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<article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
  <front>
    <journal-meta />
    <article-meta>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>Perspective Analysis of the Use of Electronic Social Networks in a Learning Environment</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <string-name>Olga Pinchuk</string-name>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff0">0</xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1">1</xref>
        </contrib>
        <aff id="aff0">
          <label>0</label>
          <institution>Institute of Information Technologies and Learning Tools of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine</institution>
          ,
          <addr-line>9 M. Brlyns'koho st., 04060, Kyiv</addr-line>
          ,
          <country country="UA">Ukraine</country>
        </aff>
        <aff id="aff1">
          <label>1</label>
          <institution>Key Terms. ICT</institution>
          ,
          <addr-line>networks, learning</addr-line>
        </aff>
      </contrib-group>
      <pub-date>
        <year>2016</year>
      </pub-date>
      <fpage>21</fpage>
      <lpage>24</lpage>
      <abstract>
        <p>A continuation of the retrospective analysis of research results of social networks and their use in modern education prospective analysis of using electronic social networks in the learning environment is carried out. Possible changes in teaching methodology when new objects - electronic social networking services, appear in the system of education are studied. Attention is paid to emphasis change from the network communication to productive discussion structure as well as from collaboration to cooperative learning methods for students. The problem of improving information and communication competence of all partners of learning process is described.</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group>
        <kwd />
        <kwd>Electronic social networks</kwd>
        <kwd>informational and educational environment</kwd>
        <kwd>learning</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
  <body>
    <sec id="sec-1">
      <title>-</title>
      <p>A noticeable increase in the number of Internet social networks and global involving
people in their use is one the forms of expression and development of communication
network, that appears to be the basis of the information-oriented society.</p>
      <p>Nowadays, electronic social networks (ESN) are the instruments by which a
large number of users of the global network get more opportunities for
communication, accumulation and transfer of knowledge, use of their own creativity in
educational, scientific and socially important problem solving, generatation ideas, etc.</p>
      <p>It is our opinion that, the use of electronic social networking in education can
have a synergistic effect, related, in particular, to the fact, that combined use of
several mutually agreed pedagogical strategies appears to be more useful than
implementation of any isolated one.</p>
      <p>- 681
2</p>
    </sec>
    <sec id="sec-2">
      <title>Related Work</title>
      <p>
        In [
        <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref1">1</xref>
        ] we have analyzed a current state of educational research of ESN and formation
of practical experience in their use. Retrospective analysis of social networks studies
is made taking into account characteristics of their formation in terms of expanding
communication space of globalized society; transformation of the old and the
emergence of new practices of social interaction in different spheres of society. Based on
the comparison of ESN potential and educational outcomes, as benchmarks of
learning, we have defined pedagogically appropriate practical training tasks.
Organizational forms of training, in which the use of ESN comes to be the most efficient, are
also specified.
      </p>
      <p>It necessary to point out that in recent years the formation of practical experience,
activization of attempts of social networking services use in teaching practice has
been observed in activities of teachers-bloggers, members of popular interest groups
on Facebook (e.g. ICT - learning of Ukrainian teachers, Learn with Google,
Educational technologists, PC in physical experiment) and professional communities on
Google+. But this process is not accompanied by didactic and psycho-pedagogical
substantiation.</p>
      <p>Researchers, involving experience of foreign educators [2; 3], have identified a
score of psychological, social and pedagogical arguments in favor of their application.
Hereby we mention only a few which, in our opinion, are the most convincing.
1. ESN provide free use of a server for storing digital data.</p>
      <p>2. ESN are popular among young people. This is a comfortable, convenient,
positively disposed, familiar environment for the student.</p>
      <p>3. With ESN as a teaching tool, students improve ability and create skills: properly
and creatively use data to solve problems jointly create learning content, engage
others and engage themselves in projects through various forms of communication
(wikis, forums, polls, voting, comments, personal messages, chat, etc.), schedule
(events, appointments, reminders of important dates) observe and coordinate their
work.</p>
      <p>4. A classroom discussion can be continued in the social network. Learning takes
features of continuity.</p>
      <p>5. A virtual learning group, set up in ESN, is always available if using mobile
Internet.
