Are student-led Facebook groups open

educational practices?

Tony Coughlan

Faculty of Health and Social Care, The Open University UK

t.coughlan@open.ac.uk, @tjcoughlan

Leigh-Anne Perryman

Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University UK

leigh.a.perryman@open.ac.uk, @laperryman

Study stimulii

Empty...

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Exodus...

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Are student-formed Facebook groups really open

educational practices and can they facilitate

learning and help achieve educational inclusion?

10 groups

Are the groups open?Are they educational, facilitating learning?What practices take place?

4 disciplines

2600 members

Methods

EcosystemP

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Y

Photo: Ron CC-BY-NC-SA

Educational?

Facebook groups

facilitate learning &

inclusion through:

- peer-provided

guidance around

academic practices

and study skills

- extensive emotional

support

- discussion of module

content

And are a powerful

complement to formal

tuition.

Practices

Photo: Hayden Watkins CC-BY-NC-SA

● Learn how to use

Facebook

proficiently and

develop a profile

● Observe a variety

of open groups

over time.

● Work on curating

resources and

links

Tutors could...

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Recommendations for institutionsInstitutions could...

Thank you for listening

Tony Coughlan

Faculty of Health and Social Care, The Open University UK

t.coughlan@open.ac.uk, @tjcoughlan

Leigh-Anne Perryman

Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University UK

leigh.a.perryman@open.ac.uk, @laperryman