Beyond distance and time constraints: Applying social networking tools and Web 2.0 approaches in distance education

This chapter assesses the value of Web 2.0 and its constituent social software tools in enhancing learning opportunities for distance students and addressing the traditional problems of distance education by enabling a greater sense of presence, community building, and participation. With reference to a number of examples of current innovative practices of distance educators, it also outlines the transformative value of these emerging digital technologies, and signals emergent forms of learning and teaching that make use the affordances of the new tools. The chapter focuses on three considerations that the authors believe are needed to effectively capitalize on the new possibilities of Web 2.0: (i) use of social networking tools to build social presence; (ii) reconceptualization of the design approaches used to create and implement e-learning activities in distance education contexts; and (iii) consideration of pedagogical strategies used to support distance learners.