3</p>
    </sec>
    <sec id="sec-3">
      <title>Perspective Analysis in Pedagogical Research</title>
      <p>Equally important than a retrospective analysis of the phenomena is a perspective
analysis of educational innovations. Prospective analysis of pedagogical innovations
is equally important. Results of this analysis are probabilistic in nature, but without
ones, it is impossible to prove both projected growth of education in general and
spesific subjects teaching techniques in particular. It is necessary to identify the factors
that will make a significant impact on results of studies with the use of ESN, as well
as degree of this impact due to the establishment and compliance with certain
psychological and pedagogical conditions. In prospective analysis we understand studies of
educational system by parameters, which determine its future status. The peculiarity
of such analysis is in projection of the past and present state of the object in the
future, focus on the selection of specific behavioral strategies of learning process with
many alternatives and forming an integral conception of development of educational
system. It is assumed that due to changes in state of real learning environment it is
possible to correct a strategic plan of behavior of individuals of educational process. It
is also important to identify the causes and factors that can negatively influence
results of learning activities and elaboration of precautions In a prospective analysis and
conceptual foresight, as a rule, qualitative changes appear to be important aspects
when quantitative ones play a supporting role. For prospective analysis of electronic
social networks use in the learning environment we offer the following indicators: the
intensity of communication, indicator of thematic communication, self-activity
indicator, the amount of interpersonal interactions, the set of competencies or academic
performance.</p>
      <p>Much can be debated about the pros and cons of ESN use. However, their
dynamic use has become an active part of modern life. We are of the opinion that it is
more effectively to focus on overcoming significant conservatism of teachers, which
takes a form of opponency to any innovations, and on specific recommendations as
for use of ESN in training and education. An active resistance to change can be
overcome if: there is awareness of the essence of ESN, there are no restrictions in
accessibility of ESN resources, there is an understanding of the negative consequences of
neglect of student’s safety in network.
4</p>
    </sec>
    <sec id="sec-4">
      <title>Research Methodology</title>
      <p>Conceptual theses of national and foreign social philosophy, sociology and
psychology, made while researching development and functioning of social media in modern
society, have made up theoretical basis of our research. We also used the theoretical
conclusions of scientists regarding informatization of education (V. Bykov,
R. Gurevich, M. Zhaldak, A. Gurzhiy, etc.) and scientific and education principles of
formation and use of information learning environments (V. Bykov, Yu. Zhuk,
V. Olijnyk, Ye. Polat, etc.).</p>
      <p>Several theoretical methods: analysis of research problems in scientific
publications; study of the experience of using electronic social networks in the learning
process, methods of comparative analysis, methods of mathematical statistics for
processing quantitative characteristics of phenomena under research are used in the study.</p>
      <p>Some conclusions of our study also found evidence in thesis work results of
national and foreign educators and researchers (T. Arhipova, Ben Romdan Sami,
H. Kuchakovska, N. Tverezovska, I. Vylegzhanina and others).
5</p>
    </sec>
    <sec id="sec-5">
      <title>Results and Discussion</title>
      <p>For 20 years the study of the structure and functioning of learning environments with
the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) has been urgent.
Experts of various disciplines: technical, physics and mathematics, pedagogical and
psychological, take part in them. Innovations in pedagogy can not be considered in
isolation from changes in society in general.</p>
      <p>Environmental factors are objective conditions that occur independently from the
institution, student and teaching staff, influencing it.
