Recently, there is a lot of literature on designing social media for learning. Not clear, however, is if and to what degree these designs are founded on validated and operational learning theories. In short, can we bridge learning theories and social media technologies?
Quite a relevant question Joost. I'm interested to see what others are able to rely regarding learning theories. I would be curious to see what research is coming out of AERA and Journal of Online Learning and Teaching.
Leaders in the CALL field advocate "task-based learning." To me, that matches up very well with Constructivism.
See: Kennedy, C. & Levy, M. (2009). Sustainability and computer-assisted language learning: factors for success in a context of change. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 22(5), 445-463. doi: 10.1080/09588220903345218
To me it seems that the most important thing for any type of learning, aside from variety of stimuli and context, is the language we use. Does it promote a Growth Mindset, i.e. an incremental attitude toward intelligence? If so, then whatever content is to be learned is secondary.
The Social Learning Theory as proposed by Albert Bandura is one possibility and is the subject of the following article-
http://web.iaincirebon.ac.id/ebook/indrya/bandura/v25v22n2.pdf
try
Seeing the unseen learner: designing and using social media to recognize children's science dispositions in action
Ahn, June ; Clegg, Tamara ; Yip, Jason ; Bonsignore, Elizabeth ; Pauw, Daniel ; Gubbels, Michael ; Lewittes, Charley ; Rhodes, Emily
Learning, Media and Technology, 2014, pp.1-31
and
Social media tools and platforms in learning environments
Bebo White 1945-; Irwin King 1961-; Philip Tsang
2011 Springer
I find Actor Network Theory, also known as ANT to be an excellent heuristic for both how social media works, and also ways to present learning about social media and science. See for example 'Atmospheres of Democracy' which was a major exhibition in Karlsruhe, but also a rather amazing book from a pedagogical perspective.
2005, English, Book, Illustrated edition:
Making things public : atmospheres of democracy / edited by Bruno Latour and Peter Weibel.
Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Press ; [Karlsruhe, Germany] : ZKM/ Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, c2005.
See here for the online version: http://www.bruno-latour.fr/node/333
The work of George Siemens might be helpful, for instance "Connectivism, a learning theory for the digital age" (2004) and "Knowing knowledge" (2006).
Here at UFG we are having a wonderful experience with a course coordinated by Professor Cleomar Rocha. The course is offered by the MediaLab of UFG and is called Innovation on Interactive Media. It does have a heavy focus on the use of social media.
It is based on the PBL method (problem-based learning) and it uses a theory that the professor himself is developing: The "H Concept", a theory that sees all the internet environments as a learning ecosystem. If you like, I can arrange a contact between you and him. I'm sure that it would provide a very rich discussion for both sides.
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