Extending the Elgg Social Networking System to Enhance the Campus Conversation

This paper presents a design research project adapting Elgg, an open source social networking package, for use in graduate education. The modified software represents an alternative model to the traditional course management system, using blogs & wikis to support student collaboration and peer learning. Students found that the application helped them learn from each other, deepen their peer relationships, feel a sense of ownership over their posted content, and reflect on their class progress. They did not find that the application was particularly valuable for allowing them to customize their online profile or increasing student/professor interaction. The application, as used and evaluated, can be considered a preliminary model for how social networking software can be used to promote conversation in graduate education settings.