Goals, Motivation for, and Outcomes of Personal Learning through Networks: Results of a Tweetstorm

Rory Sie, Nino Pataraia, Eleni Boursinou, Kamakshi Rajagopal, Anoush Margaryan, Isobel Falconer, Marlies Bitter-Rijpkema, Allison Littlejohn, Peter Sloep

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    Abstract

    Recent developments in the use of social media for learning have posed serious challenges for learners. The information overload that these online social tools create has changed the way learners learn and from whom they learn. An investigation of learners' goals, motivations and expected outcomes when using a personal learning network is essential since there have been few empirical studies in the domain. Previous research focused on the factors that influence learning in virtual environments, but these studies were mainly conducted in an era in which online social media were not yet used for personal learning networks. The current paper reports findings of a study that examined factors impacting professional learning through networks. A personal learning network identification session and a brainstorm via Twitter (Tweetstorm) regarding goals, motivational factors and outcomes of learning through networks were conducted. The article concludes that seven factors play a pivotal role in professional learning through networks: sharing, motivation, perceived value of the network, feedback, personal learning, trust and support, peer characteristics and peer value. Also, different perspectives, motivation, social media and collaboration, reciprocity, intrinsic motivation, innovation, status and reputation and networking strategies play an important role in motivation. Future work should focus on investigating the interplay between factors that influence networked learning identified in this article.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)59-75
    Number of pages17
    JournalEducational Technology & Society
    Volume16
    Issue number3
    Publication statusPublished - Jul 2013

    Keywords

    • social media
    • professional learning networks
    • Twitter
    • brainstorm
    • learning goals
    • motivation
    • Social Networks
    • Computer Mediated Communication
    • Influences
    • Learning Objectives
    • Feedback (Response)
    • Trust (Psychology)
    • Peer Relationship
    • Innovation
    • Cooperation
    • Status
    • Reputation
    • Sharing Behavior
    • Multivariate Analysis
    • Professional Development

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