I learnt that Ubiquitous learning is learning that takes place outside of a physical room and is not tied to the rigidities of a timetable. (https://www.coursera.org/learn/elearning/supplement/w6lIH/spatio-temporal-dimensions-of-learning) It can take place with a few or large numbers of students, for example in a MOOC, which is a well-known example of ubiquitous learning.

I am a Facebook fanatic and I believe that it can be used as a medium of learning. As a doctoral student, I am part of a closed Facebook group of students. We post helpful resources relevant to our research, for example – How to write a literature review. We also query each other if unsure of what to do.

When I was an online tutor, I created Facebook closed groups for my students. They could query me on anything pertaining to their coursework using Facebook, rather than using Moodle messaging or emails. I also post resources for my students to read and also sent reminders about due dates for their assignments.

I find using Facebook really useful as most students already have Facebook in their smartphones & it is easier for them to connect with me as their tutor. It “allows students more freedom to connect and collaborate beyond the physical classroom” (https://www.ashford.edu/blog/online-learning/using-social-media-as-a-learning-tool But we need to be mindful that not all students are digitally-savvy and some may actually fear technology.

“If students know from the start that they and their peers will interact with course materials and each other on various social media platforms, they may put in more effort to both their work and online presence.” Sadly, I find that not many academic colleagues share my passion of using social media as an additional platform to foster collaboration and influence students and the wider community, as they are more used to face-to-face teaching or are not as tech-savvy or think that it is “frivolous” to be on social media.