It seems to me that the current explosion in the use of social networking is a big part of the key to being successful with eLearning. Well.... maybe higher learning in general! The use of instant messaging between faculty and with their students, between students, and even within institutions has cast a new light on how we interact with each other. Of course, care must be exercised here, but these technologies provide an opportunity for a "Next Level" enrichment of the educational enterprise. The quick sharing of materials, links to news, videos, thought questions, as well as support during the college experience is available now unlike at any other time. My students immediately contact me about problems with assignments, questions about concepts, applications of course material to their own lives, and issues in attending college and career choice.
My friend and colleague ProfGesser on Twitter is using several social networking tools to further his goal of increasing student engagement in social issues in his Sociology classes. Especially for those dedicated few who are constantly seeing a "teachable moment" in their daily lives and are willing to take the time to share it with their students, mobile technology and social networks can take a lot more work.... but can also help us to connect with students in a more meaningful way than traditional office hours alone did not allow.
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