"Is social networking moving pedagogical barriers ? Using electronic communication for putting social learning objects into action."

http://www.colloquelehavre2010.org/The authors used social networks in French University courses (2007-2010) to explore and evaluate the relative advantages and challenges for higher education. A collaborative learning environment and an online community of practice were established and 2nd-year Masters' level students were invited to use them to discuss pedagogical issues related to eLearning practice, via a private eLearning Exchange Network (eLEN), using the social networking tool Ning (http://www.ning.com). The aim of the three-year experiment was to place students at the core of the learning process and enable them to experience and reflect upon collaborative online learning while engaged in specific practical projects. This paper describes the latest case study (2009-2010), and discusses issues related to the practical implementation of “social learning objects” (Weller, 2008) within electronically mediated pedagogical environments