A "Learning Network" is a community of people who help each other to better understand and handle certain events and concepts in work or life. As a result – and sometimes also as an aim – participating in learning networks stimulates personal development, a better understanding of concepts and events, career development, and employability. "Learning Network Services" are Web services that are designed to facilitate the creation of distributed Learning Networks and to support the participants with various functions for knowledge exchange, social interaction, assessment and competence development in an effective way. The book presents state-of-the-art insights into the field of Learning Networks and Web-based services which can facilitate all kinds of processes within these networks.

The Architecture of Productive Learning Networks explores the characteristics of productive networked learning situations and, through a series of case studies, identifies some of the key qualities of successful designs. The case studies include networks from a variety of disciplinary and professional fields, including graphic design, chemistry, health care, library science, and teacher education. These learning networks have been implemented in a variety of settings: undergraduate courses in higher education, continuing professional development, and informal networks for creating and sharing knowledge on a particular topic. They are rich in reusable design ideas. The book introduces a framework for analyzing learning networks to show how knowledge, human interaction and physical and digital resources combine in the operation of productive learning networks. The book also argues that learning through interaction in networks has a long history. It combines ideas from architecture, anthropology, archaeology, education, sociology and organizational theory to illustrate and understand networked forms of learning.

As technology is being integrated into educational processes, teachers are searching for new ways to enhance student motivation and learning. Through shared experiences and the results of empirical research, educators can ease social networking sites into instructional usage. The Social Classroom: Integrating Social Network Use in Education collates different viewpoints on how social networking sites can be integrated in education. Highlighting both formal and informal uses of social interaction tools as learning tools, this book will be very useful to all educators, trainers and academic researchers in all aspects of education looking for a theoretical/practical approach to resourceful teaching.

In the digital era, users from around the world are constantly connected over a global network, where they have the ability to connect, share, and collaborate like never before. To make the most of this new environment, researchers and software developers must understand users’ needs and expectations. Social Media and Networking: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications explores the burgeoning global community made possible by Web 2.0 technologies and a universal, interconnected society. With four volumes of chapters related to digital media, online engagement, and virtual environments, this multi-volume reference is an essential source for software developers, web designers, researchers, students, and IT specialists interested in the growing field of digital media and engagement. This four-volume reference includes various chapters covering topics related to Web 2.0, e-governance, social media activism, internet privacy, digital and virtual communities, e-business, customer relationship management, and more.

As the healthcare industry continues to expand, a higher volume of new professionals must be integrated into the field. Providing these professionals with a quality education will likewise ensure the further progress and advancements in the medical field. Medical Education and Ethics: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications presents a compendium of contemporary research on the educational practices and ethical considerations in the medical industry. This multi-volume work contains pedagogical frameworks, emerging trends, case studies, and technological innovations essential for optimizing medical education initiatives. This comprehensive publication is a pivotal resource for medical professionals, upper-level students, researchers, and practitioners.

This book presents the current advances and emerging trends in digital technologies for learning and education through a number of invited chapters on key research areas. It addresses information and communications technology (ICT) in a global context, reporting on emerging trends and issues in four areas – basic education, technical and vocational education, distance and continuing education and higher education –, as these four areas represent the primary contexts in which ICT is used to support learning and instruction. This book provides a brief overview of the potential benefits of ICT used in education and some of the best approaches in which different ICTs have been used in education thus far in a global context. It also presents the expertise and the most current research and practices of recognized international educators and researchers in the field of ICT in education. Third, this volume is both informative and transformative in its coverage of the conceptual and practical impact of technology on current educational practices, making it a valuable resource for policymakers, educators and educational researchers around the globe.

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Beyond the undergraduate and graduate levels, education has traditionally ceased when students enter the workforce as professionals in their respective fields. However, recent trends in education have found that adult students beyond the traditional university age often benefit greatly from returning to further their education. Adult and Continuing Education: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications investigates some of the most promising trends in furthering education and professional development in a variety of settings and industries. With an extensive array of chapters on topics ranging from non-traditional students to online and distance education for adult learners, this multi-volume reference book will provide students, educators, and industry professionals with the tools necessary to make the most of their return to the classroom.

"This book offers a collection of the latest research, trends, future developments, and case studies pertaining to collaborative learning"--Provided by publisher.

How can we improve support for teachers as they negotiate the pathways into the profession? This books highlights how strong networks of connections with other teachers and with resources have been shown to make a big difference. Online learning networks are one way to help pre-service and early career teachers to foster these connections and the greater community of teachers has an interest in helping new teachers to enter the profession. New technologies have allowed teachers to be connected anywhere, anytime; this book discusses principles for the design and implementation of learning networks that can use this connectivity to improve support for beginning teachers. It addresses foundational principles of types of teacher communities (online and offline), types of knowledge relevant to beginning teachers, the idea of presence within a network and methodologies for studying and nurturing communities of teachers, providing recent examples of each.