EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON BUILDING AND USING PERSONAL LEARNING NETWORKS

The fast growing information society has increased the importance of and the focus on lifelong learning, and new pedagogical structures are emerging. The attention to personal learning networks (PLN) as part of the ongoing learning process have increased, and the widespread adoption of social media has introduced new and efficient ways of utilizing PLNs. This paper discusses personal learning networks and the different ways social media may be used to advantage in the lifelong learning process, complementing and enhancing traditional networking methods and classical information gathering and learning processes. The authors have, for several semesters, taught two courses where use of social media has been mandatory for students as part of the course exercises. Based on a survey among present and former students, a study is done on how their personal learning networks are structured, and how their personal learning networks are built, maintained and used. A similar survey have been done among students without mandatory use of social media in class, and results are compared. Results from this study are presented in the paper. Differences between the outcome of the two surveys are discussed. Different ways of using their personal learning networks while in school and afterwards in business are also commented.