What are the rules?
When does a social media platform become a learning community?
I have talked a lot about how I have been learning through social media platforms like Reddit. This week's readings left me questioning when we make the distinction that a platform becomes more than just a place to consume information and becomes a space of shared knowledge.
Better yet, what are the rules? Or are there rules?
Does the creator have to be a professional in the field? Does someone have to actively participate by completing an assignment or adding a comment to a post? Does the reader/consumer, in fact, have to acknowledge that their purpose is to learn?
The authors of "The Social Media Learning Activities" suggest that learning spaces are created through the activities that take place within them. Having a page or account on a platform wouldn't automatically qualify it as a learning space. Which led me to wonder.
When do we go from consuming to participating? Is logging on and reading enough to say that we are participating in the community? If so, do we have the same requirements for each platform, given the significant differences in design and purpose?
Now, I don't think that every platform serves as a learning community. I haven't participated enough on every platform to make that call. I have also considered accessibility and how some platforms would create challenges for learning communities and opportunities for others.
However, through connections, communities can emerge on almost any platform. When the platform allows others to ask questions, exchange ideas, create space for creative friction, and build knowledge together.
Comments
Post a Comment