Open Social Learning Network

Abstract

This paper considers the affordances of social networking theories and tools to build new and effective e-learning practices. We argue that “connectivism” (social networking applied to learning and knowledge contexts) can lead to a reconceptualization of learning in which formal and non-formal learning can be integrated as to build a potentially lifelong learning activities to be experienced in “personal learning environments”. In order to provide a guide in the design, development and improvement both of personal learning environments and in the related learning activities we provide a knowledge flow model called Open Social Learning Network (OSLN) —a hybrid of the LMS and the personal learning environment (PLE)—is proposed as an alternative learning technology environment with the potential to leverage the affordances of the Web to improve learning dramatically and  highlighting the stages of learning and the related enabling conditions. The derived model is applied in a possible scenario of formal learning in order to show how the learning process can be designed according to the presented theory. Keywords: Open Social Learning Network OSLN, Learning Theory, Connectivism, Networked Learnin, Collaboration Technologies, Collaborative Learning and Relationship Classification.