Title: Put the student first: a learning environment for management education. The case of EduORG2.0 at the University of Pisa

Authors: Antonella Martini; Maria Cinque

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, University of Pisa, L.go L. Lazzarino, 56122, Pisa, Italy ' Fondazione Rui, Viale XXI Aprile, 36, 00168, Roma, Italy

Abstract: There has been a vast debate in recent years about usage patterns of social computing and Web 2.0 tools in learning contexts. A growing number of researchers suggest that certain pedagogical approaches are best suited in these contexts, since they involve active engagement, social learning, continuous feedback, enabling students' autonomous understanding and the transfer of those skills to useful or real-life settings. In this article we present the use of a social network as part of a formal course of Management at the University of Pisa. The institutional VLE - based on Moodle - has been integrated with a student support group hosted on Ning. Problems and opportunities for using Ning have been discussed in small groups and student feedback will be reported. The shift from learning management system (course centric) to a personal learning environment (people centric) and then to personal learning network is also been discussed and a framework is provided.

Keywords: management education; VLEs; virtual learning environments; internet; world wide web; PLEs; personal learning environments; social media; social networking; networks; EduORG2.0; University of Pisa; Italy; universities; higher education; social computing; Web 2.0; interactivity; collaboration; interactive media; collaborative media; learning contexts; pedagogical approaches; pedagogy; active engagement; social learning; continuous feedback; autonomous understanding; transferable skills; useful settings; real-life settings; Moodle; Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment; e-learning; electronic learning; online learning; software platforms; course management systems; CMS; learning management systems; LMS; student support; Ning; student feedback; course centric systems; people centric systems; technology enhanced learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTEL.2012.051543

International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 2012 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.250 - 264

Received: 29 Nov 2010
Accepted: 25 Oct 2011
Published online: 31 Dec 2014 *

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