Then, reflect on how much value you have (or have not) gained by interacting with other learners online. How much social capital did you create, share or gain, and why? What is the evidence that supports your statement? Focus on 1-2 key points at most.
While reading the article The Benefits of Facebook “Friends:” Social Capital and College Students’ Use of Online Social Network Sites I found myself searching the Internet for more information about the term social capital, what it means, how it is measured, and how it benefits people. I have gathered that social capital is the extra benefits that you receive when you are given special treatment by other people due to something you have in common with them. I also began to think about how much social capital I have gained by interacting with other learners online.
Throughout my undergraduate experience I had gained a lot of social capital by interacting with other students online. When I was an undergraduate, Facebook was beginning to take off in popularity and I found myself making friends with classmates online and joining class groups with them. This proved especially true with my cohort in the College of Education. Throughout the time we were in the same classes, we would send each other reminders or post questions online that someone else in our group could answer. After graduation, we continued to stay in touch through Facebook and share ideas for teaching that we had come across. I also found that Facebook helped me to stay in touch with friends I had met in other clubs on campus and ask for their help at times. For example, once when I was teaching my fourth grade students about electricity and batteries, one of my students asked a question that I did not know the answer to. I searched the Internet for the answer but was unable to find what I was looking for so I contacted an old friend on Facebook who is now a doctor in chemistry and asked him if he could help me answer my student. My friend sent back a comprehensive and easy to understand explanation of what was going on and why it was happening. I took that answer back to my students and was able to extend my particular lesson. I realize that if it weren't for Facebook, I would not have enjoyed such benefits.
Throughout my graduate experience I have been gaining social capital as well. When I was in a cohort last year I found myself growing familiar to my classmates offline and online. Many of us became friends on Facebook and Google+ and were able to leave questions or have discussions about the different projects that we had to complete in our classes. When something was confusing people could talk about it online and it made everyone feel a little better to know that they weren't the only ones struggling. I feel I have not made as much social capital in graduate school as I did in undergraduate school but that is probably because in undergraduate school I dormed at the university everyday but in graduate school I commute to the university twice a week. That difference in time spent at school results in less time being spent meeting new people and then having a rapport to start with on social media. Despite the time challenge, I do have a small group of people online that I can communicate with if I need help and count of them to be willing and able to assist me. With that in mind, I have made enough social capital online in my graduate studies to be successful in my work.
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