Seeking an Encompassing Term for the Benefits of Using Social Media

I'm looking for the term, or a term, that explains to someone who just doesn't get exactly what using social media can provide to a person or a group of people.

As Clive Shepherd mentioned earlier today on his posting "Social learning is not the same as social media," social learning has been around as long as there have been humans.  The introduction of social media has only provided yet another means to learn together.  Social media also provides us with the ability "to collaborate on tasks, to promote goods and services, to entertain each other, to exchange information and so on." - Clive Shepherd.

So if social learning doesn't cover it all what term does? Perhaps "Social Media Experiencing"?

Top 10 Tweets from #lrnchat - July 7, 2011

Let's face it; I can never pick just ten.

These entries have won the coveted "Top 10 Tweets" award based on originality, costume and choreography.

Photo by opensourceway.com
Created by Colleen Simon for opensource.com
CC: BY-SA

Early Session
Q0) Introductions
@Robin_Bridson: Do you play one on TV? RT @JaneBozarth: Note: I am NOT a social media expert. #lrnchat

@aaronesilvers: #lrnchat oh, btw, I’m Aaron Silvers. I like to rock the party


Q1) Social media has changed how people learn forever. What else has it changed forever?

@trinarimmer: Q1) Great quote I saw the other day, “I love my computer because that’s where all my friends live.” That sums it up for me. #lrnchat


@edCetraTraining: Q1) introduction of Acronyms… birth of a new language. English? Grammar? Syntax?? #lrnchat


@ddogaudium: Q1) It has forever changed the power balance between those who hold information and those to whom it is disseminated #lrnchat


Q2) How do you learn differently now, because of social media, than you did before social media? 


@StephanieDaul: Q2) I feel like I have more control over my learning – I decide what, where and when I learn #lrnchat


@LnDDave: Q1) My ability to know almost anything at any time. I carry the world in my pocket now. #lrnchat


@ChelleRobertson: My learning is in continuous beta version, meaning its ALWAYS improving and never static. #lrnchat


Q3) What are some ways you learn through social media that aren’t collaborative, with other people per-se?


@AndreaMay1: Q3) The conversation is “recorded” with SoMe. I can go back and explore on my time line rather than anyone else’s #lrnchat


@NolanHabegger: Q3) Quiet observation (“lurking”) and watching others collaborate – sometimes you learn more by NOT asking questions #lrnchat


@ChristyATucker: Q3) I do a fair amount of lurking (ie “legitimate peripheral participation”) #lrnchat


Q4) How are social media and social learning different? Is it important to explain the difference to people? 


@espnguyen: Q4) Social Media = the tools. Social Learning = Leveraging the tools to do the learning. #lrnchat


@Tracy_Parish: Q4)Watch kids do something & then follow 1 another doing same thing. Social learning-no media involved, just mud. #lrnchat


@kelly_smith01: Q4) Social learning does not have a schedule, appear in a catalog, or have a lesson plan. It happens. Anytime anywhere. #lrnchat

eLearning Should be a Walk in the Park - or a story about my lunch hour.

Imagine you're taking a walk down a path in a park.  It's hot and sunny, but there is a nice breeze blowing.  You're alone just enjoying the day.  As you walk the path you notice in front of you that is is turning to the left, but you can't see what is around the corner.  You continue on wondering what you will find if you keep going.

As you round the bend you can see that there is a stream running along the path.  You look down and see a Mamma duck and her 3 teenage girls.  You think to yourself:

• I've never seen ducks this old still with their mom
• how old are they?
• when will they leave?
• why haven't I seen this before?

You walk further wondering if you will see the same snapping turtle you saw a few weeks ago.  Sure enough he is out of the water on the bank.  You wonder:

• how old is he?
• how long will he stay out?
• how big is he?
• will my picture be able to convey how big he is?

Continuing along you pass people walking dogs, playing with kids, out running enjoying the weather and you think to yourself....

• Why can't elearning be like this?
• Why aren't courses more self exploratory?
• Why can't I discover my own answers?
• Why can't I come up with my own questions about the material?
• Why can't it be this fun?

Matter of perception must be considered.  What is a giant flower to you may be only 1 cm big to me, but it's still a flower.  Fun elearning to you might not be to me, but it may still be required for us each to learn.

How do you try to appeal to the many that might have to take the course you are required to create?

