Interesting Discussion

One of the most interesting discussions I have had in a while happened unexpectedly over dinner Saturday night.  A friend (who is like a daughter to me) and I had a rare opportunity to have dinner while I was visiting Atlanta over the weekend.   My friend works at a non-profit charity organization which raises money for research for a specific medical purpose  and helps provide support and design to the organization's web site.   She was relating to me how they use social media to help foster discussion among people who are live daily with the medical challenge.  While the organization rarely interject comments into this portion of the website, there is much learning that takes place by the participants helping each other.   For example, how does one work with the school principal and teachers to help them understand the challenges the child copes with while being in the classroom?    People who visit the website for support then offer their experiences and suggestions.     This creates a larger support community than could possibly be provided by having face-to-face meetings.  

With my interest in how technology can be used to help foster adult learning I listened intently as she related the above.   This is truly an environment for learning that goes far beyond the class room.  It is self directed and people are motivated due to a need.  I think of andragogy: 

1. Adults need to know the reason for learning something (Need to Know)
2. Experience (including error) provides the basis for learning activities (Foundation).
3. Adults need to be responsible for their decisions on education; involvement in the planning and evaluation of their instruction (Self-concept).
4. Adults are most interested in learning subjects having immediate relevance to their work and/or personal lives (Readiness).
5. Adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-oriented (Orientation).
6. Adults respond better to internal versus external motivators (Motivation).

(the above 6 assumptions wording is taken from Wikipedia) 

How well these 6 assumptions fit the social media usage of this non-profit.  They have a definite need to know and have made their own decision on learning more.  They are interested as it is very relevant to their daily lives.   In that, the use of social media appears to support the assumptions/ theory of andragogy