Culture is a set of shared values that a group of people holds. These values affect how you think and act but also how you judge others

What is culture?

Some cultures think of time sequentially – as a linear commodity to “spend,” “save,” or “waste.” Other cultures view time synchronically – as a constant flow to be experienced in the moment, and as a force that cannot be contained or controlled.Whether time is perceived as a commodity or a constant determines the meaning and value of being “on time.”

Cultures are either sequential or synchronic

High-context cultures e.g. Mediterranean, Slav, Central European, are understood through context, nonverbal cues, and between-the-lines interpretation of what is actually said.&nbsp;Here, the meanings are created often through what is not said e.g. in body language, silences and pauses, relationships and empathy.Low-context cultures e.g. most Germanic and English-speaking countries, expect messages to be explicit and specific. Here, the emphasis is on sending and receiving accurate messages directly, and by being precise with spoken or written words.

Cultures are either high-context or low-context

An affective culture is defined by the ability to readily show your emotions whereas a neutral culture keep their emotions in neutral and they do not show their feelings, but keep them carefully controlled and subdued.

Cultures are either affective or neutral

 Image via Wikipedia Business leaders know that intercultural savvy is vitally important – not just because they have to deal increasingly with globalization, but also because the work force within their own national borders is growing more and more diverse. Culture is, basically, a set of shared values that a group [...]

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<a aria-label="Business" data-ga-track="InternalLink:http://www.forbes.com/business/" dir="ltr" href="http://www.forbes.com/business/">Business </a><a aria-label="leaders" data-ga-track="InternalLink:http://www.forbes.com/leaders/" dir="ltr" href="http://www.forbes.com/leaders/">leaders </a>know that intercultural savvy is vitally important – not just because they have to deal increasingly with globalization, but also because the work force within their own national borders is growing more and more diverse.

Culture is, basically, a set of shared values that a group of people holds. Such values affect how you think and act and, more importantly, the kind of criteria by which you judge others. Cultural meanings render some behaviors as normal and right and others strange or wrong. (<a aria-label="The Silent Language of Leaders: How Body Language Can Help – or Hurt – How You Lead" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Language-Leaders-Help---Hurt--How/dp/0470876360/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1322415652&amp;sr=1-1" dir="ltr" href="http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Language-Leaders-Help---Hurt--How/dp/0470876360/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1322415652&amp;sr=1-1" rel="nofollow noopener" title="The Silent Language of Leaders">The Silent Language of Leaders: How Body Language Can Help – or Hurt – How You Lead </a> <a aria-label="" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Language-Leaders-Help---Hurt--How/dp/0470876360/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1322415652&amp;sr=1-1" dir="ltr" href="http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Language-Leaders-Help---Hurt--How/dp/0470876360/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1322415652&amp;sr=1-1" rel="nofollow noopener" title="The Silent Language of Leaders"> </a>devotes two chapters to the nonverbal aspects of cross-cultural communication, and in my next blog I’ll cover some of the body language nuances of global business meetings.)

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Every culture has rules that its members take for granted. Few of us are aware of our own biases because cultural imprinting is begun at a very early age. And while some of culture’s knowledge, rules, beliefs, values, phobias and anxieties are taught explicitly, most is absorbed subconsciously.

Of course, we are all individuals, and no two people belonging to the same culture are guaranteed to respond in exactly the same way. However, generalizations are valid to the extent that they provide clues on what you will most likely encounter – and how those differences impact communication. Here are three such generalizations.

Cultures are either high-context or low-context

Every aspect of global communication is influenced by cultural differences. Even the choice of medium used to communicate may have cultural overtones. For example, it has been noted that industrialized nations rely heavily on electronic technology and emphasize written messages over oral or face-to-face communication. Certainly the United States, Canada, the UK and Germany exemplify this trend. But Japan, which has access to the latest technologies, still relies more on face-to-face communications than on the written mode. The determining factor in medium preference may not be the degree of industrialization, but rather whether the country falls into a high-context or low-context culture.

In some cultures, personal bonds and informal agreements are far more binding than any formal contract. In others, the meticulous wording of legal documents is viewed as paramount. High-context cultures (Mediterranean, Slav, Central European, Latin American, African, Arab, Asian, American-Indian) leave much of the message unspecified – to be understood through context, nonverbal cues, and between-the-lines interpretation of what is actually said. By contrast, low-context cultures (most of the Germanic and English-speaking countries) expect messages to be explicit and specific. The former are looking for meaning and understanding in what is not said – in body language, in silences and pauses, and in relationships and empathy. The latter place emphasis on sending and receiving accurate messages directly, and by being precise with spoken or written words.

One communication trap that U.S. business leaders may fall into is a (costly) disregard for the importance of building and maintaining personal relationships when dealing with individuals from high-context cultures.

Cultures are either sequential or synchronic

Some cultures think of time sequentially – as a linear commodity to “spend,” “save,” or “waste.” Other cultures view time synchronically – as a constant flow to be experienced in the moment, and as a force that cannot be contained or controlled.

In sequential cultures (like North American, English, German, Swedish, and Dutch), businesspeople give full attention to one agenda item after another. In many other parts of the world, professionals regularly do several things at the same time. I once cashed a traveler’s check at a Panamanian bank where the teller was counting my money, talking to a customer on the phone, and admiring the baby in the arms of the woman behind me. To her, it was all business as usual.

The American commoditization of time not only serves as the basis for a “time is money” mentality, it can lead to a fixation on timelines that plays right into the hands of savvy negotiators from other cultures. A Chinese executive explained: “All we need to do is find out when you are scheduled to leave the country and we wait until right before your flight to present our offer. By then, you are so anxious to stay on schedule, you’ll give away the whole deal.”

In synchronic cultures (including South America, southern Europe and Asia) the flow of time is viewed as a sort of circle – with the past, present, and future all inter-related. This viewpoint influences how organizations in those cultures approach deadlines, strategic thinking, investments, developing talent from within, and the concept of “long-term” planning.

Whether time is perceived as a commodity or a constant determines the meaning and value of being “on time.”  Think of the misunderstandings that can occur when one culture views arriving late for a meeting as bad planning or a sign of disrespect, while another culture views an insistence on timeliness as childish impatience.

Orientation to the past, present, and future is another aspect of time in which cultures disagree. Americans believe that the individual can influence the future by personal effort, but since there are too many variables in the distant future, we favor a short-term view. This gives us an international reputation of “going for the quick buck” and being interested only in the next quarterly return. Even our relationships seem to be based on a “what have you done for me lately?” pragmatism.

Synchronic cultures have an entirely different perspective. The past becomes a context in which to understand the present and prepare for the future. Any important relationship is a durable bond that goes back and forward in time, and it is often viewed as grossly disloyal not to favor friends and relatives in business dealings.

