Social Networks

According to Khalil Alsaadat, “technology and social media have presented significant tools for adult learners to learn and advance continually. The use of social media can improve adult learning outcomes and academic accomplishment. Social media is increasingly proven to be beneficial in adult learning and has a huge potential for adult education.”  Two examples of social networking technologies that will enhance adult learning are, YouTube and Linkedin

YouTube is a free video sharing website that makes it easy to watch online videos. You can also create and upload your own videos to share with others.

There are a number of reason for Youtube’s popularity:

1.     It houses a slew of videos. On average, 100 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, so there's always something new to watch!

2.     There are all kinds of videos on YouTube—adorable cats, quirky cooking demos, funny science lessons, quick fashion tips, and a whole lot more.

3.     It's all about user-generated content. Instead of videos from major TV networks and movie studios, you'll find amazing and creative videos made by people just like you. And YouTube isn't a one-way street—you can jump in, record and share your own videos, and become a part of the community.

YouTube’s main functions are:

Users can search for and watch videos

Create a personal YouTube channel

Upload videos to your channel

Like/Comment/share other YouTube videos

Users can subscribe/follow other YouTube channels and users

Create playlists to organize videos and group videos together

Lastly, YouTube is a great resource for learning and adult learning. It can be used to create an eLearning community, it generates and promotes online discussion, it is ideal for mobile learning, it allows for microlearning, it encourages the development of note-taking skills, it enhances comprehension of complex concepts.

LinkedIn and Linkedin learning is a social networking technology that is the world's largest professional network on the internet. It is used to find the right job or internship, connect and strengthen professional relationships, and learn the skills you need to succeed in your career. LinkedIn Learning is an educational platform that helps learners discover and develop business through courses led by experts.