Student engagement with digital learning resources and online social networking are strong forces in education today. How can these resources best be utilized by educators and course designers in higher education? This book aims to provide the reader with enough background information to appreciate the value of social networking, especially for distributed education. Through highlighting the most relevant, interesting, and challenging aspects of e-learning the book provides practical advice for using social networking tools in course design. This volume covers the following issues of course design using social networking:

• key issues of social networking as an educational technique
• designing for a distributed environment
• strengths and weaknesses of delivering content in various formats: text, audio and video
• specific media: blogging, wikis, podcasting, webcasting
• constraints on course design
• implementation, evaluation, induction and training

Illustrated by short descriptive case studies, it also highlights contact addresses, websites, and further reading to help readers find resources and enhance their design. This practical guide will help all those involved in the design and delivery of online learning in higher education make the best choices when preparing courses for distributed learning.

Robin Mason is Professor of Educational Technology at the Open University where she is a specialist in the design and practice of online teaching and learning.

Frank Rennie is Professor of Sustainable Rural Development at the UHI Millennium Institute in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

Please visit the authors' wiki at: www.socialnetworking.wetpaint.com

About the Author
The Open University, UK The University of Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute, UK

Reviews

''It was refreshing to come across a book that focussed on cutting edge education.... This book has been well considered and has been set out in such a way as to be used either as a foundation in social technology and e learning or as a working tool"
- CPD Update

''It was refreshing to come across a book that focussed on cutting edge education.... This book has been well considered and has been set out in such a way as to be used either as a foundation in social technology and e learning or as a working tool"
- CPD Update

" This is a carefully crafted book that lucidly fulfills its major stated goal of reviewing the key issues of social networking as an educational technique" - The HEA Physical Sciences Centre 'Reviews'

"To me the book serves it purpose as a great resource for those involved in the social construction of knowledge.... It deserves to be consulted by course designers at any stage of planning, producing, offering and evaluating the courses in a distributed learning environment" - BJET

Book Information
ISBN 9780415426077
Author Frank Rennie
Format Paperback
Page Count 204
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 400g