Cultures are either affective or neutral

With much angry gesturing, an Italian manager referred to the idea of his Dutch counterpart as “crazy.” The Dutch manager replied. “What do you mean, crazy? I’ve considered all the factors, and I think this is a viable approach. And calm down! We need to analyze this, not get sidetracked by emotional theatrics.” At that point, the Italian walked out of the meeting.

In international business dealings, reason and emotion both play a role. Which of these dominates depends upon whether we are affective (readily showing emotions) or emotionally neutral in our approach. Members of neutral cultures do not telegraph their feelings, but keep them carefully controlled and subdued. In cultures with high affect, people show their feelings plainly by laughing, smiling, grimacing, scowling – and sometimes crying, shouting, or walking out of the room.

This doesn’t mean that people in neutral cultures are cold or unfeeling. But in the course of normal business activities, neutral cultures are more careful to monitor the amount of emotion they display. Research conducted with people who were upset about something at work, noted that only some cultures supported expressing those feelings openly. Emotional reactions were found to beleast acceptable in Japan, Indonesia, the U.K., Norway and the Netherlands – and most accepted in Italy, France, the U.S. and Singapore.

It’s easy for people from neutral cultures to sympathize with the Dutch manager and his frustration over trying to reason with “that excitable Italian.” After all, an idea either works or it doesn’t work – and the way to test the validity of an idea is through trial and observation. That just makes sense – doesn’t it? Well, not necessarily to the Italian who felt the issue was deeply personal, and who viewed any “rational argument” as totally irrelevant!

In today’s global business community, there is no single best approach to communicating with one another. The key to cross-cultural success is to develop an understanding of, and a deep respect for, the differences.

How Culture Controls Communication

Backed by the Financial Times, Sifted publishes news and views across the entire European startup ecosystem. From funding rounds to thought-provoking commentary from some of the startup world’s most successful founders, Sifted is the place to go to find upcoming trends, hard-hitting startup journalism, and excellent think-pieces.&nbsp;

Best for the latest European startup news: Sifted

Startups Magazine is a digital and bi-monthly print magazine that offers great coverage and high-quality news stories from entrepreneurs at tech startups from all sectors.&nbsp;Articles cover a range of topics from funding to HR to diversity and thought leadership pieces.&nbsp;

Best for events and panels: Startups Magazine

Startups is aimed not just at tech startups, but at small businesses of any description. Based entirely online, Startups have an entire section dedicated to starting and growing a business, including articles on strategy, building a website, and marketing.

Best for small business advice: Startups

Maddyness is the place to get the latest news, views, insights and opinions on the ecosystem of startups, entrepreneurs and innovators.

Best for insights from fellow founders: Maddyness

Courier magazine aims to help readers “work better and live smarter”. They print six issues a year, with each one focusing on a specific sector and featuring inspirational founder stories and practical advice on how to crack the market yourself.&nbsp;

Best for inspiring stories and ideas: Courier

Real business is an all-round read for startup founders across all sectors. The UK based title’s news coverage gives a broad overview of current affairs and issues affecting businesses: from updates on government policy to the state of the property market.&nbsp;

Best all rounder: Real Business 

If you’re a startup founder, you’ve probably heard of sites like Entrepreneur and Forbes. But

If you’re a startup founder, you’ve probably heard of sites like Entrepreneur and Forbes. But how much have you delved into the wider media landscape designed specifically for startups in the UK and Europe? From monthly print magazines to websites dedicated to digital: if you know where to look, there are lots of publications that hold valuable insights for founders to glean.

Some are best for staying abreast of industry trends and monitoring competitors’ news; others are great for tips on how to run your business, helping you learn from others’ mistakes and successes. There are even titles which host their own networking events, awards, conferences and podcasts, and engaging with them could secure your next new business lead or profile raising opportunity.

To help you cut through the noise and get down to business, we’ve identified six essential reads for startup founders. If you don’t get time to browse them all today, you can always subscribe to one or two of the newsletters mentioned to keep up-to-date with more digestible snippets from the magazines. It’s also a good idea to follow some of these publications on Twitter if you want to get on the radar of target titles… Happy reading (and hustling)!

Best for the latest European startup news:  <a dir="ltr" href="https://sifted.eu/">Sifted </a>

If it’s good enough for the Financial Times it’s good enough for us. Backed by the big-shot broadsheet itself, Sifted publishes news and views across the entire European startup ecosystem. From which Healthtech, Fintech or any-other-tech has secured funding, to thought provoking commentary from some of the startup world’s most successful founders, this digital title is the ideal place to read up on your peers, competitors and potential investors. They also publish in-depth reports on industry trends, and host their own <a dir="ltr" href="https://sifted.eu/sifted-talks/?utm_source=sifted&amp;utm_medium=top-navbar&amp;utm_campaign=Talks">talks </a>with expert panels offering tips for founders.

Best for events and panels: <a dir="ltr" href="https://startupsmagazine.co.uk/">Startups Magazine </a>

This digital and bi-monthly print magazine has something to offer entrepreneurs at tech startups from all sectors. With articles covering a range of topics across HR, Funding, Diversity and more, you can learn ‘how to optimise cash flow’ one day, and ‘how to be inclusive of working parents’ the next.

As well as hosting their own free-to-attend webinars, with experts speaking around the theme of their current issue, their <a dir="ltr" href="https://startupsmagazine.co.uk/events">event calendar </a>is a great resource for industry masterclasses and panels. The same goes for their <a dir="ltr" href="https://startupsmagazine.co.uk/podcasts">podcast section </a>, which features their own offering – focused on interviews with founders in the startup space – alongside a large library of other relevant shows for founders to treat their ears to.

Best for small business advice:  <a dir="ltr" href="https://startups.co.uk/">Startups </a>

One of the more established titles in the space, Startups is aimed not just at tech startups, but at small businesses of any description. That includes would-be businesses who are in their ideas phase. Based entirely online, Startups have an entire section dedicated to starting and growing a business, including articles on strategy, building a website, and marketing.

Their practical guides are a great place for any budding entrepreneur to start. Even better if you end up being featured as one of their Dragon’s Den case studies, being interviewed for their ‘successful entrepreneur stories’, or ranking in their annual <a dir="ltr" href="https://startups.co.uk/startups-100/">Startups 100 awards </a>.

Best for insights from fellow founders:  <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.maddyness.com/uk/">Maddyness </a>

The UK branch of the hugely popular digital French magazine is definitely one to add to your reading list. If you want to know where investors’ money is going, we’d especially recommend keeping an eye on their weekly <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.maddyness.com/uk/maddymoney/">Maddymoney </a>series. The articles recap the number of investment deals each week, the total amount raised, and which businesses have secured the funding.

