Learning "beyond the classroom" within an enterprise social network system

Abstract This case study examines how students in a higher education program used an enterprise social network system (ESN) to engage in learning activities within its community. We explain how ESNs fit within the Web 2.0 landscape and describe how the program used an ESN to form its learning ecology. The community of inquiry framework is applied to analyze dialogue from the informal learning spaces of the system. Results show that a majority of students participated in learning activities within these public, non-mandatory spaces “beyond the classroom.” We also found high levels of cognitive and learning presence in their posts. This study suggests that students practice self-regulated learning in ESN informal learning spaces, raising new possibilities for future development of online learning ecologies.