• www.open.ac.uk/sociallearn• A learning hub and a companion piece• Harnesses the power of the web and social

networks• Puts learners in control of

• what they learn• how they learn• with whom they learn

From Industrial Era educational institutions...

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...to Post-Industrial Era educational institutions...

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Linking the silos

A student’s engagement with the OU: different interests, levels, and intensities of study as they orchestrate their learning around their lives

Beyond On/Off relationships with learners

Level of study

Time

Between courses

Alumni

Pre-studyand

Enquirers

Beyond On/Off relationships with learners

Free/Open resources (OpenLearn / BBC / iTunesU / YouTube) +

Open Social learning space (SocialLearn)

Between courses

Alumni

Pre-studyand

Enquirers

7

open and interoperable

SocialLearn: key featuresactivity-based,

user-configured apps

Look + feel of social media platform

learning-centric user profile

•Live on the Internet•Social tools support progression from informal to formal learning•Path tool makes it easy to collate and sequence learning experiences and resources•SL Backpack allows learners to take SocialLearn with them wherever they go on the web•Gadgets draw on the power of applications developed by different projects and companies

– current status

Key areas of interest for users Supporting flexible work-based learning Building and maintaining learning networks Bringing resources together Promoting access Providing training and support for staff Learning/working together Complementing, not replacing, existing tools Demonstrating leadership in e-learning

Demonstrating SocialLearn

Some next steps...

• New communities

• Mobile interaction and apps

• Mentoring support

• ‘Walled gardens’ for national/international academic research projects

• Developer programme / open source release

• Learning analytics & Recommenders research