You can also look to their ‘News’ section for more updates on the lie of the land across innovation, tech, entrepreneurship and finance. Then, learn how your startup can become the centre of a funding round worth tens of millions of pounds by heading to their ‘Tools’ articles; where insights include ‘what investors will ask about your startup’s revenue plan’. As with Startups Magazine, Maddyness also compiles a list of industry <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.maddyness.com/uk/calendar/">event dates </a>for your calendar.

Best for inspiring stories and ideas: <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.couriermedia.com/">Courier </a>

Courier magazine is as much a guide to life as it is business. In their own words, they aim to help readers “work better and live smarter”. They only print six issues a year, with each one focusing on a specific sector and featuring inspirational founder stories and practical advice on how to crack the market yourself. Most recently they turned the spotlight on F&amp;B businesses, and previously they’ve looked into Design and Fashion.

You can also tap into a whole host of their content for free. Simply sign up to their <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.couriermedia.com/email/courier-weekly/">weekly </a>or <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.couriermedia.com/email/courier-workshop/">bi-weekly </a>newsletters (or browse the archives) for tips and tricks, as well as guides explaining how different business concepts can help you grow your startup. Keep an eye on their podcasts and events too, which are likely to start up again soon.

Best all rounder:  <a dir="ltr" href="https://realbusiness.co.uk/">Real Business </a>

This digital offering is a great all round read for startup founders across all sectors. The UK based title’s news coverage gives a broad overview on current affairs and issues affecting businesses: from updates on government policy to the state of the property market. They also have a practical advice section with experts weighing in on important issues like ‘how employers can best support pregnant employees’, to zeitgeisty topics such as ‘why your SME should be using TikTok’.

Both the interview and contributed opinion articles elevate the voices of small business founders. Besides gleaning lessons from others who’ve worn your shoes, familarising yourself with these sections is the best preparation you can do if you want to count your own story amongst them. The same goes for all the magazines we’ve listed here. Keeping your nose to the ground and your head in the books – or magazines – is the only way to truly learn what kind of content and angles different publications cover.

Still want more? For an EU-centric take on startup news, <a dir="ltr" href="https://siliconcanals.com/">Silicon Canals </a>and <a dir="ltr" href="https://tech.eu/">Tech.eu </a>areworth a scroll. Alternatively, for all the latest on UK-based funding rounds and expansions head to <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.uktech.news/">UK Tech News </a>and industry stalwart <a dir="ltr" href="https://techcrunch.com/">TechCrunch </a>.

by <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/libbycrotty?originalSubdomain=uk">Libby Crotty </a>, Senior Account Executive at Crest

6 publications every startup founder should read

Internal communications refers to the method of keeping employees informed about the goings-on of the business.&nbsp;Good internal comms create a shared understanding of company goals, values, and guidelines.&nbsp;Internal comms help keep employees up-to-date on a company’s latest initiatives as well as establishing clear communications among different departments.

Definition: Internal Comms

Business communication is information shared both internally and externally by a company, about the company.&nbsp;This could take the form of:<ul><li>&nbsp;an all-hands meeting</li><li>messages sent via an employee-engagement app, e.g. Slack</li><li>emails</li></ul>

Business comms

Internal communicators can connect people together in the business and help with communicating the following topics:<ul><li>The employee experience</li><li>Company-wide business goals</li><li>Changes related to digital transformation</li><li>Any new initiatives, executive hires, programs, or projects</li></ul>

What can internal comms communicate?

Good internal comms helps employees feel connected to the company—all the way to decisions, initiatives, programs, departments, and executive messages.&nbsp;These connections are vital to helping employees understand why their managers are making decisions.When employees are given the tools to understand what’s driving those decisions and changes, they are more likely to be receptive and engaged.

What is the purpose of internal comms

Dive into what internal communication means today. Get the trends, best practices, & the strategies you need to drive successful change.

What is Internal Communications in 2021?

Physicist Albert-László Barabási, in a TED talk, shared his thinking on the maths that goes into thinking about success. &nbsp;He came up with a simple equation:&nbsp;S = QrS stands for success, Q is that person's ability (to execute an idea) and r is the value of that idea.

The maths behind success

Have you heard of the saying: and if it doesn't work the first time, try and try again?&nbsp;Although perseverance may be seen as essential for success, Barabási argues that personal quality matters. The hard truth is that, however long you persevere and keep pushing the rock up a hill (think Sisyphus) "if you don't have what it takes, you just don't have what it takes".&nbsp;This view seems to run in contradistinction to the 10,000 hours rule, where you put in 10k hours of practice and you become an expert in a given field.

The hard truth: personal quality matters

Although it may sound all doom and gloom, knowing where your talents are, and being self-aware of your strengths, grants you the power to invest your energies into an activity that will:<ul><li>&nbsp;provide a higher rate of reward</li><li>be a better fit </li></ul>

The gift of self-awareness

"I thought I wanted to be a scientist when I went to Princeton...halfway through, I figured out I wasn't smart enough to be a physicist."

Those who are super successful in their chosen domain accept this truth.

Success can feel <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/the-missing-ingredient-for-greater-psychological-health-awe.html">mystical and mysterious </a>. But then again, if you're ignorant of the basic mechanics of the universe, so could gravity and the whirling of celestial bodies in the sky. But then physics mapped out the forces that cause apples to fall and the sun to set. Magic turned into <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.inc.com/scott-mautz/this-happiness-equation-is-the-surprisingly-simple.html">simple equations </a>.

The same transformation is possible with success, says physicist Albert-László Barabási in <a dir="ltr" href="https://ideas.ted.com/what-can-we-learn-from-people-who-succeed-later-in-life">a recent TED Ideas blog post </a>. In it, the <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316505498/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;%3Bcamp=1789&amp;%3Bcreative=9325&amp;%3BcreativeASIN=0316505498&amp;%3BlinkCode=as2&amp;%3Btag=inccom05-20&amp;%3BlinkId=df48caefd80fb2ea3f1db3ea0995e8de&amp;tag=wwwinccom-20">author </a>and Northeastern University-based expert on <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/this-is-the-biggest-predictor-of-career-success.html">network theory </a>explains how his team has developed a dead simple formula for success.

Drumroll, please. Here it is: S = Qr .

What does it mean? Success, or S , is the product of r , the potential value of a given idea, and Q , a person's ability to execute on that idea--i.e., their "Q-factor," or combination of innate talent and skill, which makes them effective or not in their chosen field.

"So, if an individual with a low Q-factor comes across a great idea with a huge r value, the impact will still be mediocre, as the resulting product--or Qr --is diminished by the small Q-factor. Fantastic idea, poor execution. Think Apple's first handheld Newton, with its inept handwriting recognition. The reverse also happens: A creative person with a high Q-factor can put out multiple weak or mediocre--or low r --products," explains Barabási.

