The Role of Social Networks in Students' Learning Experiences
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The role of social networks in students’ learning experiences Ilaria Liccardi Asma Ounnas Reena Pau School of Electronics and School of Electronics and School of Electronics and Computer Science Computer Science Computer Science B32 University Road B32 University Road B32 University Road University of Southampton University of Southampton University of Southampton Hampshire, UK SO171BJ Hampshire, UK SO171BJ Hampshire, UK SO171BJ [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Elizabeth Massey Païvi Kinnunen Sarah Lewthwaite Faculty of Technology Department of Computer Learning Science Research Brayford Pool Science and Engineering Institute University of Lincoln Helsinki University of School of Education Lincolnshire, UK LN6 7TS Technology University of Nottingham [email protected] Helsinki, 02015, Finland Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK [email protected].fi [email protected] Marie-Anne Midy Chandan Sarkar School of EECS School of EECS Oregon State University Oregon State University 1147 Kelley Engr. Ctr 1147 Kelley Engr. Ctr Corvallis, OR 97330, USA Corvallis, OR 97330, USA [email protected] [email protected] Abstract for collaboration. Social interaction within an online frame- The aim of this research is to investigate the role of social work can help university students share experiences and col- networks in computer science education. The Internet shows laborate on relevant topics. As such, social networks can act great potential for enhancing collaboration between people as a pedagogical agent, for example, with problem-based and the role of social software has become increasingly rele- learning. vant in recent years. This research focuses on analyzing the role that social networks play in students’ learning experi- This paper is a literature review of social networks in educa- ences. The construction of students’ social networks, the tion including both technical and social aspects of computer- evolution of these networks, and their effects on the stu- supported collaborative learning. The aim of this review is dents’ learning experience in a university environment are to highlight the complexity of the field of social learning examined. and to bring forward some central aspects that need more investigation. This paper is a snapshot of an ongoing larger Categories and Subject Descriptors study. Based on this literature review, we will later gather K.3.2 [Computer and Education]: Computer and Infor- empirical data to further uncover how social networks are mation Science Education - Computer science education formed and what makes them work efficiently. As various possibilities for web-based education are inves- General Terms tigated, researchers and universities are trying to provide Human Factors, Theory effective web-based courses to students within the univer- sity, and as a mode of delivery for distance learners. Keywords Social network, computer science education, student experi- This paper focuses on pedagogy from a student perspective, ence, higher education, learning process concentrating on the computer science culture. Initially, the paper gives an overview of existing social software appli- 1. INTRODUCTION cations falling under the “Web 2.0” category, and discusses Identifying the right people to effectively resolve a prob- the potential for employing these applications in education. lem or collaborate with others is a challenging task. There Particular attention will then be given to the perception of are clear advantages to getting this right, as it may involve social networks and their current influence on the computer people with varying levels of expertise working together col- science students’ learning experience. The paper also dis- lectively to resolve problems. A vast array of systems exist cusses the gap between the fast developing social software which employ users’ stored profile data, identifying matches and its use for education. Because the paper is an effort by 1 PhD students, educators can benefit from realizing the im- whereas a weak tie is a relationship between two people con- portance and influence of social networks on the students’ nected through another person (two levels of separation). academic lives, and their learning experience in particular, from a student perspective. 2.2 Algorithms To understand the impact social networks have on the learn- Forming connections is a natural human process. Current ing experience, it is worth a bit of discussion on how so- research outlines the algorithms that model the resulting cial networks are formed, how universities group students, networks. Examples of these algorithms are investigated in and how students go about grouping themselves. Issues graph theory [38] and have highlighted the social values and such as diversity and perceived value of social networks to evolution of trust that occurs among the members of the students are also considered in this context. Examples of network. how the study of social networks can assist educators with their teaching - such as detecting plagiarism, forming groups Constructing networks: The way in which people meet for collaborative learning, enhancing distance learning, and and form social networks in everyday life has caught the building strong communities of experts - are given in differ- attention of many computer science researchers. The fact ent sections of the paper. that we relate to and depend on our social network for such things as friendship, support, special interests and knowl- Considerable resources have been dedicated to establishing edge sharing has inspired algorithm developers to analyze effective methods for locating people suitable for working these facets in a more abstract way. In [35] the authors de- groups. In higher education, universities frequently group scribe the Neighboring Matchmaker methodology thus: two students together to improve student performance. Some individuals who do not know each other are introduced by success has been attained in the use of web-based courses a mediator who is a friend of both and who can facilitate using shared spaces and annotation of web-pages, and adap- the creating of a new relationship. A similar method of cre- tive desktops for accessing their evolving contents. Weblogs, ating or enlarging a network follows the Friend of a Friend wikis, logs and online documentation are also gaining popu- concept, where the associations are inferred through mutual larity and pedagogic credence as part of the learning process, friends. However, with methods such as Friend of a Friend, as is the evolution of associated collaborative communities. trust and privacy issues become questionable due to the de- batable measurement and inference of trust. Since social Section 2 introduces the concept of social networks, present- networks can serve as a rich resource of new knowledge and ing the ways in which networks can be formed, along with as a filter for identifying the information most relevant to other types of group in which people can be aggregated. our specific needs, a second naturally occurring networking Section 3 describes current theories about how people learn. method is Word of Mouth [37]. Here individuals obtain re- In section 4, the social aspects of collaborative learning are views, share knowledge and expertise, find experience and examined. Section 5 analyses the different social networks ask for advice or assistance from the neighboring individuals present in education, how they are formed, the influence of in their social network. universities and diversity of this formation, their effect on the learning experience and communication within a social Searching networks: On searching for specific criteria network. Section 6 gives an overview of computer-supported within a social network, Zhang and Ackerman [101] stud- social network applications. Finally, Section 7 discusses the ied the social characteristics of various searching algorithms conclusions of this review. that can be useful in finding individual features such as ex- pertise, in order to understand the tradeoffs involved in the 2. SOCIAL NETWORKS design of social network-based searching engines. The use The study of social networks has received significant inter- of searching algorithms to navigate social networks can be est from researchers in various domains such as psychology, highly beneficial in looking for a special individual and then philosophy, education, and lately computer science - par- identifying the people connected to her. ticularly in the field of artificial intelligence. This section defines what we mean by social networks, the way in which Network dynamics: People have been forming themselves these networks form and evolve in our daily lives, and their into groups without the gratuitous nature of the internet or relations to other types of group. social software. Online communities are not new. So what is new about the interaction of people within online social networks? According to [53], what may be different is un- 2.1 Definition of Social Network derstanding the role social networks play in forming com- Social networks are a social structure of nodes that represent munities. Wellman views the difference between networks individuals (or organizations) and the relationships between and groups: “Although people view the world in terms of them within a certain domain. Therefore, social networks groups they function in networks. In networked societies, are usually built based on the strength of relationships and boundaries are permeable, interactions