Applying Social Network Analysis and Social Capital in Personal Learning Environments of Informal Learning

2012 ◽  
pp. 75-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojun Chen ◽  
Jea H. Choi ◽  
Ji Hyun Yu
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Informal Learning ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Personal Network ◽  
Personal Learning ◽  
Personal Learning Environments ◽  
Collaboration Dynamics

Recently, researchers in the instructional technology and learning sciences arenas have started to pay attention to the concept of Personal Learning Environments (PLE). With the aim to investigate how social network theory could indicate the desired indicators for successful Personal Learning Environments, the authors are addressing social capital theory as a conceptual framework to understand the network landscape within informal learning environments. Social capital is an inherent property of network and collaboration dynamics, along with key indicators related to personal network measurements. Personal network analysis as a means to evaluate the social capital is discussed later in this chapter. This chapter is not about learning what or learning as becoming, but about how people learn with whom, and with what degree of influence. It will be helpful to educators or researchers who are interested in measuring academic and psychosocial outcomes within the presence of social capital when applying personal social network analysis in personal learning networks.

Understanding Knowledge Networks Through Social Network Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronel Davel ◽  
Adeline S. A. Du Toit ◽  
Martie M Mearns
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Knowledge Networks ◽  
Informal Networks ◽  
Process Map ◽  
Knowledge Maps

Social network analysis (SNA) is being increasingly deployed as an instrument to plot knowledge and expertise as well as to confirm the character of connections in informal networks within organisations. This study investigated how the integration of networking into KM can produce significant advantages for organisations. The aim of the research was to examine how the interactions between SNA, Communities of Practice (CoPs) and knowledge maps could potentially influence knowledge networks. The researchers endeavour to illustrate via this question that cultivating synergies between SNA, CoPs and knowledge maps will enable organisations to produce stronger knowledge networks and ultimately increase their social capital. This article intends to present a process map that can be useful when an organisation wants to positively increase its social capital by examining influencing interactions between SNA, CoPs and knowledge maps, thereby enhancing the manner in which they share and create knowledge.

scholarly journals Podcasts for Nonformal Learning: Using Social Media for Creating Personal Learning Environments, Personal Learning Networks

2020 ◽  
Vol 88 ◽  
pp. 46-65
Author(s):  
Marija Stonkienė ◽  
Erika Janiūnienė
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Informal Learning ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Media Content ◽  
Learning Networks ◽  
Personal Learning Networks ◽  
Personal Learning ◽  
Personal Learning Environments ◽  
Collaborative Interaction ◽  
The Creation

The use of second-generation web technology (WEB2) in education is emphasising the role of social media as educational sources. Researchers that are analysing personal learning environments (Schaffert, Kalz, 2009; Dabbagh, Kitsantas, 2012), personal learning networks (Couros, 2010) suggest the importance of social media, although this emphasis is attributed to the collaborative interaction of learners. To comprehensively assess the potential of podcasts as social media in the creation of personal learning environments, personal learning networks, the research described in this article does not restrict the definition of podcasts as the potential of collaboration provided by social media. In this article, attention is directed towards the potential of podcasts in the creation of personal learning environment and personal learning networks. By using integrated information behaviour module analysis to determine if the students of Lithuanian higher education institutions value the potential of informal learning provided by podcasts. To determine if these technologies are used for the formation of personal learning environments, personal learning networks, a discussion group research was conducted. During the research the analysis of participant podcast usage showed there is interaction between media content used for recreation and media content used for formal and informal learning. This means that the participants of the research use podcasts to create personal learning environments. On the other hand, this interaction is minimal, created only by the learners and reasoned by the search of educational podcasts. The analysis of the experiences of the discussion participants revealed that the collaborative interaction between learners involved in the research in searching, sharing and using podcasts in the process of learning is not intensive, it is typically fragmented. This allows to point out that the communities that use podcasts for informal learning are not forming. This shows that the potential of podcasts in creating a learning network is not fulfilled, and that podcasts don’t inspire participatory learning.

scholarly journals Using Social Network Analysis and Social Capital to Identify User Roles on Polarized Political Conversations on Twitter

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 205630511984874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Recuero ◽  
Gabriela Zago ◽  
Felipe Soares
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Opinion Leaders ◽  
Information Flows ◽  
Network Metrics ◽  
Network Analysis Metrics

In this article, we discuss the roles users play in political conversations on Twitter. Our case study is based on data collected in three dates during the former Brazilian president Lula’s corruption trial. We used a combination of social network analysis metrics and social capital to identify the users’ roles during polarized discussions that took place in each of the dates analyzed. Our research identified four roles, each associated with different aspects of social capital and social network metrics: activists, news clippers, opinion leaders, and information influencers. These roles are particularly useful to understand how users’ actions on political conversations may influence the structure of information flows.

scholarly journals Demystifying Members’ Social Capital and Networks within an Agritourism Association: A Social Network Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-58
Author(s):  
Jing Li ◽  
Carla Barbieri
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Business Networks ◽  
Professional Advice ◽  
Exchange Of Information ◽  
Study Results

Membership associations are vital to build social capital and networks among their members through the exchange of information and resources, roles especially valuable for emerging entrepreneurs. That is the case of associations catering to professionals in agritourism, an enterprise bringing farming and tourism together. However, whether the exchange of information and resources among members holds true within agritourism associations is yet to be known. Filling this knowledge gap is critical given the stated benefits agritourism delivers to society and farmers’ necessity to expand their business networks to increase entrepreneurial success. Therefore, this study evaluated the extent of social capital and networks within a prominent agritourism-focused association in North America. Data were collected from members using a web-based survey in 2016. Analyses included descriptive statistical tests and Social Network Analysis (SNA). Results showed high levels of social capital among members, especially related to its relational dimension (e.g., share professional advice), as well as strong bi-directional (to/from) trust, cooperation, and reciprocity among members. SNA indicated members were well connected and had a healthy information exchange, without the organization intervention. Study results are discussed to provide managerial intelligence towards strengthening social capital and networks within associations catering to agritourism and other niche-tourism professionals.

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