Occasionally, a great idea and exceptional skill collide. That's when you get epic success.

All of which seems logical, but is it useful? How can this equation help strivers increase their chances of finding great success? In two ways, Barabási says.

First, the math proves that the more ideas you have--the more times you plug an r of whatever value into the equation--the greater your chances of success. But you've probably heard that before. We all know that tenacity is essential for success. (Even if some of us fail to realize this means <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/youre-never-too-old-for-a-career-breakthrough-massive-new-study-shows.html">you can be successful at any age </a>--all that matters is that you continue producing the same quantities of ideas.)

But this equation also highlights another less often recognized but perhaps more essential truth about success. It's one we don't talk about as much because it's not nearly as uplifting. In short, personal quality matters and, sorry, while you can labor to get marginally better in a given field, if you just don't have what it takes, you just don't have what it takes.

Don't believe me? Math doesn't lie. "Once my team and I figured out how to measure a scientist's Q-factor, we learned it remained unchanged throughout her career," says Barabási, before anticipating readers' objections:

"The data was clear: We all start our careers with a given Q , high or low, and that Q-factor stays with us until retirement. Well, I had a hard time believing that I was as good a scientist when I wrote my first research paper at 22, the one with absolutely zero impact, as I am now. And you probably feel you weren't anywhere near as good a teacher, writer, doctor, or salesperson in your 20s as you are now. However, we spent six months rechecking our findings, and we came to the same conclusion."

That sounds pretty depressing, and in some ways it is, but <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/5-tough-life-truths-you-don-t-want-to-admit.html">you don't get anywhere in life by ignoring truths </a>just because they're hard.

There is an upside to accepting you are naturally lousy at some things and that, no matter how hard you try, you will never be good enough at them to generate massive success. Face that reality, and you avoid wasting your energy chasing fruitless dreams. Instead, you can pursue other opportunities you're better suited for.

And no, this isn't the loser's consolation prize. Incredibly successful folks in many domains have spoken publicly about how a clear-eyed understanding of their strengths and weaknesses was essential for their success.

<a dir="ltr" href="https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/this-is-number-1-sign-of-high-intelligence-according-to-jeff-bezos.html">Jeff Bezos </a>admitted that back in the day he wanted to be a physicist. "I thought I wanted to be a scientist when I went to Princeton," <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/15/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-shares-the-career-advice-he-gives-his-kids.html">he said </a>. "Halfway through, I figured out I wasn't smart enough to be a physicist." Instead, he switched to business, founded Amazon, and became--and we can all agree this is no consolation prize--the world's richest man.

This isn't true just for those pursuing science or business success. Artists need similar clarity. Academy Award-winner Reese Witherspoon believes in being brutally honest with her kids about their talents, or lack thereof.

"I remember [my daughter] Ava crying in bed in third grade--she was on JV basketball and she was the only kid on the team who didn't score. I said, 'Aves, maybe you're bad at basketball.' She thought that was mean. I said, 'Mean or true? 'Cause, guess what? Your mom's bad at basketball, too,'" <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reese-witherspoon-brutally-honest-parenting-2018-11">she's related </a>.

Witherspoon, like Bezos, no doubt understands how important your Q-factor is for success. You either have it or you don't. That means throwing your energies into a field where your ability just isn't high enough is a recipe for misery (<a dir="ltr" href="https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/hobbies-dont-need-to-make-you-money.html">simply pursuing it for pleasure </a>is totally valid but different). Follow Bezos's example and switch to a path you're more suited for and you can save yourself a lot of wasted energy and years.

That's why super successful people like Bezos and Witherspoon are brutally cold-eyed in assessing their own abilities. Confidence and grit have their place, but only after you've mastered <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/how-to-find-yourself-according-to-science-live-abroad.html">self-awareness </a>.

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The Brutal Truth About Success Jeff Bezos and Reese Witherspoon Understand That You Don't

Social Learning tools definition:&nbsp;Social learning tools are tools that use <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_software" target="_self">social software</a> and/or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media" target="_self">social media</a> to make possible the process of learning through either the interaction between individuals and interactions between pieces of software.

Definition: Social learning tools

Social learning tools aid the learning process by helping to create connections between <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learner" target="_self">learners</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teacher" target="_self">t</a>eachers and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information" target="_self">information</a>.

Why do they work?

<ol><li>Technology is a feature of social learning tools. Technology allows for physical and cognitive learning.&nbsp;</li><li>Interactions between users are key to social learning tools. These interactions should encourage both educational and social connections.&nbsp;</li><li>Trust is arguably the most important feature. Users should feel that the tool is trustworthy, and that content that is created through the tool is valuable and insightful.&nbsp;</li></ol>

Features of social learning tools

Social learning tools are tools used for <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedagogy" title="Pedagogy">pedagogical </a><a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-1">[1] </a> and <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andragogy" title="Andragogy">andragogical </a><a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-2">[2] </a> purposes that utilize <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_software" title="Social software">social software </a>and/or <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media" title="Social media">social media </a>in order to facilitate learning through interactions between individuals and systems.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:7-3">[3] </a> The idea of setting up "social learning tools" is to make education more convenient and widespread.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:9-4">[4] </a> It also allows an interaction between users and/or the software which can bring a different aspect to learning. People can acquire knowledge by distance learning tools, for instance, <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook" title="Facebook">Facebook </a>, <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter" title="Twitter">Twitter </a>, <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_Academy" title="Khan Academy">Khan Academy </a>and so on. Social learning tools may mediate in <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formal_learning" title="Formal learning">formal </a>or <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informal_learning" title="Informal learning">informal learning </a>environments to help create connections between <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learner" title="Learner">learners </a>, <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teacher" title="Teacher">instructors </a>and <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information" title="Information">information </a>.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:7-3">[3] </a> These connections form dynamic knowledge networks.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:7-3">[3] </a> Social learning tools are used in schools for teaching/learning and in businesses for training. Within a school environment, the use of social learning tools can affect not only the user (student) but his/her caretaker as well as his/her instructor. It brings a different approach to the traditional way of learning which affects the student and his/her support circle. Companies also use social learning tools. They used them to improve knowledge transfer within departments and across teams. Businesses use a variety of these tools to create a social learning environment.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:8-5">[5] </a> They are also used in company settings to help improve team work, problem solving, and performance in stressful situations.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:8-5">[5] </a>

Social learning tools are used for people who are willing to share their good ideas/thoughts with someone else. The ideas can be related to either the academic studies or any other daily skills that we want to share with others. Social learning tools connect learning to our daily lives. It creates a learning environment more truthful to today's society. There are a couple of common elements that should be present in a social learning tool. Technology should be involved to allow physical and cognitive learning. There should be interactions between the people who use the tool and interactions with the software. Another element is trust. Users should trust the software and what other people have created.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-6">[6] </a>

