Social E-Learning Tools

Abstract

The growth of technology and the inclusion of “digital natives” as students in the education world have created a demand pull for the use of Social learning technologies in education. Dominant among these tools have been wikis, blogs and discussion boards. Distance education experts view the use of these tools as key differentiators when compared to traditional education methods. However, the research in this area has yet to provide clear guidelines on usage. In this chapter, the aim is to provide a theory-driven model to outline the application and impact of these technologies in education. The focus is on the education tasks and technologies' characteristics to evaluate the underlying fit. The chapter outlines the extant research to substantiate our model and provide practitioner guidelines.