ABSTRACT
The ten activities presented in this chapter look at the incredible settings in which we learn. We also discuss the likeliness that our near future learning will take place in an ever-widening range of settings and situations. Informal and spontaneous learning networks have already formed using social media around themes and issues, and these exist and develop outside of what we might see as more formal and “traditional” learning setting such as the institutions of schools, colleges and universities. Traditional learning institutions aspire to support and promote the wellbeing of their members. This chapter explores how more informal networks do the same, and should they aspire to do so? Can, and should, informal learning communities consider wellbeing (both the wellbeing of those who participate in the community and the impact of the activities of the community on those connected to it and outside it)? There may also be benefits to this type of learning in that it may be philosophically profoundly different in its underlying beliefs and approaches; the concept of open-source coding is a good illustration of the potential for a collaborative, interactive approach to learning and developing ideas together rather than an information-retaining approach with the “inner workings” either not shared or only shared with select groups. Some examinations and discussions look at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and similar platforms which are often the means by which informal learning networks arise, for instance via a Twitter hashtag (see further reading) or a content creator with a particular theme or subject who gains followers who then interact with each other within the follower network. assembles on a social media platform (or across more than one) is vast. This chapter also looks at the nature of social media platforms as they currently function: often gaining and holding the attention of users as a priority and if that has a result of an increase in an emotion or state for a user that is negative for their wellbeing, such as anxiety and the development of extremist views, the sharing of false or misleading information, practices such as bullying or hounding either individuals or groups with shared characteristics and doxing.