<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogger_(service)" title="Blogger (service)">Blogger </a>is a site in which users can create their own blog. Blogger can be used in an educational context. A teacher could create a blog in which students could interact on. This would allow students to improve their writing and planning skills. Students would have to think about how they would write out their information on the blog in order to convey their message properly. Blogger provides opportunities for students to share what they wrote with their peers and with their caretakers. The blogs could also be a form of electronic portfolios that could show what the students created during the school year. Blogger has settings in which only people with permission can see or write on the blogs themselves.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-7">[7] </a>

<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook" title="Facebook">Facebook </a>is an online communication tool that allows individuals to interact with each other within a virtual community. It has become the most popular social networking site since its beginnings in 2004. Facebook was co-founded in 2004 by <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Zuckerberg" title="Mark Zuckerberg">Mark Zuckerberg </a>with his roommates and colleagues from <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_University" title="Harvard University">Harvard University </a>.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:10-8">[8] </a> Zuckerberg is presently the <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CEO" title="CEO">CEO </a>of Facebook.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:10-8">[8] </a> This online communication tool can be used for personal and for professional purposes. Technology plays an integral part of students' daily lives and teachers will need to find ways of implementing these technologies into their classrooms.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-9">[9] </a> Research is currently being conducted on the benefits of implementing Facebook in educational settings and how it could potentially be used as a tool for teaching and learning, even if it is known for social networking in the first place.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-10">[10] </a> For example, Facebook can be used to create discussion groups for group projects to divide the work and stay up to date with each other. It can also be used to share articles. Educators can also create professional Facebook accounts for their classrooms, which could be potentially used as a dashboard to upload course material and assignments. It can also be used to create polls to get some feedback and suggestions on the course that the teacher would like to implement. The objective is to improve the methods of teaching as well as the learning experience of students.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-11">[11] </a> With the use of technologies, students are more engaged in their learning.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:9-4">[4] </a>

<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Hangouts" title="Google Hangouts">Google Hangouts </a>is a <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication_software" title="Communication software">communication software platform </a>that was created by <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google" title="Google">Google </a>. Some features of this social learning tool include starting a chat conversation or video call, phone calls through WI-FI or data and sending messages. All you need is a Google Account.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-12">[12] </a> Google Hangouts has become an increasingly popular tool to participate and communicate with people around the world. It can be seen as a better version of <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype" title="Skype">Skype </a>in the sense that it has the potential to record or have a group chat without the occasional availability issues that may be seen in the free version of Skype.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-13">[13] </a> This makes it easily accessible and efficient in many ways. There are also many other useful tools from Google like <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Drive" title="Google Drive">Google Drive </a>that allow users to take part in editing and sharing different content, assignments, and sources even when not together. It only takes an Internet connection and everything is saved in your own personal drive.

<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instagram" title="Instagram">Instagram </a>, founded in 2010, is a <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking_app" title="Social networking app">social networking app </a>that was created for sharing photos and videos.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-14">[14] </a> Used very frequently in today's society, Instagram can be seen as a great social learning tool through reaching the majority of the populations that have access to the Internet. It has become one of the most popular apps in the social networking world and is now used as a way to campaign companies or organizations.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-15">[15] </a> It may be used for educational purposes by posting photos or 1-minute videos of information or subject content. It may also be used for photo essays or creating an organization or lesson.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-16">[16] </a>

<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_Academy" title="Khan Academy">Khan Academy </a>, founded in 2006 by <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sal_Khan" title="Sal Khan">Salman “Sal” Khan </a>, is a non-profit organization providing free online educational resources used by millions of people worldwide.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:3-17">[17] </a> It is best known for its strong mathematics content provided through video tutorials.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:4-18">[18] </a> The mathematics content is designed to help students from kindergarten to grade 12.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:4-18">[18] </a> In 2009, Khan Academy began expanding its educational learning platform to include other subjects, including art history and computer science.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:4-18">[18] </a> The mathematics section is also much more accessible since its recent translation into French. Khan Academy has also diverged to offering other means of learning beyond the online videos, including self-paced training exercises, quizzes, and dashboards for teachers to keep track of student progress.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:5-19">[19] </a> There is also the coach resource section which provides guidelines to parents or teachers for example, who want to learn how to use Khan Academy.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:5-19">[19] </a>

Khan Academy is used in majority by individuals outside of school for study purposes. However, in recent years, its use in educational settings has been increasing.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:3-17">[17] </a> Some teachers have implemented the use of Khan Academy in their classrooms, believing it would simply be an adjunct to their instruction. However, it became more important than this. Some teachers are now thinking of “flipping” the normal functioning of classroom settings and including video tutorials from Khan Academy in their teaching.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:6-20">[20] </a> The idea is to have students watch the videos or read the lectures provided by the teacher at home and to do the problem sets during class time. It has been shown that students are having the most difficulty when they are doing their homework.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:6-20">[20] </a>

<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinterest" title="Pinterest">Pinterest </a>is a web-based <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_Platform" title="Software Platform">software platform </a>that allows its users to share and discover new information through the use of pictures, descriptions, and short videos. It can also be seen as an online pin board where users can post on their board, collect from other boards, and privately share posted pins.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-21">[21] </a> This can be useful in the classroom through having students post their works on their own board or a class board and to share (re-pin) information between their peers. It is easily accessible and is popular for its application that can be used on any mobile or <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_device" title="Smart device">smart device </a>.

<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype" title="Skype">Skype </a>is a free telecommunications tool that gives its users the opportunity to voice chat or video call between various devices such as laptops and cellphones. Although this application requires the Internet, it has grown to be one of the world's most popular communication tools. Skype is an excellent resource to use when collaborating with participants who are in remote areas because discussions and communication can still occur. Skype can be applied to classrooms in many ways. For example, it can be used as a way to include students who are at home due to illness into collaborative discussions held in class.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-22">[22] </a>

<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter" title="Twitter">Twitter </a>is an established micro-blogging service available to individuals with Internet access world-wide and provides unlimited access to social networks for its users, to send and receive messages. In 2006, it was funded by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams. One of the common site users is media outlets to broadcast current news updates.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-23">[23] </a> For this reason, people use Twitter as a daily source of information to inform themselves on local and world news. Another way that Twitter is utilized, is in the classroom, when a teacher builds a classroom account which can be viewed by their students. This account would allow teachers to post reminders for test revisions, assignment due dates, upcoming field trips and conferences, and review post lessons and answer homework questions. For future lesson plans, teachers could have students tweet what they learned from the previous class and reflect on the content and then engage in classroom discussions on Twitter.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-24">[24] </a>

