Title: Learner reflexivity, technology and 'making our way through the world'

Authors: Mark Johnson, David Sherlock

Addresses: Institute for Educational Cybernetics, University of Bolton, Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5AB, UK. ' Institute for Educational Cybernetics, University of Bolton, Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5AB, UK

Abstract: We consider the role of personal reflexivity in the acquisition and development of habits for online social engagement for increased social mobility and effective lifelong learning. Drawing on work on reflexivity by Archer and others, we suggest that the development of habits for effective technological engagement is the key to learners being able to increase their social capital online, and thus increase their ability to |make their way through the world|. On the SPLICE project, we have developed a tool, TrackMe, for encouraging learner reflexivity about their online habits. We report on the use of this tool, and how understanding the outcomes from engaging with it shed light on the deeper mechanisms of personal change, technological engagement and increased social capital.

Keywords: personal reflexivity; social capital; technological habits; personal analytics; online social engagement; social mobility; lifelong learning; online habits; personal change; technological engagement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2009.028832

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2009 Vol.19 No.4/5/6, pp.352 - 365

Published online: 06 Oct 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article