowledge, and create together a final project to share with others their process and findings (Tyson, 2013), Certainly this methodology has been used for as long as educations has been formalized, but in the twenty-first century, the accessibility of the internet and availability of user friendly tools have streamlined the process, and made it much more possible in the virtual learning environment.

A few tools that are accessible, user friendly, and effective for the Project Based Learning model are Google Apps, Prezi, and Moodle (Sabo, 2105). Moodle allows students to create groups, and offers a monitoring option for instructors to track progress and input. An in program messaging system keeps communication flowing and on track and can be used solely for classwork, keeping a student from becoming sidetracked or distracted while working.  Prezi is used in many online courses and others on distance learning platforms, as an alternative to Microsoft Powerpoint. The dynamic nature of Prezi presentations can be more engaging than those created in Powerpoint, and because it is a web-based platform, looks the same on all computers. Students can form a group, log into a single prezi from anywhere and add input to create a group project.

Google Apps are effective, user friendly, and able to be edited in real time. The use of a google doc allows input and editing from all users with access at the same time, allowing for an open exchange of information, and immediate interaction. Google Hangoutscan be used on phones or computers to hold group meetings, and is useful for face-to-face discussions among members. Messages and edits can also be saved for all members to review at a later time, allowing for interaction between members in different time zones to be less complicated.

A combination of the above applications and programs supports interactive project based learning in the twenty-first century, as ‘classroom’ can now mean a host of things other than a typical classroom environment!

other than a room in one place where everyone must go at the same time.

other than a room in one place where everyone must go at the same time.

other than a room in one place where everyone must go at the same time.

 

Social Learning – A Memorandum Template

TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

FROM: Director of Training and Development

DATE: November 2, 2017

SUBJECT: Scheduled Social Learning Training Launch

Training Plan: For the upcoming training launch, a variety of social learning platforms will be utilized. Management has determined through careful research that all staff would benefit from a training program modeled in a social learning environment. Until now, training sessions have taken place in a more regimented, formal environment.  These formal training sessions have taken time and planning, and lowered productivity during the course of the training, as focus was (rightfully) shifted away from production and onto training. Human resources has determined that a slightly different, but still related, concept will accomplish our training goals more efficiently, with fewer work hours lost to training and more productive time put in by employees. This training plan will allow for employees to continue their work day while simultaneously sharing knowledge and growing as a company. The concept is social learning, a training idea that most employees are already using, without addressing the training as such. Social learning is a more collaborative, relaxed method of sharing information, allowing employees to seek out new ideas and concepts through more varied channels, perhaps by looking over the partition to the co-worker in the next cubicle, or maybe even through a video chat with a counterpart in a branch office on the other side of the country.

Think of formal learning as riding in a carpool with another person driving. The driver makes all choices as to speed and direction and even destination. But with an informal or social learning program the individual sets the pace, controlling the speed with which he or she takes in new information, and the direction in which the learning progresses (Cross, 2007).

Participation in a training program such as the one that will launch in the coming weeks benefits all employees as well as the company as a whole. Positive attributes of the social learning platform include a psychological basis for learning that has been supported through extensive research and study, a reliable and continuous learning platform with which most employees are already comfortable, and the general positivity that stems from learning from and teaching peers through social interactions that have been occurring naturally already in the workplace. The autonomous nature of this learning plan is one of its most positive attributes. You can all learn in your comfort zone, from your own sources, and largely at your own pace.

Benefits: Social learning is of great benefit to employees as well as the company as a whole. Building necessary professional networks to gain ground in the race to the top of our profession is of vital importance, and it has been shown time and again that “social learning enhances corporate culture and fosters workplace collaboration.” (What Is Social Learning, and Why Is It Important for L&D?, 2017).

Employees who train in a social learning paradigm are employees who are building their own networking system, whereby those employees might rise more swiftly through the ranks and increase their own profile in the company. Social learning increases workplace camaraderie and participation, as well as product knowledge through social interactions that have been, are, and will continue to be happening in the office and around the world.

Tools: Among the tools utilized for the training program are Google Collaboration, Yammer, and Elgg. Certainly the use of private groups on Facebook and company wide email collaboration will continue, but with the enhancement of training programs through these different platforms, more full collaboration can be put into effect. Google Collaboration is a fast, simple collaborative tool whereby several people can create, view, and edit a document both synchronously and asynchronously, from wherever they may be. Yammer is a customizable, private social network in the vein of facebook, but both more secure and more tailored to the needs of the company. Finally, Elgg is a simple framework upon which the company might build, not only as an internal collaborative tool, but to increase our brand recognition through secure internal communications (Pappas, 2017).

Next Steps: All employees will be issued login information for the new platforms (Elgg, Google Collaborations, Yammer). It is expected that employees will either ensure that their personal social media accounts are business-appropriate, or create secondary, professional profiles for use during this and any upcoming trainings. Supporting our staff through a collaborative learning environment like the ones outlined above is a strong objective for the company, and in this way we will increase productivity, channel talents and knowledge in the right direction to support goal achievement, and provide the employee base with all the tools needed for a successful future. Building a strong company and training our employees for the next steps the company takes in the business world is priority one for this company, and we look forward to learning socially with all of you.

References

Cross, J. (2007). Informal Learning: Rediscovering the Natural Pathways That Inspire Innovation and Performance (Pfeiffer essential resources for training and HR professionals). Pfeiffer.

Edwin, H. (2014). 4 Important Reasons To Encourage Social Learning – eLearning Industry.eLearning Industry. Retrieved 1 November 2017, from https://elearningindustry.com/4-important-reasons-encourage-social-learning

Pappas, C. (2017). Social Learning Tools Every Online Educator Should Know About – eLearning Industry. eLearning Industry. Retrieved 3 November 2017, from https://elearningindustry.com/social-learning-tools-every-online-educator-should-know-about