<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube" title="YouTube">YouTube </a>is a video-sharing website founded in 2005 that was created for users to share, like, upload, and comment on videos.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-25">[25] </a> Nowadays, YouTube can be used on many devices through applications like its <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube_App" title="YouTube App">YouTube app </a>. Although it is mainly used for music, videos on reviewing items or how to do something, it may also be used for educational purposes. There are many accounts just for specific educational subjects like <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crash_Course_(YouTube)" title="Crash Course (YouTube)">Crash Course </a>, an account that focuses on subjects like anatomy, biology, chemistry and physics. YouTube can be a great social learning tool in education in many different ways: showing videos on different subjects in class or having students research how something works to answer questions, for homework or even to seek further knowledge. There are many platforms of YouTube that lead to other useful social learning tools for educational purposes. <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TED_Talks" title="TED Talks">TED Talks </a>created its account on YouTube, which provides videos of the best ideas from trusted voices discussing different issues, sharing knowledge or facts and opinions, sharing poetry and spoken word.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-26">[26] </a> For education, TED has created its own platform called <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TED-Ed" title="TED-Ed">TED-Ed </a>, which is essentially short TED Talks videos that may be used for information or insight purposes on many different school subjects.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-27">[27] </a> There is even such thing as <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TeacherTube" title="TeacherTube">TeacherTube </a>, which is another type of social learning tool similar to YouTube though initially created for education teachers. It may be used for teachers, students or parents through the use of published educational videos with a library of different content filled with videos, audio and pictures.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-28">[28] </a>

The different environments in which social learning tools can be used may influence the connections between learners, educators and the knowledge or information being acquired. These environments can be formal, non-formal, informal or virtual.

<ul><li><a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formal_learning" title="Formal learning">Formal learning </a> , is the planned process of acquiring knowledge that happens within a structured educational or institute setting.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-29">[29] </a> Lecturers in the university setting may use <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moodle" title="Moodle">Moodle </a>to post class lectures and the latest information to students, e.g. courseware used during lectures, coursework, quizzes, and forums. Students can both prepare and review for lectures based on what professors have posted at any given time. </li><li><a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonformal_learning" title="Nonformal learning">Non-formal learning </a>, is the planned process learning that is voluntary and not in a structured environment.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-30">[30] </a> Most of planned learning that is not directly associated with school or the education system is done in a non-formal learning environment. For example, taking swimming lessons at the town pool. The swimming lessons take place in an unstructured environment though are planned, organized, and taught by an instructor of prior knowledge on the subject. Social learning tools can be used in this particular environment to facilitate learning like showing a video on <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube" title="YouTube">YouTube </a>on how to swim. </li><li><a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informal_learning" title="Informal learning">Informal learning </a> , is when information is gained inadvertently or unstructured, which usually happens on a day-to-day basis. Informal learning happens outside of the formal classroom during conversations among people, through exploration and personal experiences.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-31">[31] </a> Many circumstances can be considered to be part of an informal learning environment, e.g. the casual watching of videos on <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instagram" title="Instagram">Instagram </a>, <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook" title="Facebook">Facebook </a>or <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube" title="YouTube">YouTube </a>feed. </li><li><a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_learning_environment" title="Virtual learning environment">Virtual learning </a>, is when learning is done via the use of web-based platforms in and out of school.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-32">[32] </a> This learning environment is almost always used for any social learning tool. The virtual learning environment (VLE) encourages students to explore, discover and exchange information quickly, creatively and independently.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-33">[33] </a> </li> </ul>

There are many social learning tools created for the sole purpose of education. The education system has adopted technology as a way to educate students in school and outside of school settings, where students have shown to work well in the VLE.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-34">[34] </a> Social learning tools including <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moodle" title="Moodle">Moodle </a>, <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_Academy" title="Khan Academy">Khan Academy </a>, <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TED-Ed" title="TED-Ed">TED-Ed </a>and <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TeacherTube" title="TeacherTube">TeacherTube </a>can all be used both in school and at home through the use of the <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet" title="Internet">Internet </a>. This goes to show that social learning tools can be both used within all learning environments while being used for educational purposes. However, it is important for these social learning tools to first be introduced in the formal learning environment, e.g. in the classroom, in order to be established as first an educational tool and second a <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media_platform" title="Social media platform">social media platform </a>that may be accessible outside of school.

The majority of informal learning environments are directly related to the use of social media, e.g. <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook" title="Facebook">Facebook </a>, <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instagram" title="Instagram">Instagram </a>, <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter" title="Twitter">Twitter </a>, <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_channels" title="Television channels">Television Channels </a>and so on. For instance, there are many Food TV or <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube" title="YouTube">YouTube </a>Channels that allow people to self-teach themselves how to cook. This is done through the informal and VLE where a person can simply learn from the comfort of their own home and according to their own pace. Not only does <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_software" title="Social software">social software </a>or <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_(communication)" title="Media (communication)">media </a>allow society to gain new knowledge or information; it is easily accessible and can even happen without the desire or intent of learning.

<ul><li>The student/employee learning experience is expanded and advanced through the usage of technology. </li> </ul>

Social learning tools are convenient because through the various platforms that are now available, communication between students and teachers is fluid and the exchange of knowledge and ideas can be achieved remotely. This means that both parties are no longer required to travel in order to attend school and to study content based subjects.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-pmid15192994-35">[35] </a> Students can communicate with their teachers over the Internet and attend and actively participate in lectures. Social learning tools provide both students and teachers with a media platform that enables <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distance_education" title="Distance education">distance education </a>.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-36">[36] </a>

Social learning tools give access, as a hub, to sources of information and resources online, either for free or at low costs through the use of the Internet. Most of these tools can easily be downloaded and used on a smartphone, tablet or computer. For example, there are online applications (<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_software" title="Application software">apps </a>) like EasyBib, which generates bibliographic citations in the necessary styles as needed for research, essays and other assignments and does this at no cost.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-37">[37] </a>

Social learning tools are applicable to elementary, high school, CEGEP, and university level learning. The social media platforms such as Facebook, Skype or Twitter could enhance the communication and interaction between students and their teachers. For example, teachers could post assignments, schedules, lesson summaries or notices regarding class updates for the students to view. For professional development, it provides teachers with the networking to connect with other professionals, share lesson plans, and receive up to date research regarding how education is taught.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-38">[38] </a>

Additionally, students could post their questions online for the teacher to answer in the group section, have class discussions and exchange ideas, and incorporate other forms of communication. As well, enable students to find real world applications and associate it with their topic. The platforms mentioned above, allow students to look beyond the classroom for answers to questions and to obtain outside input.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:02-39">[39] </a>

