About the project

Social Software is increasingly being used, especially by students of higher education. In formal learning scenarios, use of social software faces several barriers. The potential of social software is seen mainly in the area of informal learning, but it is still unclear how this potential can be realised and what universities can do to foster informal learning with social software.

The project „Learner Communities of Practice“ takes the current discussion of social software, communities of practice, and personal learning environments as its starting point and studies their relevance for informal and collective learning of students at the universities in Saxony (Hochschulverbund Bildungsportal Sachsen). The aim is to elaborate and implement strategies and tools to support students‘ informal learning practices with the help of social software.

The following steps have been taken / will be taken in the project:

• Comparison and integration of theoretical approaches towards social software
• Empirical review of social software usage for informal learning at universities
• Development of scenarios and prototypes for universities to support informal learning
• Development of a marketing strategy
• Preparation of training programme

Expected results of the project:

• Strategy paper, based on empirical review, with recommendations for Saxon universities
• Training programme and materials to guide students‘ use of social software for informal learning
• Marketing strategy for adoption and longterm implementation of strategies at the universities involved in the project
• Prototype tools to support students‘ use of social software for informal learning

Project details:

Duration: 7/2009 – 12/2011
Funding: Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst (SMWK)
Project Management: Prof. Dr. Thomas Köhler, TU Dresden, Media Center
Partners: TU Chemnitz, Institut für Medienkommunikation; HS Zittau-Görlitz, Communication Psychology; Uni Leipzig, E-Learning-Service; HfT Leipzig, Institut für Duales Studium; BPS Bildungsportal Sachsen GmbH

Contact:

Dr. Nina Kahnwald
TU Dresden, Medienzentrum, Standort Weberplatz
D-01062 Dresden
+49 351 463 33950
nina.kahnwald@tu-dresden.de

Dr. Steffen Albrecht
TU Dresden, Medienzentrum, Standort Weberplatz
D-01062 Dresden
+49 351 463 32996
steffen_albrecht@mailbox.tu-dresden.de