An Integration Platform of Social Networking Applications to Support Life Long Learning in Rural Territories: the “SoRuraLL Virtual Learning World” Environment V. Stefanis M.Sc. Computer Engineer RACTI

Contents Social Web Social networks – digital divide The SoRuraLL Virtual Learning World System overview System functionalities System evaluation Conclusions

Social Web Major component of the Web 2.0 movement Social Web “people interlinked and interacting with engaging content in a conversational and participatory manner via the Internet”

Social Web Applications Wikis Forum Blogs Media sharing Social networking Folksonomy Messaging applications Social bookmarking Comments RSS

Digital divide As more individuals are connected online, those who are not connected are increasingly in danger for becoming more marginalized within society. World widely there is a rising concern over this “digital divide” This concern is seen to be greatest in relation to those living and working in rural and remote areas

Social networks VS digital divide A valuable tool to bridge the digital divide: – Teach students how to be effective collaborators in that world, how to interact with people around them – Build learning communities for primary and secondary education – Assist specialized scientific education – Provide new opportunities for training professionals – Provide new opportunities for lifelong learning initiatives – Create a new learning style of “learning by doing”

The SoRuraLL Virtual Learning World SoRuraLL Virtual Learning World (VLW) – SoRuraLL Lifelong Learning Program – Delivers a specialized Social Networking platform – Specific target groups were selected to present the idea – Functionalities of the system according to target groups’ needs

System overview Web based platform – Web 2.0 services – Open source and free technologies – Common integrated environment – SSO Two levels of customization – Per user site – Per user

Main page

Users’ type Four types of users – Platform administrator – National administrator – Simple user – Guests

VLW - System architecture Integration platform E-learning Social network

System functionalities Integration platform – Blogs – Forums – Video sharing – Wiki – IM – External application – Tagging – Video chat – Web chat – Mobile version

E-learning asynchronous e-learning platform content upload announcements links students groups chat forum surveys exercises wiki

Social networking Create relationships Friends File sharing Blogs Groups Pages Bookmarks Messages Tagging

Evaluation - statistics Data collected during the pilot phase – November 2009 to October 2010

Number of forum posts Number of blog posts Number of Wiki pages Number of video posts

Questions? Thank you for your attention!