Social networking permits students to research and gather information on topics beyond the classroom setting. For example, Twitter is one of the social learning tools implemented into classrooms for language learning. Tweets are a method of improving short essays and supports grammatically correct writing and reading skills of a language. It is a form of active learning which further engages the students. After posting a tweet, students would get feedback from other site users and have a second opinion on their writing piece. Another advantage would be to use Twitter in large lecture halls, so students could engage in the topic of discussion and share their interests and thoughts with their colleagues and professors in an ongoing basis.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-40">[40] </a>

There are several advantages to the field of commerce, when it comes to implementing social learning tools in the workplace. If businesses create a forum for customers to write their feedbacks, they could have more ideas about how to improve their products, which enables the company to create better marketing strategies. Furthermore, employees could use the Internet or other program systems, in order to work from home. They could be informed about the current issues and concerns of the workplace. It allows people to concentrate without any distractions at the office, it offers the flexibility of scheduling, time engagement and committing.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-pmid15192994-35">[35] </a>

Social media platforms has made searching for job employment and connecting with potential employers more available for students entering the workforce for both part-time and full-time work. For example, Facebook and Twitter can be utilized to follow the companies’ postings and what is going on in the field.

<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LinkedIn" title="LinkedIn">LinkedIn </a>is a website designed for students or other individuals to create professional profiles, post their curriculum vitae, receive current notifications on available employment and network with companies, businesses, school boards and industries to apply for a wider variety of job offers.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:02-39">[39] </a>

A major concern among educators regarding social learning tools is the lack of control and monitoring. When students are given access to the Internet, they may post inappropriate content or use these sites in a way that can be disrespectful or damaging to others. Educators do not always have the means to be able to monitor every student's usage of these social learning tools, therefore students may be able to take advantage of this privilege for their own personal benefit and amusement. Posting pornography or using foul language are just a few examples that highlight the offensive and inappropriate behaviour that can be exhibited by students through social learning tools in classrooms.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-41">[41] </a>

Social learning tools give students access to the Internet, where they can take advantage of other irrelevant websites and interfaces. It is very easy for students to get distracted by other social platforms that can divert their attention away from information being presented in class.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:0-42">[42] </a> This ultimately results in a disruption to the student's learning process which is a common concern for the majority of faculty members.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:1-43">[43] </a> Some research has shown that disruption to the learning process can significantly affect a student's ability to retain information into their long-term memory.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-44">[44] </a> Educators should be made aware of the potential risk for technology to be a distraction and set clear guidelines for their students to follow.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:0-42">[42] </a>

As the use of technology increases, cyberbullying is becoming more prevalent among students.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-45">[45] </a> Although social learning tools give students the ability to interact with teachers and peers, it also provides them with the opportunity to bully others online. This type of malicious behaviour can be seen at every level of education, including college campuses.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:0-42">[42] </a> Educators should plan to intervene on any incidents of cyberbullying that they witness in order to prevent more serious offences. They should also encourage respectful and positive behaviours towards peers when in the classroom and online.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-46">[46] </a>

There is much speculation about whether or not social learning tools can provide enough opportunity for the development of real-life social skills. Some educators are concerned that students will not fully develop the ability to communicate effectively or command attention if they are constantly learning through a screen. Although social learning tools create opportunities for students to interact with others via web interfaces, it does not offer them authentic real-life interactions where students are forced to express themselves verbally or connect with others face-to-face.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:0-42">[42] </a>

Social learning tools such as Facebook and Twitter are online networking websites that are public and can be accessed by anyone. Parents and educators alike have expressed their concerns about students using these platforms, as they could expose students’ identities.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:1-43">[43] </a> Protecting students’ personal privacy should be a top priority for educators, however this can be a challenge when using social learning tools. To prevent these issues from arising, schools should develop a system which ensures that students stay anonymous when posting content online.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-47">[47] </a>

Social learning tools give students the ability to communicate efficiently with teachers outside of regular classroom hours. Although this may be a benefit to student learning, excessive stress is placed on teachers to respond quickly and provide feedback. Many faculty members have expressed that technology has harmed their work environment, as digital communication increases their stress levels. Furthermore, they have reported that digital communication has increased the number of hours they work in a day.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-:1-43">[43] </a> Educators can also experience added pressure to learn how to teach with social learning tools. Many teachers are skilled with using technology, however they do not possess the knowledge on how to implement social learning tools in teaching. Educators need to be taught how and when to use technology, so they can effectively implement it within their curriculum.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-48">[48] </a>

Academic integrity is an important part of learning in all educational settings. Plagiarism is a concern for teachers that can be amplified when students are using social learning tools. The Internet is a database that holds a multitude of resources available to online users. Unfortunately, direct access to all of this information when using social learning tools makes it easy for students to copy the work of others and use it as their own.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-49">[49] </a>

Social learning tools would not exist without the technological devices that harbor them. In order to implement social learning tools into the classroom, the school or school board must invest a large sum of money in order to purchase technological devices for its students.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-50">[50] </a> Depending on the budget available, there may not be enough money to buy devices for every student to use. Furthermore, personal cell phones are a popular device that can be used as a vehicle for teaching using social learning tools.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-51">[51] </a> However, not every student has the money to buy a cell phone.<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_learning_tools#cite_note-52">[52] </a>

Social learning tools - Wikipedia

Do you want to make it in business? Think you can do it without reading? Think again.Here's a stash with the top 8 business magazines for all you budding business brains who want to make it in the world of business.

The Top Leaders Are Big Readers

HBR is a bi-monthly publication brimming with top business research.&nbsp;Harvard is home to one of the best business schools in the world, so its materials make great reading for juniors starting out and professionals at the peak of their career.&nbsp;Topics include:<ul><li>management and leadership</li><li>marketing and organization</li><li>long-term strategy &amp; more</li></ul>

Best all-rounder: Harvard Business Review

Money magazine is the best you get to gain a general understanding to all thing finance. They also create annual lists of “America's Best Places to Live,” and several other “Best Of” lists, e.g. best places to travel in the US or best colleges.&nbsp;

Best for money: Money Magazine

Bloomberg Businessweek is, you guessed it, a weekly magazine produced by Bloomberg, the media giant providing financial software tools such as an analytics and equity trading platform.&nbsp;But be warned, topics are highly specialised, ranging from business productivity, political campaigns and cryptocurrency.

Best for business: Bloomberg Businessweek

Forbes is home to 'The Billionaires List', 'World’s 100 Most Powerful Women List' and hardcore journalism. Their magazine is published eight times a year with topics on business, finance, marketing and lifestyle. It's a must for all business brains out there.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The best for lists: Forbes

Wired is a monthly magazine that focuses on the role of technology in our lives, and its evolution.&nbsp; If you're into science, tech and culture, and are a proud podster, check out its award-winning weekly podcast discussing NFT's, crypto, and tech predictions.

