Facebook+for+elearning

=Welcome to Your GRREC Wiki!=

11/07/2010 - Interesting Tweet I came across.
===Facebook for e-Learning===

Facebook objective is "//to help you connect and share with the people in your life//". At the same time, Facebook is one of the fastest growing social networks that helps people communicate efficiently with their friends, families, coworkers, and classmates. Some of them are your learners and they know how to use Facebook effectively! Using Facebook for e-Learning could inspire many of our students to learn. As a result, my question is //**how can we use Facebook for e-Learning?**//  For an e-Learning course I would prefer a Facebook group instead of a Facebook page. Groups could be closed (customize group settings) and they can be used for courses and projects. On a class group page you can add links, videos, discussion threads, photos, create events and send group messages. On the other hand, pages are opened and they are used more for promotion and branding.
 * 50% of [|Facebook's] active users log on to Facebook in any given day.
 * [|Average user] is connected to 80 community pages, groups and events.

This were my first thoughts for using Facebook for e-Learning. However, I was not that convinced about using Facebook for e-Learning. //**Facebok was not created to be used as a learning environment**// and for sure I wanted more learning features! As a result, I begun a research concerning Educational Application to achieve a better learning outcome.

The list with Facebook Edu-Apps that it follows is not in particular order. I have separated the Edu-Apps based on the three types of interaction.

I highly encourage you to leave a commend if you know any other Facebook Educational Application.


 * (1.) Interactions between Learner and Content**



[|SlideShare] You can create and share presentation on Facebook. At the same time you can add documents, PDFs, add MP3 audio to make webinars!



[|Flashcards] You can create flashcards to help you study on Facebook.



[|NewsRack] A fully featured RSS reader that can be used as a standalone client with Google Readers. You can share information relevant to your course with your learners.

[|Mathematical Formulas] You can distribute mathematical formulas and solutions to your learners. Learners can see the formulas even if they did not add the application.



[|Events Calendar] You can create, edit and maintain a monthly calendar on your profile and share it with your learners.



[|Zoho Online Office] You can have all your office files such as documents, spreadsheets, presentations online and share them with your learners.



[|WorldCat] You can do research, catalog your library's collection and of course share it with your learners.



[|UdutuLearn] Lets you views courses that you have been given access to and shows your progress.



[|Files] You can access your files from anywhere and share important work files with your learners. Files is powered by Box.net.


 * 2****) Interactions between Learner and Instructor**



[|SurveyGizmo] You can create surveys, polls and quizzes and send them to your classmates on Facebook.



[|Webinaria Screencast Recorder] You can create screencast tutorials or record video presentation for sharing with your learners.



[|UdutuTeach] This application allows you to import courses from myUdutu (authoring tool). You can manage which learners can take your course and track the learners' progress.

[|Quiz Monster] Create your own quiz Facebook application!



[|Skype Me] Your learners could see when you are online (Virtual Office Hours) and talk or chat with you for free!


 * 3) Interactions between Learner and Learners**



[|Books iRead] Share the books that you are reading with your classmattes. See what they think!



[|BookTag] This application let you create arbitrary book lists, label them and share them with your classmattes.



[|StudyGroups] Quickly and easily collaborate with your classmattes and plan out homework for your courses.



[|Koofers] Share your old tests, quizzes, and study guides with other students.



[|PeerPong] Discover everyone's expertise and connects you with the best person to answer any question.



[|Neat Chat] Learners can chat on Facebook groups and pages. They can share files, send private message and do much more through a fast and intuitive interface. Also, group administrators can ban users from their chat rooms!

After reviewing all these applications I came to the conclusion that //**Facebook could be used in the learning process.**// In my opinion, we can not create an e-Learning course in Facebook but we can use Facebook as a tool that will enhance/support an e-Learning course.