Facilitating Teaching and Learning Capabilities in Social Learning Management Systems: Challenges,Issues,and Implications for Design

Abstract

The adoption of learning management systems (LMSs) and social networking technologies (SNTs) in higher education has begun to change the way learning and teaching take place. However, the adoption of these emerging tools as a means to support collaboration seems to be slow. This study seeks to identify issues and opportunities related to LMS and SNT utilization and combination to enhance learning and teaching capabilities in higher education. An illustrative study reports on student and instructor experiences of using these systems in two Norwegian universities. The empirical evidence gained is analysed in terms of current benefits and drawbacks, and future challenges and capabilities. This provides the basis for a brief assessment of some requirements for an integrated learning platform, taking organizational, social, and technical issues of LMS and SNT into account. This study has implications for the design of such a social learning management system (SLMS), as it is termed, which can encompass the functionalities of both LMS and SNT.