The best for tech: Wired  

A must for all business owners and start-up founders.&nbsp;Founded by an MIT trained engineer, it has now become an industry leader in all things small business and startup tech.Inc also produces an annual list of the fastest growing private companies in the United States and provides special reports on topics such as the best places to work as well as daily news on money, tech, and management.&nbsp;

Best for start-ups: Inc

If you are serious about investing and finance as a career, you should read Fortune's Investor’s Guide.&nbsp;Inside, you can read articles on investment and finance, all presented in an easily accessible format, as well as articles on business news. For that reason, Fortune provides a great springboard into the world of investment.&nbsp;

Best for investors: Fortune

A weekly magazine with a global outlook, with topics ranging from the political landscape to how to make the most of your hard-earned cash.&nbsp;Comprising of shorter and long-form essays, The Economist is entertaining reading for those with a passion for the world around them.&nbsp;

Best for economy: The Economist

Read reviews and buy the best business magazines including Harvard Business Review, Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes, Wired and more.

The business world is tough and competitive, and everyone knows that to succeed in it, you have to have a wide array of skills. You have to be personable with clients and coworkers, knowledgeable enough to do the work required of you, tech-adept to grow and evolve over the course of your career, and have the ability to persevere enough to put in long hours in less than ideal conditions.

A little-remembered fact, though, that will get you through thick and thin is this: the smartest business minds are great at math and management, but they are also serious readers. The top CEOs are known to read hundreds of volumes a year from fiction and non-fiction alike.

The best business minds also know that staying on top of the news is critical, and they know that weekly and monthly magazines often provide the best outlet for doing so. While the Internet is here to stay, so are the glossy magazines we know and love. Read on to see the best business magazines to pick up today.

Best for Professionals: Harvard Business Review

If you want to read Harvard Business Review articles, you are going to have to subscribe. Their paywall is notoriously tough, and their materials are used in classrooms around the world. But if you do pony up for a subscription, this bi-monthly publication includes info on top research, news, and developments in many different fields of business. After the 2009 hire of Adi Ignatius, the now editor-in-chief, HBR started to become a cutting-edge publication that covered business news as it was happening rather than just the academic research that had been its mainstay since 1922. As one of the top business schools in the world, Harvard produces in-depth material that is essential reading for business students, professors, and professionals at all levels of their careers. It is geared toward managers more than towards early career professionals, but there is something inside for everyone with an interest in serious business reading. Frequently covered topics include management and leadership, marketing and organization, long-term strategy, and personal negotiation skills.

If you are looking for a general guide to investing, saving, and budgeting, this is the magazine for you. Whether your five years away for retirement or 50, this magazine regularly features advice on how to choose an investment strategy that will help meet your goals and features real families who have done so, like a family who paid off $100,000 in debt while also raising young children. You might know them best for their annual list of “America's Best Places to Live,” which highlights different cities in America with an eye towards affordability, as well as several other “Best Of” lists, like the best places to travel in America or go to college.

Best for Business News: Bloomberg Businessweek

This weekly magazine is produced by the same company professional finance guys, and gals love for their indispensable Bloomberg Terminal. Though the company has struggled through the last recession, its first edition was printed weeks before the stock market crash in 1929, and they’ve been providing essential business news to industry professionals ever since. While the topics inside are geared towards a reader with highly specialized knowledge, there is something inside for casual readers as well as career professionals. If you’re looking to join the ranks of the latter, Businessweek produces a respectable list of the best MBA programs annually, so you can take your pick and read it, too. In addition to news on markets and technology, the magazine also features beloved opinion columnists who offer fresh takes on a variety of topics, as well as a wide array of online podcasts for subscribers to enjoy.

Forbes has never met a list it does not love. Their annual Forbes Billionaires List is always a topic of hot conversations and the product of years and years of hardcore investigative journalism, their World’s 100 Most Powerful Women List celebrates the strength of feminism, their investment guides help countless individuals manage their money, and the smattering of other lists both inform and delight. But apart from these lovely lists, the magazine is also a serious bi-weekly offering of articles on everything from lifestyle to leadership, markets to menus, innovation to industry shakeups. Recent articles include Bezos Unbound: Exclusive Interview With The Amazon Founder On What He Plans To Conquer Next and a variety of other offerings that only an industry leader could provide.

This monthly magazine focuses on how technology is changing the world around us – our personal lives, the society at large, the business world and even our politics. If you love staying up to date on the latest tech developments, you will love this colorful and always informative publication. While it is sure to delight tech nerds who thrive without sunlight and are bathed continuously in code, it also has popular appeal for the everyday reader who likes to stay connected. Recent hit articles include reviews of the best headphones for long runs and gym workouts as well as a look back at 25 years of a Wired geek culture column which was aptly called, “The Angry Nerds Won, And Now We’re All Sunk.”

This magazine is the place for small business owners and startup folks to revel in the awesome world of entrepreneurial business. It was founded by an MIT trained engineer and has since become an industry leader in all things small business and startup tech, including producing an annual list of the fastest growing private companies in the United States. The magazine provides in-depth special reports on topics like the best places to work and the country’s most productive entrepreneurs, as well as daily news on money, tech, and management. If you are looking to learn from the best startups, this is the best place to start.

If you read one annual investment list, it should be the Fortune Investor’s Guide. While sometimes folks get caught up on the flashiest new stocks or bogged down by the trusty playing it safe investment methods, Fortune strikes the balance of providing the most in-depth and useful investment information while delivering it in a format that is accessible to folks who aren't financing professionals. Fortune also offers thoughtful articles on business news as well as profiles of industry leaders who are shaping the business world around us. They investigate tough questions, like whether older workers are really as tech-averse as they’re made out to be, and the real reasons people quit their jobs.

Call it stodgy if you must, but The Economist is undoubtedly no-nonsense. The weekly magazine is dense and packed with short and long takes on the business news of the week, as well as business, takes on the news of the week. Unlike many other publications on this list, The Economist offers a truly global look at the world – they are headquartered outside of the United States and have offices around the global landscape. In addition to finance topics and business news, The Economist also analyzes science and technology through a global lens. If you want a lengthy magazine to read on the weekend or on your daily commute, this could be the one. Many will also enjoy the sometimes sassy tone that the British editors take in their view of the world.

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The 8 Best Business Magazines

In the early days of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO, instilled the following rule:&nbsp;<ul><li>"every internal team should be small enough that it can be fed with two pizzas"</li></ul>He wasn't skimping on catering - instead, he purposefully wanted to create teams that were efficient.&nbsp;

The Two-Pizza Rule 

Jeff Bezos’s firm is good at selling things to shoppers, but that is the tip of its commercial iceberg 

Andreea 📕