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 * Group A:** Workspace: 6-A-1: Social Networking and it's Importance for Successful Informal Learning

List the reasons why Group A thinks social networking is important for successful informal learning:


 * Quick responses via text messages allow for immediate access to information learned from one another.(AA)
 * Intant messaging takes email to the next level. It is faster, and permits the user to work with different individuals depending upon who is available at the moment.(AA)
 * Social networking provides a fluid platform with diverse participants for successful informal learning. For example, students can post problems of their homework to ask for help. Friends from the same school, same grade, different school or different grades can jump in to help or post a solution. It creates a community of problem solvers with different backgrounds and techniques. It generates a rich learning environment which breaks down geographical and physical barriers. (RM)
 * The inherent openness of social networking is another great attribute to collaborative learning. It allows members to work together and exchange ideas. They can even edit and revise the information to keep the information continuously up to date. (RM)

Nicole D
 * Social networking fosters interaction and connection between people, and its through that type of communication that we retain information that is relevant to our circumstances.
 * Social networking also allows students to discuss subjects in real time, rather than discussing information that they may need someday, the share information that they need now, and quickly apply it. As teachers we know that applying information makes it stick, and also helps students understand it fully.
 * Today's students are always connected to some type of social network, if we can sneak knowledge and learning into the forum, the students would be continuously learning without even realizing it!
 * Students can also use social network to seek help from their peers and get input on their work while they are working. It's a lot better than email where you post a question and wait for a response, in these types of networks your response can be instant.

Mark R

Since 70 – 90% of learning is informal, it is essential to have go to resources for answers. Therefore it is important to use social networking for successful informal learning.

Social Networking also allows people to access information in short chunks without having to sift through a lot of other material.

Types of informal learning include:
 * e-mail, instant messaging, or text messaging allows a person to ask another person a question whom they do not have face to face contact with.
 * If the person does not have another person to ask or wants another opinion, he or she could check a blog to get another person’s opinion on a topic.
 * A wiki can also be used to share ideas about a certain topic.

All of these methods give a person a chance to find answers quickly and or share information with others. They all are resources that can be accessed at a later date. They also allow people to exchange ideas and come up with new ideas.

In short, social networking allows people to communicate questions and answers in a timely matter.