Affiliations: Associate Professor, Department of Information
Systems, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway | Professor, Faculty of Technology, Buskerud University
College, Kongsberg, Norway
Abstract: The adoption of learning management systems (LMSs) and social
networking technologies (SNTs) in higher education has begun to change the way
learning and teaching take place. However, the adoption of these emerging tools
as a means to support collaboration seems to be slow. This study seeks to
identify issues and opportunities related to LMS and SNT utilization and
combination to enhance learning and teaching capabilities in higher education.
An illustrative study reports on student and instructor experiences of using
these systems in two Norwegian universities. The empirical evidence gained is
analysed in terms of current benefits and drawbacks, and future challenges and
capabilities. This provides the basis for a brief assessment of some
requirements for an integrated learning platform, taking organizational,
social, and technical issues of LMS and SNT into account. This study has
implications for the design of such a social learning management system (SLMS),
as it is termed, which can encompass the functionalities of both LMS and SNT.
Keywords: Education 2.0, social networking technologies, learning management systems, social learning management system,, design
