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The Importance of Social Integration into an E-learning Experience.

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Introduction:
E-learning is becoming a huge part of teaching methodology in today's day. Teachers are using e-learning as a way to aid the learning experience of a child in a classroom. E-learning is not just being used in a classroom but also the workplace. It is important to note that learning is a lifelong experience, e-learning only enhances this extensive earning learning experience. The following review of literature explores the importance of social interaction in an e-learning experience and confirms that face to face interaction with a teacher should not be totally diminished in order to have a successful e-learning experience or if a teacher is not present in the learning environment a secure social support system should be set in place in the e-learning experience, discuss general solutions as to how to create a social support system within an e-learning experience and concludes that social integration in an integral key to successful e-learning.


Identifying the problem:

Nuangchalerm, Prasart; Sakkumduang, Krissada; Uhwha, Suleepornn; Chansirisira, Pacharawit (2014) carry out a study about e-learning, consisting of 3 phases was carried out on 217 students. Various different forms of e-learning were tested on the students. After the study, students were asked to take a satisfaction questionnaire. In the questionnaire, students expressed their satisfaction with the e-learning experience. The findings of the study found that e-learning alone isn't as successful as it could be with face to face learning with a teacher. This shows that face to face teaching should be used alongside e-learning to be of upmost benefit to the student.

Discussion:

Human interaction must not be lost in e-learning. Elizabeth E. Hare (2009) looks into the relationship between Psychiatrists and E-learning. E-learning is a new learning which Psychiatrists around the world are trying to understand. The conclusion of this paper makes the point that the principles of e-learning are what is beneficial about e-learning, but, studies carried out in this paper have shown that human interaction between the student and the teacher is very important in learning and should not be ruled out completely because although there are many benefits that come from e-learning, face to face interaction between the teacher and the student is still of upmost importance.

It is important to note that e-learning isn't just being integrated into the classroom but also the workplace as BoCheng, MinhongWang, JurgenMoorman, Bolanle A. Olaniran, Nian-ShingChen (2012) look into. BoCheng, MinhongWang, JurgenMoorman, Bolanle A. Olaniran, Nian-ShingChen (2012) are aware that the workplace is a place of continuous learning and development, just like the classroom. E-learning is expanding beyond the classroom and into the workplace. The purpose of this study was to look into the environmental context of the workplace in determining employee's optimism to use an e-learning system at work. BoCheng, MinhongWang, JurgenMoorman, Bolanle A. Olaniran, Nian-ShingChen's findings of the study found that success rates of employees using e-learning were heightened by changing their expectancy of different aspects of the experience. The key factors in a successful, organised learning experience at the workplace are support from management, job support, and organisational support. Here, it is clear that social support is important to be at the backbone of the e-learning for it to be successful.

It is important to note that there is a correlation between learning outcomes and student-teacher cooperation and participation. Yeh, Shang-Pao; Fu, Hsin-Wei (2014) look into the cooperative e-learning on learning outcomes for the student. Tests were carried out on teachers and students in ten public schools in Taiwan, 500 questionnaires were given out in total. Yeh, Shang-Pao; Fu, Hsin-Wei (2014) found that the cooperation between the student and their peers and also they teacher lead to greater learning outcomes. Furthermore, it is important for social interaction to be key in e-learning for the upmost learning outcomes. The results found impeccable correlations between e-learning cooperation and learning outcomes. Co-operative learning can open windows for discussion in the classroom that can develop the student's social skills and also their performance in class. This shows that correct co-operation and participation in the classroom is beneficial for the student's learning.

Before technology, teaching and learning was done through reading, writing and hearing, now learning comes from more outlets such as seeing, hearing, experiencing, touching etc. Even with the expansion of the ways in which learning happens, it is important not to forget or get rid of the basics and tradition such as a strong interaction between teacher and students or student and peers. Shih, Patti; Velan, Gary M.; Shulruf, Boaz (2017) carried out a study on students that examined the importance of social interaction in the e-learning experience. The results of the study found that the learning experience was more effective with the inclusion of social interaction. A learning experience is successful due to the social interaction that comes along with it. It is important that the social aspect of learning is not forgotten or done away with.

Searching for solutions:

In e-learning, especially with younger children, it is important to keep the experience fun and rememberable. Chen, Zhi-Hong; Chen, Howard Hao-Jan; Dai, Wan-Jhen (2014) outline a narrative -based design e-learning game to aid language learning. There is a clear narrative structure in the game. There are three constructive elements to the game, a storyline, character and a quest. A study was carried out on 61 students who used this e-learning experience. The findings of the study found that students benefitted greatly from the game-orientated e-learning experience. Different learning patterns arose from the game among the students. The game based e-learning experience was popular among the students. They quite enjoyed this different learning experience. A interactive, narrative-based game with social interaction such as perhaps playing amongst peers or playing alongside a teacher could be of upmost benefit for the student. 

