Enhancing knowledge sharing in e-learning by incorporating social network features

Abstract

E-learning that is used in the organization is found to be lack of knowledge sharing elements. Instead of using e-learning, user tends to use other alternatives site like social network to share knowledge. The barriers found are willingness to share, changing organization culture, social relationship, features is difficult to use, limited functions, limited user access, knowledge evaluation and as well as the representation of features are not interesting. However, social network is found to have a strong relationship with knowledge sharing and its features are useful in solving the technology problems. It can facilitate knowledge sharing in two ways; by increasing knowledge reuse within users and by eliminating the reliance on formal liaison structures. The features of social network are analyzed and enhancements of e-learning are proposed. The enhancements are evaluated by using questionnaire and interview. The evaluation result shows that the proposed enhancements are accepted. The results found that in order to enhance knowledge sharing in e-learning, the organization should embedded the knowledge sharing culture in student activities and promote the existing best features of e-learning to users. In order to present the enhancements, a framework is developed. The framework consists of five components which are academic information system, mobile service/webcast, learning portfolio, knowledge management engine, websites/emails/blogs and knowledge sharing tools. The social network features are embed into the knowledge sharing tools components. The features are Status Update, Message, Media Sharing, Notes, Share, Like, Quote, Mention, Hashtag and Trends. The improvements on existing features with embedded social network features will enhance knowledge sharing e-learning. Jamilah Mahmood, ,