How Social Learning Networks Supplement Pedagogies to Increase Students' Understanding

Emerson Malca says even though today’s college students are more socially connected, it’s still hard for them to gather in large groups to study for a challenging subject.

He says it’s even more difficult for students to have their questions answered by busy professors, especially those who don’t use technology to communicate with their students.

However, with social learning networks, colleges have another outlet through which they can make challenging pedagogies easier for students to understand.

Malca says that the greatest benefit social learning networks, like StudyRoom, provide students is access to immediate assistance with difficult course material.

“StudyRoom was basically created with the idea that there are a lot of instances where students feel stuck when doing their homework or studying, and sometimes the textbook or their own notes aren’t enough for them to understand the gist of it,” says Malca, Co-founder and CEO of StudyRoom. “StudyRoom manages and really solves that problem.”

Malca also says the sources of the immediate assistance from StudyRoom stem from tutors who volunteer their expertise in a particular subject, or multiple subjects.

“What we’re trying to provide is a platform for students to get immediate, personalized help from their classmates and other students,” he says. “We allow [numerous] courses and immediately connect students with all their classmates. We have all the courses on our platform, so it’s easier for students to reach each other. We have super smart people willing to help other students because that’s what their nature is, helping other people understand and sharing their knowledge.”

How Social Learning Networks Work

Students and tutors select which network to work with, and download that network’s apps; for example, users of StudyRoom might opt for the Snapsolve app, which enables students to snap a picture of an academic question they have, which triggers the app to connect them with the appropriate tutor.

In some social learning networks, tutors may come from a students’ own college, of from another college across the country.