Electronic social networks are widely used today in the life of many people, their
popularity is growing rapidly, that is indicated by numerous statistical reports of
Internet companies, including site «Alexa's digital marketing tools»
(http://www.alexa.com/).</p>
      <p>We conducted a survey (without use of computer devices and the Internet). The
survey involved students and teachers both urban and rural schools (Table 1).</p>
      <p>It emerged that among students aged 14 to 18 using social networks (such as
Facebook, VKontakte and Odnoklassniki) there were 95.2% of respondents. So, in our
opinion, not to try using this tool for the purpose of studies would be wrong. At the
same time, provided that only 2.2% of teachers do not have access to the Internet,
only 66.3% use social networks when working with students and / or parents. We
have found that teachers in their professional activity are more inclined to use ESN to
communicate with colleagues (61%), to advise students on the subject (41.5%), to get
information on additional resources on subject topics (39.8%), to communicate with
students as class master (38.1%) and to put online homework (36.4%). Much less
attention is paid to such opportunities as setting up an informal communication on the
subjects content (23.7%) and designing of joint educational projects (21.2%).</p>
      <p>By creating a "learning situations", which are focused on the use of ESN, a teacher
can promote universal learning activities (personal, regulatory, cognitive,
communicative) that will provide the development of skills of independent acquisition of new
knowledge and skills, formation and development of critical thinking, development of
communicative skills of students. Fig. 2 outlines a design process of learning situation
in conditions of ESN use by a teacher.</p>
      <p>With ESN services one can arrange a rap session in the form of discussion when
development of students' subjectively new knowledge happens by expressing their
own thoughts and by comparison of opponents’ views on the issue. The situation
where the emotional and intellectual stimulus encourages to active thinking is created.
Leaders manages the process of discussion. Usually, that is a teacher. It is he, who has
to define the topic of discussion, the main question (up to five), to determine the
course of the discussion, choose basic training and other materials for participants.
Keeping rules of ethical behavior is necessary condition, which everyone should
agree.</p>
      <p>One of the latest trends in business success is a process of joint activities in
intellectual sphere of individuals or organizations to achieve common goals at which the
exchange of knowledge, learning, and as they say, agreement occur. If collaborative
learning (learning in cooperation, teamwork) is perceived as a certain theory of
interaction in the learning process, determining its overall direction, the cooperative
learning is a means of implementing collaboration.</p>
      <p>Cooperative learning is focused on the use of quantitative methods that take into
account achievement, that is learning outcomes. Cooperative learning is a structured,
systematic training strategy in which small purposefully selected group of 3-5
students work together on a common goal, creating a final product that has semantic
specificity. The group inhomogeneous. The group consists of students of different
levels of success, different abilities and skills. Thus, every student responsible
individually for results of work, and a teacher acts as an advisor of group learning
process. All students in the group are responsible for the work (there is no a leader).
Cooperative learning is more focused than the system of collaborative learning
activities, and more centered on a teacher. Cooperative work in a group includes both
successful promotion in the cognitive process of each student and breaking ice, as well as
maintaining good working relationships between team members. A number of social
skills: ability to listen, respect an opinion of an opponent, expressing criticism to
correct errors is necessary for successful cooperative work.</p>
      <p>Collaborative learning includes such formats as group projects, joint development
and so on. In the context of e-learning, сollaborative learning gained a new
interpretation (computer-supported collaborative learning). First of all, it is connected with the
use of Web 2.0 services, social networking apps, that support mutual activity, virtual
communities for the purpose of learning.</p>
      <p>
        The methodological approaches, mentioned above, require "new literacy" [
        <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref4">4</xref>
        ] of the
teacher, a higher level of information and communication competence
(ICcompetence). On the other hand, active use of ESN and other means of ICT in
educational practice leads to gradual development of IC-competence. The teacher possesses
methods and styles of information learning activity, that is adequate to the situation,
that occur in the process of educational information environment development; forms
skills of effective network interaction of educational teams in a global information
and education space; develops competencies, needed to shape effective learning
programs in open information and educational environment; learns modern tools of
conceptual foresight, analytics and diagnostics of educational results.
─ Formation of subjectively new knowledge
      </p>
    </sec>
    <sec id="sec-6">
      <title>Concluding Remarks and Future Work</title>
      <p>In our view, the readiness of a teacher to changes that are focused on active and
effective use of ESN in his T and E activity; capacity for effective cooperation and
experience exchange with teams of educators in their professional field; knowledge about
new teaching methods that provide flexibility and adequacy of the implementation of
new ICT in the learning process could not emerge spontaneously, without purposeful
pedagogical influence. Creation of appropriate learning courses for teachers is actual
problem that requires a solution. We offer to create guidelines for teachers around the
following ideas. 1. The effectiveness of group interaction. 2. А need for
selfdevelopment as a component of cognitive creativity of senior students. 3. A research
of features of instructional design of information and educational learning
environment. 4. Use of electronic social networks towards the problems solution of various
educational formats synchronization and in order to build an integrated trajectory of
individual learning.</p>
    </sec>
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