How do you make it more about discovering?  How do you let the learner make their own decisions?  Would it not make sense that if they can do these simple things they would have greater interest in the material.

Let them explore.  Give them a path to follow, but they them wonder what else is out there.  Let them wander off the path and explore on there own.

Make it fun.

For a great collection of resources that can be used to explore on your own and come up with ways to let your learners explore; take a look at what's come out from the Backchannel of #mLearnCon.

A big thank you to David Kelly (@LnDDave) for his tireless dedication to collecting the resources for all in his blog "Misadventures in Learning".

Interesting Tweets from #mLearnCon 2011- Day 2

Here's a recap of some interesting and useful tweets from mLearnCon today.

• learningplan: @judyb @J_Haag Here's the ADL Mobile Learning (mLearning) Guide in iTunes - http://t.co/DYCDrOu #mlearning #mlearncon
• UpsideLearning: What Is Mobile Learning? http://t.co/z9N6Sba #mLearning#mLearnCon
• @upsidelearning: 22 Books For Beginner #Instructional #Designershttp://t.co/PQyCzab #eLearning #mLearnCon
• MegSecatore: Phil Cowcill: Net generation does not see the technology. No real big "wow" to them. #mlearncon
• lidapink: So far it's, "Think outside the course." RT @KristinTho: @lidapink what has been ur biggest takeaway from #mlearncon?
• @UpsideLearning: Learning in the Future – Exploring Five Themes http://t.co/FzJvQrJ #eLearning #mLearnCon
• nickfloro: @kennethpiner @janhavipadture All major mobile platforms iOS, Android, HP, even blackberry support HTML5 in browsers. #mlearncon
• epictalk: Did you know... there are more mobile devices in the UK than people (as revealed by researcher at #mLearnCon).
• kennethpiner: @JanhaviPadture says HTML5 won't be recommended til 2012 but emerging and 10 years likely for full adoption #mlearncon
• @StephanieDaul: To be a good designer you need to be a learner #mLearnCon
• UpsideLearning: Design component is the most important part of a game#MLearnCon
• @J_Haag: Native apps vs. Web apps is not a debate. It’s a engineering + design decision and should be based on a solid set of requirements#mlearncon
• smartinx: Good enterprise learning design (mobile and other) requires planning and strategy. Seat of the pants=recipe for disaster. #mLearnCon
• @eLearningGuild: How To Make The Right Call With Mobile Learning by Timothy Hildreth : Learning Solutions Magazine http://bit.ly/lVbDDW(expand) #mlearncon
• lidapink: #mlearncon - http://tinyurl.com/689yuzp (expand) The best visual that I've seen to frame mobile learning with device, learner, and social.
• @ArtisanELrng: Using Lectora to Create iPad-Compatible Content – Results of Our Testing http://bit.ly/lIXIxL (expand) #lectora #ipad #mlearncon
• AbhijeetValke: Mobile Learning: A Quick SWOT Analysis http://t.co/xVvV9k3#mlearning #Mobile #Learning #Solutions #mLearnCon
• AbhijeetValke: The Advent Of #Mobile #Learning Technology http://t.co/VYY8aVPCheck out this SlideShare Presentation #mLearnCon
• @J_Haag: The web is also an app platform! W3C has standards that addresses developing mobile web apps. Monitor this: http://t.co/5uBFn0Q#mlearncon
• eLearningGuild: For the many iPad users/attendees at #mLearnCon: Apps in Education: 50 really useful iPad 2 tips and tricks http://bit.ly/m1mrEL (expand)
• briandusablon: The Learning Layer book on learning analytics. Check it out.#mlearncon
• TrishFinfer: Getting conflicting opinions at #mLearnCon - Design for 1 or 2 specific devices or design for the lowest comm denom to run on as many poss?
• @rodgammon: 6 types mobile edugames: Knowledge based, Skills based, cognitive fitness, Role-playing, Language learning, Location #mLearnCon507
• eLearningGuild: How To Make The Right Call With Mobile Learning by Timothy Hildreth : Learning Solutions Magazine http://bit.ly/lVbDDW (expand) #mlearncon
• renshine: #mlearncon Never forget that rolling out mlearning or mperformance support is not just about the technology, never forget the people
• aishadtaylor: #mlearncon Rockwell says: play testing of games is crucial.@gamesczar @hybridkris
• StephanieDaul: Keep the rules simple so everyone feels like the can play@hybridKris #MLearnCon
• randah: Mobile learning has entered the "value creation" phase of its PLC. Market already demands adv features - #mlearncon - Ambient Insights
• Fernway18: #mlearncon learning is part copying. See one, do one, teach one like in med school

And a few amusing tweets that made me smile.

