PhD research project as presented in NORSLIS 2011, 17 November 2011 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

1. Studying the Influence (or Mutual Shaping) of
Social Networks in a Learning Experience
By Juan D. Machin M.
Vilnius, 17 November 2011
This research was supported by European Social Fund’s
Doctoral Studies and InternationalisationProgrammeDoRa

2. SOCIAL
networks/media networking tools/SN
Web 2.0 sites or applications that allow:
 Publication or posting of user generated content
 Interactions between users
Shift of power in processes of production, edition, publication and
communication of information… and consequences that might happen!
Prosumer (Toffler, 1980) / Produser (Bruns, 2008)

3. Literacies
General term to define the varying degree to which an individual possesses or
has mastered competencies or skills for handling [an object?] information in
different media or format
…new literacies, information, digital, media, numerical, scientific, musical...
All these and other sorts of literacies have in common is that they define the
ability to handle a certain kind (or form) of information.
Literacies
Information Literacies Digital Literacies

4. Extremely Brief Theoretical Considerations
 Online social networks are mainly based on “real world” society and institutions,
some methods and theories for their analysis are similar. (Marchionini, 2009)
 Human relationships in cyberspace "...are actually being assimilated into everyday
life. Furthermore, they are often moved into other social settings, just as they are in
offline life.” (Carter, 2005)
 Role of social interaction in the development of cognition (Vygotsky, 1978)
 Learners should be "cognitively active" during learning and that instructors use
"guided practice.” (Mayer, 2004)
In summary: constructivist learning, learning as social phenomenon, literacies, IFLA’s
core information competencies, Freire, Fals-Borda, Whitehead &McNiff, McIntyre,
Herr & Anderson, Habermas vs. Positivism…and many others…

5. Research Questions
a) What are the most important issues of SN within a learning environment?
b) What is the influence (or mutual shaping) of SN in a learning experience?
c) What are the challenges and opportunities of using SN in higher education?
d) How do students experience learning when they are engaged in a learning
experience that uses SN? Can they help achieve real learning outcomes?
e) How does students’ literacies affect the successfulness of such a learning
experience?

6. Sample / Context
 International Master in Digital Library Learning (DILL) students for
convenience, language, diversity, LIS professionals
 Tallinn Semester: IKM & HRM Courses, learning SN as complement
 Pilot Study (2011), Final Study (2012)

7. Method: Participatory Action Research (PAR)
 Self and collective reflection on the subject of study
 Researcher is part of and makes interventions on research
 Cyclical process
exploration
knowledge construction
Action
 Design of activities and learning interventions

8. Collection of Data
 Diagnostic micro-survey
 Observation X Include/Register students’ input
 Online forum X Provide other dialog spaces
 Class discussions
 Students’ reports
 Survey
 Interview

9. Timeline of the Pilot

10. Assignment
 Group work, intended to complement the courses
 Using SN, create a framework for the communication of the HR in
your digital library as well as towards your customers
 Role Playing
 Write reflection on issues, challenges and what they did

11. Data Analysis
 Content analysis
 Results in the function of:
a) identification of issues (showed & emerging) of SN within a learning
environment;
b) challenges and opportunities of using SN in education related to the
students' literacies;
c) usefulness of the activities;
d) learning.

12. Notes for the final study
 Take into account pilot study for self reflection (mutual shape)
 Better, cohesive study plan
 More extensive, integrated use of the tools
 Redefinition of ethical and privacy concerns
 Redesign of the activities/learning interventions to improve
 reception of the research
 enhance participation (self, students, students into research)
 measuring the role of literacies

13. Redefining the experiment
1 Introduction
Methods / Privacy concerns / Literacies / SN
2 Access 3 Use 4 Evaluation
user practices issues of SN
[students’ input] SN in organizations
[students’ input] SN inlibraries
information needs tool
location / selection Evaluation of SN
integrationcontent initiatives
accessibility issues curationcreation of
[students’ comments] [students’ input]
SN sites [assignment revisit]
[class assignment] [students’ comm]
[students’ comm]
5 Wrap up
Survey / Interviews

14. Thank you!!
machin@tlu.ee
judamasmas@gmail.com
@judamasmas
www.facebook.com/judamasmas
http://judamasmas.tumblr.com
www.judamasmas.com
Via: http://blaugh.com/2008/03/12/addicted-to-twitter/