Networked Learning

The latest advancements in computer and network technologies, Internet, social media, mobile computing, and the wide spread and wide acceptance of such technologies by the average college student, must trigger an alert to most educators to re-think, and to develop new models of learning and teaching. People all over the globe are sharing information and news, discussions, negotiations, thus stressing the social nature of learning. Networked Learning is a form of learning that uses what is called "Network Environment" (connections), which facilitates collaboration between a group of learners; learners and teachers; educators; a learning community and its learning resources, so that participants can extend and develop their understanding and capabilities in ways that are important to them, and over which they have significant control (Hodgson et al, 2012, Banks et al. 2003). Thus a learning environment is basically a physical environment that facilitates social interaction which allows learning to be distributed over space and time. From this concept, it is argued that the relationship between the design of a technology and the use of that technology is a central concern for Networked Learning (Jones 2012, De Laat 2006).