• CoreyBleich: My head is buzzing with great ideas like a bee hive of grey matter.#mlearncon
• UpsideLearning: Learners are always two clicks away from Angry Birds. Standard for what " engaging" learning needs to be.#mLearnCon
• tamarasal: #mlearncon I can spell SCORM...
• xrivatsan: Gonna kick our #mLearnCon masterclass "One App to Rule Them All" in high gear now! Catch us there!
• robertloakes: If there are no training objectives, can you call it #mlearning?#mlearncon

Interesting Tweets from mLearnCon 2011- Day 1

If you can't be at mLearnCon 2011 then the next best thing is to follow the twitter stream that is coming out from the participants.  Here's a bit of a condensed list of some of the great tweets that were shared yesterday (day 1).

• Quinnovator: "HTML5 is the new black" @visualrinse #mlearncon (dinner convo)
• cammybean: Airline pilots switch to ipads http://t.co/qnvHmpP #mlearncon
• neillasher: Highlights in Moshpit today 4: Teeny Tiny Games on your mobile device with @gamesczar, the lady behind the game of cards #mlearncon
• @Quinnovator: Latest Learnlet: Jeremiah Owyang#mLearnCon keynote mind map: http://blog.learnlets.com/?p=212
•  @MegSecatore: Mobile doesn't fragment our classrooms; it makes learning ubiquitous. #mlearncon @jowyang #mlearning
• @MegSecatore: What mobile adds to social learning: Sharing and context. #mlearncon @quinnovator
•  @philharriman_ek: A big theme at #mlearncon 2011 -- mlearning is no longer just around the corner, it is here.
•  criticallearner: For L+D, if your standard course of design is to design a course, you are probably off course (of course) #lrnchat #idideas #mlearncon
• @bjschone: "If you aren't solving a problem, how do you know mLearning is the answer? Identify a problem first." @LanceDublin #mlearncon
•  @judyb: New mobile version ADL Mlearning Guide available free -http://adlmobile.wikispaces.com/Guide #mlearncon
•  @aaronesilvers: #mlearncon Game of Phones challenges with@hybridkris and @gamesczar @ mLearnCon http://t.co/YfR9O2o” > Looks like fun! 
• @learningplan: A User-Centered Approach To Web Design For Mobile Devices (via @smashingmag) http://t.co/aQX2ZyX #mlearning #mlearncon
• @smartinx: Make your QR codes interesting. http://t.co/26hnlj8 #mLearnCon
•  @StephanieDaul: Lowest common denominator development does not enage higher users #MLearnCon
• @StephanieDaul: Developers need to be consumers of mobile learning so they understand the experience #MLearnCon  #mobmin
•  @epictalk: Wow! QR codes have been used in Japan since 1994 says Lentz at #mLearnCon  #MLearnCon
•  ImmersiveLearn: Omnigraffle is another great mobile prototyping tool #mLearnCon
• ImmersiveLearn: Keynote is a perfect iPad app prototyping tool to represent fidelity and functionality. #mLearnCon
• @J_Haag: jQuery Mobile Beta 1 Released today!http://tinyurl.com/jQMbeta (expand) #mlearning #mlearncon
•  @lidapink: Mobile devices are experts in a bottle. #mLearnCon
•  StephanieDaul: Corporate learner learn so they can do their job better and be better comp, not because they want to learn #MLearnCon
• StephanieDaul: Mobile learning is about the learner having the device with them at all times #MLearnCon
• @rankinw just referenced @constances WoW learning engagement study from 2009. Learning happens when creators contribute. #gls7#mLearnCon
• kellaprice: Uh-oh. What's the fix? RT @jclarey Japan 10 yrs ahead of US on how mobile is used #mlearncon
• kellaprice: Time spent on #facebook may surprise u! RT @billbrandon Mobile app use passes Web access http://t.co/dFBOdGU #mlearncon
•  SteveEngineer: Create your own augmented reality applications - Wikitude.me#mlearncon
•  @nickfloro: Creating Polls for Mobile or Desktops with PollEverywhere.com using Web, Twitter or Text Responses #mlearnconhttp://post.ly/2Fwsu
• @Vanderlisa: Great resource! Adlmobile.wikispaces.com#mLearnCon @judyb #mlearning
• @MegSecatore: A primer for mobile learning? Here's an app for that from Float Mobile. http://bit.ly/jD4yYU (expand) #mlearncon
