02.+Key+Features


 * Key Feature of the Learning Community **


 * The art of information and communication technology is changing and its advances capture’s people’s interest as tools of carrying messages evolve over time. Edugramp is an online learning community that made communication easier despite distance and time. Allows millions of people to stay connected around the world whether business environment, between family, friends and also in teaching online class. **
 * Social networking sites are designed to allow members connect and communicate with one another- so features of these sites foster: __interaction__, __activity__ and __community.__ **

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 * Application Domains: **

Government applications
Social networking is more recently being used by various government agencies. Social networking tools serve as a quick and easy way for the government to get the opinion of the public and to keep the public updated on their activity. The __[|Centers for Disease Control]__  demonstrated the importance of __[|vaccinations]__  on the popular children's site __[|Whyville]__  and the __[|National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]__  has a virtual island on __[|Second Life]__  where people can explore underground caves or explore the effects of global warming. __[|[51]]__  Similarly, NASA has taken advantage of a few social networking tools, including __[|Twitter]__  and __[|Flickr]__ . They are using these tools to aid the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, whose goal it is to //ensure that the nation is// on a vigorous and sustainable path to achieving its boldest aspirations in space//.// __[|//[52//]]__

Business applications
The use of social network services in an enterprise context presents the potential of having a major impact on the world of business and work ( __[|Fraser & Dutta 2008]__ ). Social networks connect people at low cost; this can be beneficial for __[|entrepreneurs]__  and __[|small businesses]__  looking to expand their contact bases. These networks often act as a customer relationship management tool for companies selling products and services. Companies can also use social networks for advertising in the form of banners and text ads. Since businesses operate globally, social networks can make it easier to keep in touch with contacts around the world. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">One example of social networking being used for business purposes is __[|LinkedIn]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">.com, which aims to interconnect professionals. LinkedIn has over 40 million users in over 200 countries. __[|[53]]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Another is the use of physical spaces available to members of a social network such as __[|Hub Culture]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">, an invitation only social network for entrepreneurs, and other business influentials, with Pavilions in major cities such as London, UK. Having a physical presence allows members to network in the real world, as well as the virtual, adding extra business value. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Applications for social networking sites have extended toward businesses and brands are creating their own, high functioning sites, a sector known as __[|brand networking]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">. It is the idea a brand can build its consumer relationship by connecting their consumers to the brand image on a platform that provides them relative content, elements of participation, and a ranking or score system. Brand networking is a new way to capitalize on social trends as a marketing tool.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Dating applications
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Many social networks provide an online environment for people to communicate and exchange personal information for dating purposes. Intentions can vary from looking for a one time date, short-term relationships, and long-term relationships. __[|[54]]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Most of these social networks, just like online dating services, require users to give out certain pieces of information. This usually includes a user's age, gender, location, interests, and perhaps a picture. Releasing very personal information is usually discouraged for safety reasons. __[|[55]]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> This allows other users to search or be searched by some sort of criteria, but at the same time people can maintain a degree of anonymity similar to most online dating services. Online dating sites are similar to social networks in the sense that users create profiles to meet and communicate with others, but their activities on such sites are for the sole purpose of finding a person of interest to date. Social networks do not necessarily have to be for dating; many users simply use it for keeping in touch with friends, and colleagues. __[|[56]]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">However, an important difference between social networks and online dating services is the fact that online dating sites usually require a fee, where social networks are free. __[|[57]]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> This difference is one of the reasons the online dating industry is seeing a massive decrease in revenue due to many users opting to use social networking services instead. Many popular online dating services such as __[|Match.com]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">, __[|Yahoo Personals]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">, and __[|eHarmony.com]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> are seeing a decrease in users, where social networks like __[|MySpace]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> and __[|Facebook]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> are experiencing an increase in users. __[|[58]]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 0.07in; margin-top: 0.07in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Educational applications

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Educational applications
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The __[|National School Boards Association]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> reports that almost 60 percent of students who use social networking talk about education topics online and, surprisingly, more than 50 percent talk specifically about schoolwork. Yet the vast majority of school districts have stringent rules against nearly all forms of social networking during the school day — even though students and parents report few problem behaviors online. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Social networks focused on supporting relationships between teachers and between teachers and their students are now used for learning, educator professional development, and content sharing. __[|Ning]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> for teachers, Learn Central, __[|[60]]__ __[|TeachStreet]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> and other sites are being built to foster relationships that include educational blogs, eportfolios, formal and ad hoc communities, as well as communication such as chats, discussion threads, and synchronous forums. These sites also have content sharing and rating features.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Medical applications
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Social networks are beginning to be adopted by healthcare professionals as a means to manage institutional knowledge, disseminate peer to peer knowledge and to highlight individual physicians and institutions. The advantage of using a dedicated medical social networking site is that all the members are screened against the state licensing board list of practitioners. __[|[61]]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The role of social networks is especially of interest to pharmaceutical companies who spend approximately "32 percent of their marketing dollars" attempting to influence the opinion leaders of social networks. __[|[62]]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">A new trend is emerging with social networks created to help its members with various physical and mental ailments. __[|[63]]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> For people suffering from life altering diseases, __[|PatientsLikeMe]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> offers its members the chance to connect with others dealing with similar issues and research patient data related to their condition. For alcoholics and addicts, SoberCircle gives people in recovery the ability to communicate with one another and strengthen their recovery through the encouragement of others who can relate to their situation. __[|DailyStrength]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> is also a website that offers support groups for a wide array of topics and conditions, including the support topics offered by __[|PatientsLikeMe]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> and SoberCircle. __[|SparkPeople]__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> offers community and social networking tools for peer support during weight loss. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">From Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">It also include the top ten networking sites that appear to be the most appealing to people. See our blueprint...

The primary purpose of the community is to connect people. To let them discover and know each members of the learning community and learn from their language and culture. It introduce a distance learning class, share plans, ideas and thoughts it also promote lecture and create better friendship among each members.