About the Course

Welcome to the course homepage for EDCI 338 at the University of Victoria!


EDCI 338 is a course designed to introduce learners to social media and personalized learning and is offered as an elective in the Faculty of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the Educational Technology area.

This is an online course and can be completed without attending a face-to-face class session on campus. However, we will have synchronous online sessions on a weekly basis to have conversations about the course, offer support, and build social relationships. Also, since this course site is open on the web (with a few things behind passwords for privacy), anyone may follow along and participate as much as they desire.

This course site sometimes hosts multiple sections of EDCI 338, so be sure that you are following the correct section and schedule. For Fall 2025, beginning September 3, 2025, Maryam Shirdel Pour will be teaching section A01. You can find the specific schedule for your section under the ‘Sections’ menu at the top of each page.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your instructor.

For further information about the education technology program area courses and programs, including graduate studies, you may contact the educational technology area advisor, Dr. Valerie Irvine, at edtech at uvic dot ca.

We look forward to learning with you!

Calendar Description

DDCI 338 examines the application of social media in educational contexts and its relationship to personalized learning. Utilizes blogs and other social media tools to develop networked literacy and learning networks that contribute to their professional practice in legal, safe, consensual and ethical ways.

COURSE STRUCTURE AND DESCRIPTION/GOALS

Social Media and Personalized Learning examines how social media can enhance learning experiences and support personal learning pathways in digital environments. The course explores the concept of personalized learning, its significance, and its connections to learning theories, while also addressing issues of equity and accessibility in digital spaces. Through weekly engagement in PodGroups are organized at the beginning of the course, and students will develop personal learning networks (PLNs) to support their academic and professional growth. Class discussions and activities emphasize ethical participation, safety, and digital citizenship, including data privacy, Creative Commons licensing, copyright, and fair dealing. Active, thoughtful participation is expected and required each week.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Describe how social media can support personalized learning experiences and explain its relevance to learning theories.
• Demonstrate an understanding of digital identity by managing their online presence and participating safely, responsibly, and ethically in digital spaces.
• Identify ethical and privacy considerations involved in the use of digital tools in educational contexts.
• Develop and manage a personal learning network (PLN) to support ongoing academic and professional learning.
• Evaluate digital content and tools for their appropriateness and impact in educational settings.
• Apply learning theories and strategies to design, reflect on, and improve personalized learning experiences.