Using facebook to support informal and social enquiry-based learning

the use of facebook to support enquiry-based learning

Jolanda Morkel (morkelj@cput.ac.za @Jolanda_Morkel) HELTASA conference Stellenbosch 28 – 30 November 2012

To understand how the use of facebook might enhance the learning conversation by expanding the face to face studio beyond the physical environment.

digital

physical

learning conversationsselfREFLECTION

peer to peerCOLLABORATION

student-tutor APPRENTICESHIP

face to face conversation relies on using gestures/ drawing/ speech

project-based studio learning

Learning is the relationships between people Smith 2003

Students learn through various interactions mediated through drawing, speech and gestures, in a process known as the critique or crit (Lymer 2010). Knowledge is constructed, based on a range of conversations (Pask 1976 in Laurillard 2008, Laurillard 2009, 2012), dialogues (Osborne et al 2007) or arguments (Hasirici & Demirkan 2007) with themselves, their peers and educators.

self [internal]reflection

(facebook) enhances students’ engagement in learning activities of an academic and social nature on-and off-campus, by blurring the boundaries between students’ academic and social livesIvala and Gachago (2010).

peer to peer [horizontal] collaborationAnd has it [facebook] also helped in your interaction with fellow students?

STUDENT D2: Yes it has. No, yes definitely. It definitely has. STUDENT G1: “I think a large part of it (is) ... interactivity... you can upload a project or like post an idea and then people in our class could in this like electronic environment give feedback on it. “STUDENT A2: For me it feels like we are still in a class and we are interacting, ja.STUDENT B2: It’s just a digital way. Digital classroom.

student-tutor [vertical] apprenticeshipDo you feel it [facebook] enhances the interactions with your Lecturer?

STUDENTS: Yes.STUDENT G: Definitely.STUDENT C2: Yeah quick feedback that’s what I like, that’s where it comes in.STUDENT A2: It’s just like an open discussion, they are open to...STUDENT C2: It’s like they [the lecturers] stand with us. STUDENT C2: And I think this is actually like making us gain confidence in our work, because actually you know where you are heading to and what is required from you.

synchronous group critique using facebook: 90 min/ 190 utterances

asynchronous social engagement using facebook