Perhaps social media integration is a way of including social interaction in an e-learning experience for benefit of the student. Hajli, Mahmood; Bugshan, Hatem; Lin, Xiaolin; Featherman and Mauricio (2013) make the statement that the future of e-learning is in the integration of social media and e-learning. This paper proposes the use of social media to enhance the experience of e-learning for the student. The e-learning experience can be quite isolating because of the elimination of a teacher being involved in the learning experience. This paper explores the integration of social media into e-learning. The paper looks into how social media could help to replace the social interaction between the teacher and the student and instead have the student interact with others on online communities.

Humans are social creatures. Social interaction is a major key to survival for human beings. Shi, Lei; Al Qudah, Dana; Cristea, Alexandra I. (2013) carried out an extensive case study investigating the social aspects of e-learning. In the case study, a social support system to e-learning named Topolor, developed at the University of Warwick, was created to explore the topic. Toplolor is a social e-learning site where students can interact with one another and discuss topics. The results of the case study that examines the usefulness and usability demonstrate that the students generally experienced a high level of learning and a high level of user satisfaction with Topolor. This is an example of a successful application of social media into the e-learning experience.

Perhaps the presence of a teacher is not vital in e-learning if there is some sort of sense of belonging or social interaction incorporated correctly into the e-learning environment. Mnkandla, Ernest; Minnaar, Ansie (2017) look into the use of social media in E-Learning. The paper looks into ways that social media can be integrated into e-learning in a healthy and positive way. The concept is put forward of using social media outlets such as blogs or discussion groups as a way for students to develop ideas, work together and help each other out. Social media such as blogs, wiki's Skype, WhatsApp, Google Hangout would be the perfect place for students to generate ideas together. The use of social media could create a support system for the students throughout the e-learning experience.


Preparing for tomorrow, today:


E-learning is an amazing resource teacher's all around the world can have access to to aid them in the classroom or the workplace. It is important that these teachers stay present when making use of e-learning facilities such as tablets etc because this face to face communication is second to none in that social support is shown to be very important in the development of a person's learning through e-learning or if there is no presence of a teacher, a way of social interaction in the e-learning experience must be set in place to create a sense of belonging and support for the student. E-learning can be used to aid the learning experience but social support is crucial to successful learning.

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Sources list: 

BoCheng, MinhongWang, JurgenMoorman, Bolanle A. Olaniran, Nian-ShingChen, The effects of organisational learning environment on e-learning acceptance, Computers & Education, Volume 53, Issue 3, 2012, 885-889

Chen, Zhi-Hong; Chen, Howard Hao-Jan; Dai, Wan-Jhen (2014)
Using Narrative-Based Contextual Games to Enhance Language Learning: A Case Study

Elizabeth E. Hare. (2009) E-learning for psychiatrists

From E-Learning to Social Learning--A Health Care Study, Hajli, Mahmood; Bugshan, Hatem; Lin, Xiaolin; Featherman, Mauricio European Journal of Training and Development, v37 n9 p851-863 2013

International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, Mnkandla, Ernest; Minnaar, Ansie,The Use of Social Media in E-Learning: A Metasynthesis, v18 n5 p227-248 Aug 2017

Nuangchalerm, Prasart; Sakkumduang, Krissada; Uhwha, Suleepornn; Chansirisira, Pacharawit (2014). Implementing E-Learning Designed Courses in General Education

Social E-Learning in Topolor: A Case Study Shi, Lei; Al Qudah, Dana; Cristea, Alexandra I.
International Association for Development of the Information Society, Paper presented at the International Association for Development of the Information Society (IADIS) International Conference on e-Learning (Prague, Czech Republic, Jul 23-26, 2013)

Shared Values and Socio-Cultural Norms: E-Learning Technologies from a Social Practice Perspective, Shih, Patti; Velan, Gary M.; Shulruf, Boaz, Issues in Educational Research, v27 n3 p550-566 2017

The social democratization of knowledge: some critical reflections on e‐learning Ahmad Raza, A. Rashid Kausar, David Paul

Effects of Cooperative E-Learning on Learning Outcomes Yeh, Shang-Pao; Fu, Hsin-Wei,
EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education, v10 n6 p531-536 Dec 2014