• @StephanieDaul: It's not about rapid development it's about rapid reuse. #MLearnCon
• @lidapink: Think outside the course. #mLearnCon @judyb
• @StephanieDaul: Not only have mobile devices change how we do things but also what we expect #MLearnCon
• @Quinnovator trio of recommendations for social media books.#mlearncon http://t.co/5XzVyEK
• ·         @jowyang: Slides: How to Develop a Learning Strategy for Mobile and Social (Keynote) http://t.co/3KUs22P #mlearncon
•  @aYSC_SEHC: #mlearncon people look at their mobile devices every 12 minutes on avg.
•  @aYSC_SEHC: M-learning doesn't eliminate e-learning but is part of an overall learning strategy #mlearncon
• @StephanieDaul: Think about the cost of an iPad in turns of the cost of printing materials #MLearnCon
•  @MegSecatore: What is the value added of SM? You are no longer just the answers you have in your head. You can pull from your network as well.#mlearncon
•  @arossett: #mlearncon lovely metaphor. Use mobile for shish kabob not steak. Add informative peppers and onion too.
• @Quinnovator #mlearncon Value to exposing ideas publically allows for thinking, processing, response, repeat
•  @StephanieDaul: Think about how the physical layout of the classroom to create a social environment #MLearnCon
•  @MegSecatore: User -generated content is Findable, Editable, Tagable, Feedbable .. and one more...#mlearncon via @bschlenker
• @robertloakes: At the Moshpit, Neil Lasher says that native apps are on their way out. The OS will become the new "app". #mlearncon
• MegSecatore: Web 3.0: System-generated content. Think Amazon
• @aaronesilvers: Talking tablets in the mLearn Future Zone#mlearncon http://lockerz.com/s/112834297recommends.@quinnovator #mlearncon
• @nickfloro: Great mobile templates for iPad and iPhone to wireframe your designs, apps and ideas via @teehanlax #mlearncon http://post.ly/2Fx65
• @KornerstoneGuy: My questions: iPad a consumptive device & not a creative device? 80% of my students chose laptop v tabllet for their 1:1 device#mlearncon
•  aishadtaylor: #mlearncon apparently there's a qrcode that will make the phone call a number. Qrstuff.com
• turkofages: #mlearncon HTML 5 seems to be on the forefront to pushing content to multiple device platforms simultaneously.
• @billcush #mlearning anyone? CHART OF THE DAY: People Are Spending More Time In Mobile Apps Than On The Web http://ow.ly/5mZPM
• turkofages: #mLearnCon "Going to bed at night is awkward with a laptop...but not with your mobile device" ...expanding learning timeframe.
• jimpfarrell: the 70 20 10 rule as defined by Eric Shepherd http://bit.ly/jOen03/#mlearncon
•  @lidapink: How is your audience using their phones (mobilegraphics)? Use this info as you develop mlearning. @jowyang #mLearnCon

A few amusing tweets that came out yesterday.

•  StephanieDaul: @briandusablon @moehlert would I use my mouse to hit that next button or can I just hit it with my hand #MLearnCon
• moehlert: @stephaniedaul #mlearncon (only half-joking) Is that really hard to believe when we still have to decide where to put Next button?
•  @Fernway18: #mlearncon I just got #rickrolled and it was great! Thanks #writetechnology
• ryanaller: I just got my hands on another drink ticket!! Get 2 drinks for 10 jumping jacks in front of Future Zone. COUNT THEM OUT LOUD! #mLearnCon
•  @smartinx: Sense of irony that Wiley has a 180-page book on the style an etiquette of 140-char tweets #mLearnCon
• TrishFinfer: Looks like 'low hanging fruit' is a catchphrase at #mLearnCon - have heard it used in each of my sessions today.
• @CanadianPacMan: Love the new term for mobile: leverage Disruptive technology #mlearncon
• LisaShannon: Content is King...Even More So on Mobile. Love this session title!#mlearncon
•  mlearncon: Next person to stop by @eLearningGuild booth #106 & say "I want to create visual stories that Resonate" gets the book for free #mlearncon