Advantages and Aspects of Social Networks in the Interactive Educational Programs

Social media incorporating wide range of networked tools and technologies highlight the social aspects of the web as a modern medium for communication, collaboration, interaction and creative expression. These tools provide cost effective, instant, interactive and faster methods of communicating information and are widely being utilized in modern education systems. Subsequently, in present technological rich environment, smart gadgets are fast replacing and enhancing the conventional tools for facilitating teaching / learning process  and also  plethora of social media tools help  in managing and delivering varied teaching learning resources:  Open Educational Resources, Open Courseware, Personal Learning Environments (PLEs), Open Learning objects, Virtual classrooms etc.The present paper  attempts a comprehensive review of  related literature about different aspects of social media and also endeavours to identify  prominent social media tools associated with  facilitating use of  interactive teaching learning environment. The study highlights use of social media and its various dimensions concerning effectiveness of social media for personalized education in a convenient and interactive fashion.  

Keywords:

Open Learning Initiatives , Interactive Learning , Social Media , Personal Learning Environments , Open Education