4 - Facing up to it: blending formal and informal learning opportunities in higher education contexts

Abstract

Through an investigation of social networks, with a particular focus on Facebook, this chapter explores how Web 2.0 is blurring formal and informal teaching and learning opportunities in higher education. Using a knowledge-sharing framework brought about by the intersection of two continua (formal and informal learning opportunities; and student-directed and teacher-centred learning), and using a Facebook case study exemplar for each of the four quadrants of the framework, the chapter explores institutional (or teacher)-driven informal teaching and learning; student (or member)-driven informal teaching and learning; student (or member)-driven formal learning; and institutional (or teacher)-driven formal learning. The chapter concludes that an understanding of the potentials and pitfalls of each of these four environments is necessary in an era of rapid transformations in higher education.