Social Media as a learning tool

Probably one of the reason the discussion about social media as a learning tool is important is because of the popularity of Social Media. The popularity is more in terms of participation of the number of people of all age groups and their active participation. It would be wonderful to have this platform used as a media for learning.

Path for Social Media as a learning Tool.

1. Platform for Communication
2. Allows for active participation (in sense of user generated data; noisy data)
3. Generally all are equal (peer communication) but
4. Some emerge as leaders (may be based on their expertise, participation, creativity ....)
5. SIG formed (Leaders moderate the group)
6. Leads to some focused discussion (signs of learning - though not formal)
7. since there is less noise "useful learning can happen"

So structurally everything is in place to enable learning if no distinction is made between formal and informal learning! but with some constraints on the social media ... like a teacher the leader moderates - what to do when and why and structures information) ... in this structure SM and a ICT learning tool can be stitched together.

However, the constraints reduce the social media as a learning tool to a mere classroom (CR) kind of environment. At best one could call this social media learning tool as CR++.

Having established that one is looking at a CR++ environment; the question is should CR++ be in addition to or in its own right the only platform for learning?

• If the answer is a NO - then the question is why do we then need it? is CR not enough? Is CR lacking something? How will CR++ be different?
• If the answer is YES - one already has CR so why another CR++? Will there be time to manage both CR and CR++ in terms of time?

CR++ could have the following advantages:

1. Multiple teacher driven courses (different versions of the same topic)
2. Multimedia driven courses means may be faster learnibg and stronger understanding
3. Students learn anytime anywhere
4. if you missed CR, use CR++ or if you did not understand CR use CR++ to refresh general problems
5. Requires infrastructure (communication channel, devices) for all participants
6. assumption that electricity and BW is relaible)

Social Media as an ICT Learning Tool

Am on my way back after the panel discussion in Jaihind College near Churchgate Railway station in Mumbai. The title Can Social Media enable ICT Learning Tool which was an interesting topic.

While one can debate on this topic both ways .. saying it can be used and it can not be used. The whole idea I think is if there is a necessity then (and only then) the social media platform will be used as a learning tool. And who knows for much different things that probably we do not have a need for today.

Other panelist mentioned
Twitter can be used as a tool for learning summarization
Blog to improve you writing skills


Yeah. Necessity is the mother of all inventions.

Autorickshaw and Taxi Fare in Mumbai

I know there has been a drive by a leading newspaper which is taking to task the autorickshaw drivers who refuse to ply passengers. While getting an autorickshaw in Mumbai can be pretty difficult especially if you have to travel short distances ... however once you get in then unless you are conversant with the fare conversion (the driver has a fare chart - which might not always be realiable!) you are not sure you are being overcharged!

I find this http://rickfare.com/ very useful. Send in the meter details thatyou see and you will know what you actually need to pay for the ride.

Aside: One of my collegaues and i got into a taxi teh other day and asked that we be taken to a certain destination (it was rather a long haul and so the taxi driver was ready to ferry us). We sat and wondered why he was taking time to switch on the meter when he announced that he would charge a fixed fare. Reason - his meter was not working .. he naturally asked for a fare that was 30% more than the actual fare. The meter looked new (elecornic) so we cajoled him to try to switch it on .. after a certain time he did sitch it on and lo the meter was working fine .. we paid him what the meter showed and decided we could use this trick again.

Road Traffic Regulated

I remember when I first started driving in Mumbai. Several years ago, soon after returning from Brisbane suburbs where I had driven in the rather sane traffic I had a reality check. I saw a "60" in the red circle on the road (sign) and thought I was to drive at a maximum speed of 60 kmph. Well, a few kms on the road and I realized with honks and hard stares from the other vehicles that it was I who was breaking the law driving within the speech limit!

Two weeks hence I was zooming at 80 kmps along with other vechiles and it was "Welcome to Mumbai" no more honks or stares. Unless an odd vehicle here are there that were zooming at over 100 kmph. It has been 6 years now and I have not seen a single vehicle in the 60 kmph zone being fined for driving 80-90-100-110-120-....

I have often wondered why have the road sign with a 60 sitting in it. May be as they used to say, especally of Indian trains, you need to have a reference time of train arrival so that you know by how much late your training is running! I have half heartedly knocked a few social sites (including traffic polic in Mumbai) but no one did hear what I had to say (so what is so new!).

When I got a new car (which car is not important!) I read the label - drive under 60 kmph before crossing 1000 km. What was I to do? I pondered. Well, I had to manage somehow, which I did successfully by driving in appropriate lanes and choosing appropriate time (timing the traffic). The end effect was (a) increased milage 23 kmpl and (b) enjoy driving experience. I am not sure what the new car drivers do in this situation - do they really drive sub 60 kmph? I have not seen a single car drive that slow! Anyway that is not the point.

On one of my liesure drive (takes me 45 mintues) I kept wondering what would be the best method to make people drive within the speed limits. After having driven for so many years in Mumbai I sincelerly believe in what I say! Well when you find a person driving well above the expetded limit - do not snatch away his driving licence or fine him/her - just make sure his vehicle can not travel above the limit. I think if you "locked" the vehicle to travel a maximum of 60 kmph .. I think it would be the best "fine" or "punishment". I would call that a positive way of looking at crubing speeding rather than fine or pinch the licence (negative approach).

What do I do today? I drive in appropriate lanes and clock 70 kmpl - no more honks or stares. But there is one small danger that I need to figure out how to avoid, the reckless overtaking from left, right and center. Will figure that out very soon.