Socialize online learning: Why we should integrate learning content management with Online Social Networks

Lifelong learning is a common requirement in today´s knowledge society. Traditional teaching approaches fail to deliver learning opportunities if combined with flexibility in time and place, which is another major requirement. Therefore, eLearning systems have evolved in the past decades to Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning and Adaptive Educational Hypermedia Systems. In parallel, the rise of Online Social Networks has changed information flow. In this paper, we revisit the state of modern eLearning systems from the perspective of users affine to Online Social Networks. We argue that the online community-building of social networks bears a significant potential to the attractiveness and success of technology-assisted learning. Therefore, this paper outlines essential building blocks for implementing an eLearning plugin for commercial Online Social Network sites.