Learning Spaces in Context-Aware Educational Networking Technologies in the Digital Age

This chapter introduces the concept of learning space in the twenty-first century and considers the various contexts in which learning occurs. The increasing growth of digital educational networking technologies has contributed to the need to create and support various forms of learning spaces. These technologies have also transformed the way students engage and interact off- and online. Contemporary learning, as we know, is no longer limited to physical learning spaces. Instead, students engage in various learning spaces. Others extensively leverage opportunities afforded by social network platforms as tools for collaborative and self-directed learning. Students use social networking technologies to engage with content, connect with peers within their social networks and communicate with their teachers. With the increasing prevalence of these technologies, researchers and educators are provided with new opportunities to extend learning from physical spaces to virtual spaces and optimise pedagogical strategies that can support adaptive learning. Our goal in this chapter is to explore the extent to which understanding of learning spaces and contexts contribute to designing better student engagement and possibly better learning outcomes.