Learning Beyond the Classroom: Designing an Enterprise Social Networking System to Support a Program-Wide Community of Inquiry

• In Event: 52.062 - Science and Technology Learning and Teaching and the Understanding of Complex Systems and Social Networking Systems

Abstract

This article presents a case study that examines how an enterprise social networking system can promote participation and learning within a higher education program by fostering a community of inquiry via its online, informal learning spaces. The study describes the affordances of enterprise social networking systems and the design that a graduate program used to create its learning ecology. Finally, we apply the community of inquiry framework to analyze how the system was used by members, and we explore how learning and participation may be influenced by aspects including the role of a community manager, a program culture and social climate that fosters collaboration, and the use of system features to support “above the course” discussions.

Authors

• Kimberly S. Scott, Northwestern University

• Keeley H. Sorokti, Northwestern University

• Jeff D. Merrell, Northwestern University