Facilitating Social Networking within the Student Experience

Abstract

Informed by a mature research base on what enhances the student experience, knowledge of the nature of the contemporary student and advances in technology and internet use, we can explore the potential to further evolve socialisation as part of the student experience. This paper reports on the evaluation and introduction of what has become known as ‘online social networking’ as one of the ways in which students can become ‘socialised’ within their university environment. The aim was to provide an educationally focused online social networking environment that is serious in its purpose and objectives, but which retains the user attractiveness of the major general purpose social networking systems. The range of technology options available is discussed and conclusions are drawn which indicate that a successful form of educational online social networking can be established with very simple technology.